Borough of Hamburg, NJ Chapter 6 Borough Council

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Hamburg 3-7-1977 as Secs. 2-2 through 2-5 of the 1976 Revised General Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 6-1 Organization and rules.

A. Organization of Borough Council. The Council shall consist of the Mayor and six Council members elected at large in the Borough, all of whom shall be elected and take office in the manner provided by law. The term of office shall commence January 1 next following their election.

B. Rules of Council. The Council shall by ordinance adopt rules of procedure not inconsistent with this Code. The rules shall provide for standing committees of the Council.

C. Ordinances and resolutions. Council shall take appropriate action to ensure that ordinances and resolutions of the preceding year are compiled or codified.

§ 6-2 Meetings.

The Council shall meet for organization on the first day of January, or during the first seven days in January in any year at the call of the incoming Mayor. Thereafter, the Council shall meet regularly within the Borough at such times and places as provided by the rules of Council. The Mayor shall when necessary call special meetings of the Council. In case of his/her neglect or refusal, any four members of the Council may call such meetings at such time and place in the Borough as they may designate. In all cases of special meetings, 24 hours' written notice (or actual voice contact) shall be given to all members of the Council. Written notice may be by leaving such notice at their places of residence.

§ 6-3 Powers and duties of Mayor.

A. The Mayor shall preside over all meetings of the Council but shall not vote except to give the deciding vote in case of a tie. Except as otherwise provided by statute or specific ordinance, the Mayor shall nominate and, with the advice and consent of the Council, appoint all officers in the Borough, and the Chair and members of all standing committees. No appointments requiring Council confirmation shall be made except by a majority vote of the Council members present at the meeting, provided that at least three affirmative votes shall be required for such purpose, the Mayor to have no vote thereon except in the case of a tie. Vacancies in appointive offices shall be filled by appointment in the same manner for the unexpired term only. The Mayor shall make such nomination to fill a vacancy within 30 days after the appointive office becomes vacant. If the Mayor fails to nominate within 30 days or the Council fails to confirm any nomination made by the Mayor, then, after the expiration of 30 days, the Council shall appoint the officer.

B. The Mayor shall see that the laws of the state and the ordinances of the Borough are faithfully executed, and shall recommend to the Council such measures as he/she may deem necessary or expedient for the welfare of the Borough. He/she shall maintain peace and good order and have the power to suppress all riots and tumultuous assemblies in the Borough.

C. The Mayor shall supervise the conduct and acts of all officers in the Borough and shall execute all contracts made on behalf of the Council.

§ 6-4 President of Council.

At the organizational meeting the Council by a majority vote shall elect from their number a President of the Council, who shall preside at all of its meetings when the Mayor does not preside. The President of the Council shall hold office for one year and until the next annual meeting. He/she shall have the right to debate the vote on all questions before the Council. If the Council at its annual meeting fails to elect a President, the Mayor shall appoint the President from the Council and in that case no confirmation by the Council shall be necessary. If the Mayor is absent from the Borough for a period of three consecutive days or for any reason is unable to act, the President of the Council shall perform all the duties of the Mayor during his/her absence or inability. The Mayor, in case of his/her intended absence from the Borough for more than three days at any one time, shall notify the President in writing of such intended absence, whereupon the President shall be and become acting Mayor from the receipt of such notice and continue to act until the Mayor's return. In case of the temporary inability of the President to so act, the Council member having the longest term of service as such may act temporarily for the President.

§ 6-5 Compensation of Mayor or Council President for marriage or civil union ceremonies.

[Added 5-7-2007 by Ord. No. 5-2007]

A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish policies and procedures for the collection of fees associated with the performance of marriage or civil union ceremonies by the Mayor or Council President serving in the absence of the Mayor.

B. Collection of fees. Persons seeking to be married or joined in civil union by the Mayor shall remit a fee of $250 to be paid to the Borough of Hamburg. Fees collected shall be deposited in the Borough's current fund. Fees shall be disbursed to the Mayor through the appropriate budget line item and with appropriate authorization.

C. Compensation and reimbursement of expenses incurred through the performance of marriage and civil union ceremonies: A fee shall be charged, payable to the Borough of Hamburg, for reimbursement of vehicle-related expenses where the Mayor uses a personal vehicle in order to attend the marriage or civil union ceremony and only in such circumstances where the use of a personal vehicle is reasonable and appropriate. Said reimbursement shall be limited to automobile expenses based on and calculated as to the mileage to and from the ceremony at such rate per mile as allowable by Internal Revenue Services regulations.