By Briana Vannozzi
Correspondent
Few organizations get the honor of holding a centennial celebration. Let alone an organization created to bring municipalities and their local leaders together in a bipartisan way in a highly partisan state.
“It plays a critical role so that we get feedback from the local government on the things that we do because a lot of times you do legislation you think could be perfect, it could be very flawed and you don’t know it,” said Senate President Steve Sweeney.
“So a lot of things have happened here in the last 100 years and we’ve needed a lot of help in each of our municipalities we’ve grown exponentially. And the league has brought this all together,” said Lieutenant Gov. Kim Guadagno.
Many of the state’s most prominent leaders came out to mark the milestone and honor the man who’s been at the helm of the League of Municipalities for 41 years.
“A hundred years of helping you get your message across to Trenton,” said former Gov. Christie Whitman.
“I am humbled by the turnout here this evening and it’s bittersweet. I mean I’ve spent my entire professional career with the League of Municipalities,” said Bill Dressel.
Dressel announced he’d retire from the position several months ago. His name and face have become synonymous with the organization. As NJTV’s Michael Aron — who emceed the event — noted.
“When this organization was founded, Bill was just in kindergarten I think,” Aron said.
“As mayor of Woodbridge and as governor, there are few people who have been as dogged and committed to enabling mayors to do the things they need to do,” said former Gov. Jim McGreevey.
The role of the League of Municipalities is a fine balancing act, working with the governor, legislators and the 565 municipalities and mayors it represents.
It began in 1915 with just 51 charter member municipalities and its importance has grown as had the number of towns.
“They normally have voting, they have policy people and they come to us and say this is what we need at the local level,” said Assemblyman Jon Bramnick.
“Probably one of the most important thing the League has been involved in is making local government more efficient and more effective using the same or less resources,” said Mike Darcy.
After 25 years with the League, Darcy will take over as executive director.
“Nobody can take bill’s position. He’s been an effective lobbyist for 41 years. What we are going to do is restructure internally a little bit. So people familiar with the League are going to see the same faces that they always see but we’re going to change the way the League does some of its work,” Darcy said.
After four decades of shifting state policies and government, Dressel said our problems haven’t changed much.
“Quite frankly is property tax relief. I spent 41 years trying to achieve broad based property tax relief for the citizens and taxpayers of this state and it’s a bear. I’m still hopeful that is going to be achieved at some point in time,” Dressel said.
So are the people of New Jersey.