NEW JERSEY HIGHLANDS WATER PROTECTION AND PLANNING COUNCIL
APPROVAL OF AUDIT REPORTS AND EXECUTIVE ORDER 37 ANNUAL REPORT
WHEREAS , the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act (Highlands Act) has created a public body corporate and politic with corporate succession known as the Highlands Water Protection and
Planning Council (Highlands Council); and
WHEREAS , Section 6.g of the Highlands Act authorizes the Highlands Council to conduct its business as needed to effectuate the purposes of the enabling legislation; and
WHEREAS , Section 29 of the Highlands Act requires that the Highlands Council, on or before March
31 in each year, prepare an annual report of its activities and a operating and financial statement to the
Governor, the Legislature, and the governing body and the chief executive officer of each municipality and county in the Highlands Region; and
WHEREAS , on March 31, 2011, the Highlands Council provided the Annual Report for 2010 to the
Governor, the Legislature, and the governing body and the chief executive officer of each municipality and county in the Highlands Region; and
WHEREAS , Executive Order 37 (2006) and Executive Order 122 (2004) require an annual comprehensive report concerning the Highlands Council’s operations and require the acceptance and approval of an annual audit; and
WHEREAS , in order to properly perform independent audits as required by State law, the Highlands
Council established the Highlands Council’s Audit Committee and Audit Evaluation Committee by
Resolution 2006-06 dated January 19, 2006; and
WHEREAS , after the review and recommendations of the Audit Evaluation Committee and the Audit
Committee, the Highlands Council approved Resolution 2008-12, on April 24, 2008, authorizing the
Executive Director to enter a contract for auditing services with Mercadien, P.C. (Mercadien); and
WHEREAS , on April 15, 2011, Mercadien completed and prepared the final report on the Highlands
Council’s financial statements and recommended actions for Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010 and presented them to the Audit Committee of the Highlands Council; and
WHEREAS , the Highlands Council Audit Committee reviewed the final reports and the annual management letter with Mercadien and recommended that the Highlands Council accept and approve the audit reports for Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010; and
WHEREAS, the contract period for auditing services with Mercadien ends on June 30, 2011; and
WHEREAS, in order for the Highlands Council to retain a firm with expertise in auditing , it is necessary for the Highlands Council’s Audit Evaluation Committee and Audit Committee to prepare and approve a new Request for Proposal for such services; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 13:20-5.j, no action authorized by the Highlands Council shall have force or effect until ten (10) days, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays excepted, after a copy of the minutes of the meeting of the Council has been delivered to the Governor for review, unless prior to