Except as otherwise provided by law, the Council shall exercise the legislative powers of the Township government.
The Council may, by majority vote of the whole Council, require any municipal officer to prepare and submit sworn statements regarding the performance of his official duties and may otherwise investigate the conduct of any department, office or agency.
The Council and individual members thereof shall deal with officers and employees of the Township only through the Mayor, the Business Administrator or department heads, and except for inquiries as provided in § 7-7, all communications regarding administration of the Township shall be referred to and conducted only with the Mayor, Business Administrator or department heads.
The Council may, by majority vote of the whole Council, and for cause, remove any municipal officer except the Mayor or a Council member, upon notice and an opportunity to be heard in public. The Council may also disapprove mayoral removals by a 2/3 vote of the whole Council in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:69A-43(c).
Upon receipt from the Mayor of his nomination to any office or position requiring the advice and consent of the Council, the same shall be read under the "administrative agenda" portion of a public meeting of the Council by the Clerk and, unless otherwise ordered, shall be considered by the Council, after discussion under "new business" at such meeting. When taken up for action, the President shall put the question on each nomination as follows: "Will the Council confirm the nomination?" On that motion, a vote shall be ordered, and if three or more members vote to confirm, the President shall announce "The nomination is confirmed." If less than three members vote to confirm, the President shall announce "The nomination is rejected." Action of confirmation or rejection upon a nomination made by the Mayor shall not be postponed or delayed longer than for one regular meeting. Within two days after confirmation or rejection of nomination, the Clerk shall, in writing, notify the Mayor of that fact. In the discretion of the presiding officer, multiple nominations may be considered as a single motion where there is no apparent division among Council members as to the action to be taken with respect to the nominees in question.
With respect to appointments to be made by the Council, any member of the Council may nominate as many candidates as there are offices to be filled. Where there is a single office to be filled, the first nominee to receive a majority vote shall be deemed appointed. Where there is more than one office to be filled, such as on a Board or Commission, the same procedure shall be followed with respect to each office separately until the total number of appointments to be made has been completed. In the discretion of the presiding officer, multiple appointments may be considered as a single motion where there is no apparent division among Council members as to the action to be taken with respect to the nominees in question.
Vacancies in any elective office of the Township, including vacancies in the Council, shall be filled in the manner provided by the Municipal Vacancy Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:16-1 et seq. The Council shall fill the vacancy either for the unexpired term or temporarily (as provided by said Vacancy Law) by appointment to serve until the election and qualification of a successor. Any person so appointed to fill a vacancy shall be a member of the same political party as the prior incumbent.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
The Council, at each annual organization meeting, shall elect a President of the Council and also a Vice President of the Council from among the members thereof. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Council and perform such other duties as the Council may prescribe. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall serve as temporary presiding officer and otherwise perform the duties of the President.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2/18/82]
A. 
Compensation of Council and Mayor.
(1) 
The salaries of the Mayor and Council members shall be fixed annually by the Council by ordinance and shall remain in effect until new rates are fixed by final adoption of an ordinance establishing new rates.
(2) 
The President and Vice President of the Council shall not receive any additional compensation based upon their appointments to such positions but shall receive the same annual compensation as all other Council members.
B. 
Compensation for other officers and employees. The rates of annual compensation to be paid department heads and all other officers and employees of the Township shall be fixed annually by the Council by ordinance. Until otherwise provided by ordinance hereinafter adopted, the rates of compensation heretofore established for persons holding office or employment on the effective date of this new Mayor-Council Plan E form of government shall continue.
A. 
The Council shall consist of five members elected at large by the voters of the Township at the general election held in November. Each member shall serve for four years, except that the first Council serving under this Code and as of taking office January 1, 1980, shall serve as follows:
(1) 
Two shall serve for four years;
(2) 
Three shall serve for two years.
B. 
The length of the term of the respective members of the first Council shall be determined by lot at the first organization meeting of the Council held on January 2, 1980.
There shall be such standing and special committees of the Council as the Council elects to establish by resolution. In addition, the Council may elect to act as a committee of the whole. Members of all committees so established shall be appointed by the President of the Council. The Council shall adopt rules governing all committees established.