There shall be an Office of the Clerk, the head of which shall be the Township Clerk.
The Township Clerk shall be appointed by the Council and shall prior to his/her appointment be qualified to perform the duties of his/her office pursuant to state statute, N.J.S.A. 40A:9-133 et seq. The Clerk shall serve for a term of three years and shall receive such compensation as shall be provided by the Township Salary Ordinance. The Clerk shall obtain tenure in office pursuant to law, N.J.S.A. 40A:9-133.8 and 40A:9-134.
The Clerk shall serve as Clerk of the Council and as secretary of any special legislative committees of the Council appointed pursuant to the Charter, as the Council may deem necessary. The Clerk or the Deputy Clerk shall attend all meetings of the Council and of such committees when required by the Chair thereof, and shall keep the minutes of the proceedings of the Council and of such committees.
A. 
The Clerk shall engross all ordinances and all resolutions of a permanent character in books to be provided for that purpose. After each ordinance the Clerk shall also engross and certify the proof of publication thereof as required by law. Each ordinance and resolution so engrossed shall be signed by the Clerk who shall attest that it was duly adopted upon a date stated, and when so signed the engrossed copy shall be deemed to be a public record of the ordinance or resolution. Any omissions by the Clerk to engross, sign or certify as herein required shall not impair or affect the validity of any ordinance which has been duly adopted.
B. 
Biannually, or more often if necessary, the Clerk shall compile all the ordinances which then remain in force and effect. The Clerk shall cause them to be prepared into a supplement to this chapter of the Township of Howell, New Jersey and to be indexed.
The Clerk shall have custody of and shall safely keep all records, books and documents of the Township, except those committed by Charter or ordinance to any other office or transferred thereto by the Manager. The Clerk shall, upon request and upon the payment of the fees authorized by law therefor, furnish a certified copy of any such paper in his/her custody, under the corporate seal of the Township.
The Clerk shall be the custodian of the Official Seal of the Township. The Clerk shall cause the Seal of the Township to be affixed to instruments and writings when authorized by ordinance or resolution of the Council or when necessary to exemplify any document on record in his/her office, or to certify any act or paper, which from the records in his/her office shall appear to have been a public act of the Township or a public document.
The Clerk, subject to the supervision of the Manager, shall:
A. 
Be the depository and custodian of all official surety bonds furnished by or on account of any officer or employee, except his/her own bond which shall be placed in the custody of the Treasurer; of all insurance policies upon or with respect to risks insured for the benefit of the Township or to protect it against any claim, demand or liability whatsoever; and all formal contracts for work, labor services, supplies equipment, and materials to which the Township may be a party.
B. 
Be the depository for and have custody of all performance bonds, running to the Township as obligee, or any other form of security, given by any contractor, subdivision developer or other persons on account of work done or to be done in or for the Township.
C. 
Have custody of all deeds and/or leases of property owned by the Township.
D. 
Have custody of all professional services contracts.
E. 
Report to the Manager annually and at such other times as the Manager may require on the coverage, expiration date and premium of each surety bond and contract of insurance; the nature and terms of outstanding leases, the rent reserved by each, and their respective expiration dates.
In addition to such other functions, powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Charter and ordinances, the Clerk shall:
A. 
Perform all of the functions required of municipal Clerks by the general election law and any other law or ordinance and receive the fees prescribed therefor for the use of the Township.
B. 
Administer the provisions of the Township ordinances with reference to the licensing of occupations and activities for which licenses are required by law or ordinance to be obtained from the Clerk.
[Amended 7-17-2007 by Ord. No. O-07-25]
There shall be a Deputy Clerk of the Township appointed by the Township Manager.
A. 
Duties. The Deputy Clerk shall assist the Township Clerk in the performance of the Clerk's duties and perform all such duties in connection with the Clerk's office as may be from time to time designated by the Township Council or Township Clerk.
B. 
Other powers and duties. Whenever the office of Township Clerk shall be vacant and unfilled or the Township Clerk shall be absent from the Township or unable to serve by reason of disability or otherwise, the Deputy Clerk shall have all of the powers to perform all of the duties vested in the Township Clerk.
C. 
Compensation. Compensation for the Deputy Township Clerk shall be in accordance with the Township Salary Ordinance. There shall be no additional compensation for the Deputy Township Clerk during regular day working hours while performing the duties of the Township Clerk.
D. 
Qualifications. Qualifications for the office shall be three years of advanced clerical experience; knowledge of current office practices, procedures and equipment, with typing skills and expertise of public relations and able on one's own to manage correspondence, preferably in a governmental office.