This is sent for educational purposes in MCANJ’s ongoing effort to help you stay abreast of governmental policy changes and to do your work to the best of your abilities. This is not legal advice and does not substitute for your own research and evaluation of these issues as they apply in your municipal setting. If you have any questions about this, legal matters or any other concerns, please contact your municipal attorney or the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Thank you for your support of and involvement in MCANJ.
Kim-Marie White, President
MCANJ
“New rules creating a cottage food operator (home baker) permit became effective as of October 4, 2021. New Jersey historically prohibited the sale of home baked goods but has now joined other states in allowing cottage food operations. The Department has been working on this issue for some time and carefully balanced allowing home bakers to operate small businesses while instituting appropriate safeguards. While developing these new regulations, the Department received input from many stakeholders, including local health departments, home bakers, the retail food industry, and others.”
Basically, an applicant will submit an application to the New Jersey Department of Health, Public Health and Food Protection Program. A copy of the application and instructions are attached for informational purposes only. There is nothing that a municipality must do in terms of receiving, reviewing, and/or approving these applications.
The regulations are found at N.J.A.C. 8:24–11.1 to 11.8. There are no municipal requirements or approvals needed, except that the regulations state for an applicant, “An applicant for a cottage food operator permit shall ascertain and comply with applicable local laws of the municipality in which the applicant seeks to operate a cottage food operation.”
So, if you should have any residents approach your office with an application or questions about the application process the correct response to the residents is that the municipality has no oversight or authority for the Cottage Food Permits and the residents should be directed to the contact the Department of Health.
https://www.nj.gov/health/ceohs/phfpp/retailfood/cottagefood.shtml<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.nj.gov%2fhealth%2fc…>
MCANJ Website Manager
WebsiteManager(a)MCANJ.US
LEGAL DEFENSE FUND REMINDER
If you have renewed and paid your membership in the Legal Defense Fund, thank you!
If you have not paid, your payment must be received by Nov. 1st.
If your check has not been received by that date, you will be removed from the LDF Membership Roster and must register as a new member at $75.
Click here for the membership application.<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.njclerks.org%2fcn%2…>
Good news!! The Essex County Municipal Clerks Association of NJ has received approval for CEUs for CCFOs, CMFOs, and CTCs!!! Please pass this along! FYI: Payment prior to the mini conference IS NOT required. The Zoom link will be sent out to all registrants every day beginning Monday! REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL 6pm on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13!
Contact Essex County Chapter President Jennifer Kiernan (jkiernan(a)VeronaNJ.org<mailto:jkiernan@VeronaNJ.org>) with any questions.
MCANJ Website Manager
WebsiteManager(a)MCANJ.US
The Governor signed Executive Order 266 making the following changes for the upcoming general election:
· increasing poll workers pay from $200 to $300 for election day
· suspension requirement that a board worker be a resident of the county in which that member will serve in
· If the board work works part-time the increase is $50
· Poll worker working for early voting will receive for each hour worked a supplemental payment equal to a pro-rated hourly rate consistent with $100 supplemental pay
Here is a link to the EO - https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/pdf/EO-266.pdf<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fnj.gov%2finfobank%2feo%…>
MCANJ Website Manager
WebsiteManager(a)MCANJ.US
Greeting fellow Municipal Clerks! Attached is the agenda/registration and fillable invoice for our annual Mini Conference on October 14, 2021 being held via Zoom.
Should anyone have questions or concerns, please contact Essex County Chapter President, Jennifer Kiernan, RMC at 973-857-4770 or at jkiernan(a)veronanj.org<mailto:jkiernan@veronanj.org>.
We look forward to "seeing" you on October 14th!
MCANJ Website Manager
WebsiteManager(a)MCANJ.US