What exactly is on the ballot?

What is the Charter Study Commission?

Hopewell Township has grown and changed a great deal since George Washington landed here in 1776 after crossing the Delaware on his way to the Battle of Trenton. In this year where we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of this historic crossing and the founding of our country, it is a good time to look at what is, and is not, working in our municipal government.

A Charter Study Commission would evaluate whether the current form of government in Hopewell Township should be changed, and if so, to what new form.

The Township Committee Form of Government

Hopewell Township currently operates under the “Township Committee” form of government:

Five members are elected at large for staggered three-year terms.

Each year, the Committee votes to elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among its members.

The Mayor sets the agenda and chairs Township Committee meetings.

The Township also has an Administrator who oversees the day-to-day operations.

Importantly, however, the executive power of the Township rests in the Committee as a whole, so a majority vote is needed to conduct most business.

The Charter Study Commission Two-Part Question

In early 2026, the Township Committee began reviewing whether and how the Township’s governing structure should evolve. This culminated in May with an ordinance that placed a two-part question on the November ballot.

Part One: Should there be a Charter Study Commission?

The first part of the question asks a yes or no question, whether voters want to establish a five-member Charter Study Commission under New Jersey's Faulkner Act. The Commission would look at the 12 forms of government available under New Jersey law, and decide if a different one would better serve Hopewell Township residents.

Part Two: Who Should Serve on the Commission, if it passes?

The second part of the question asks which five individuals should be elected to form the Commission, should the first question pass.

You should vote on the five candidates EVEN IF you vote no on question 1, so you have a say in who is elected should the Commission pass.

Facts about Charter Commissions

Should the Commission be approved:

The Commission would operate independently of the Township Committee, and no current member of the Committee can have a seat on the Commission.

The Commission would have up to nine months to complete their work and issue a formal recommendation.

If the Charter Study Commission recommends a change, that recommendation will go back to the voters on the 2027 ballot, where they will be asked to decide whether to adopt the proposed form of government.

If the Commission recommends no change, theTownship's current governing structure, the Township Committee form, would remain unchanged.

If the Charter Study Commission question is rejected, no Commission will be formed, and the Township Committee form of government would remain unchanged.

Separate but Related: The Efficiency Study

Separately, in June, the Township Committee received a $60,000 Management Enhancement Review Program (MERP) grant through the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. The grant will fund an independent, professional study of Township operations and governance, including, but not limited to, the form of government. This is a separate process that will happen regardless of the outcome of the Charter Study Commission question. However, should the Commission be formed, the results of the study will be provided to the Commissioners as information for them to review as they see fit.