Organization. The Council shall consist of seven members,
three of whom shall be elected at large and four of whom shall be
elected by wards, one for each of the four wards in the City which
have been established for that purpose. Members of Council shall be
elected for a term of four years at a regular municipal election,
the term to commence on the first day of July next following their
election pursuant to the Charter.
Pursuant to the Charter, vacancies in any elective
office occurring prior to the ninth Friday before the general election
day of any year shall be filled by election for the unexpired term
at the next general election except as hereinafter otherwise provided.
Such election to fill a vacancy shall be upon direct nomination by
petition in the manner provided by law for the filling of vacancies
in municipal offices where candidates are nominated by direct petition
for a general election. Council shall fill such vacancies temporarily
by appointment to serve until the qualification of a person so elected.
When any such vacancy occurs on or after the ninth
Friday before general election day, it shall be filled by election
for the unexpired term at the general election to be held in the following
year, but if it occurs on or after such Friday in the third year of
the term of such office, the Council shall fill the vacancy by appointment
to serve for the remainder of the term.
Powers of Council. The legislative power of the City
shall be exercised by the Council except as otherwise provided by
general law. Pursuant to the Charter the Council may, in its discretion,
require any city office to prepare and submit statements regarding
his/her official duties and the performance thereof, and the Council
may otherwise investigate the conduct of any department, office or
agency of the City government.
Compensation. The compensation of each member of City
Council shall be $20,000 per annum; provided, however, that the President
of City Council shall be paid an additional $1,500 per annum.
[Amended 9-4-2003 by Ord. No. 03-102; 2-5-2004 by Ord. No.
04-6]
Any
elected member of City Council shall be required to attend a minimum
of 2.0 hours of state-approved educational credits per calendar year
that such officials are in office.
The City of Trenton shall conduct its nonpartisan regular municipal
election on the day of the general election starting the first Tuesday
after the first Monday in November in the year 2022 and every four
years thereafter.
Officials elected by the voters of the City of Trenton at the regular
municipal election held in May of 2018, or the runoff election held
in June of 2018 shall serve for a term of four years beginning the
first day of July next following his/her election and shall continue
to serve until December 31, 2022, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:45-7.1c.
Officials elected by the voters of the City of Trenton at the regular
municipal election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday
in November of 2022, and every four years thereafter, shall serve
for a term of four years beginning on the first day of January next
following his/her election.
Appointment. The Council shall appoint a City Clerk
for the term prescribed by law. Prior to his/her appointment, (s)he
shall have been qualified by training and experience to perform the
duties of his/her office. The Clerk shall serve as Clerk of the Council
and have such other functions, powers and duties as are provided by
this chapter.
Clerk of City Council and committees. 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. The Clerk
shall attend all meetings of the Council and of any such committee
when required by the Chairperson thereof, and shall keep the minutes
of the proceedings of the Council and of such committees. The minutes
of each meeting of the Council shall be signed by the officer presiding
at the meeting and by the Clerk.
The Clerk shall record all ordinances and all resolutions
of a permanent character in books to be provided for that purpose.
After each ordinance (s)he shall also record and certify the proof
of publication thereof as required by law. Each ordinance and resolution
so recorded shall be signed by the Council president and the Clerk,
who shall attest that it was duly adopted upon a date stated and,
when so signed, the recorded copy shall be deemed to be a public record
of the ordinance or resolution. Any omission by the Clerk or the Council
President to record, sign or certify as herein required shall not
impair or affect the validity of any ordinance which has been duly
adopted.
At the close of each year the Clerk, with the advice
and assistance of the City Attorney, shall bind, compile or codify
all the ordinances and resolutions, or true copies thereof, which
then remain in force and effect. The Clerk shall also properly index
the record books, compilation or codification of ordinances and resolutions.
Custodian of records. The Clerk shall have custody
of, and shall safely keep, all records, books and documents of the
City, except those committed by Charter or ordinance to any other
office. The Clerk shall, upon request and upon the payment of the
fees prescribed therefor by resolution of the Council for the use
of the City, furnish a certified copy of any such paper in his/her
custody, under the Corporate Seal of the City.
Corporate Seal. The Clerk shall cause the Corporate
Seal of the City 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 City or a public document. The Clerk shall
not affix the Seal or cause or permit it to be affixed to any other
instrument or writing or other paper unless required by law or ordinance.
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 City 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 City may
be a party.
Be the depository for and have custody of all performance
bonds running to the City 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 City.
Report to the City Council annually, at such time
as the Council 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.
Administrative rules and regulations; filing and publication.
No rule or general regulation made by any department, officer, agency
or authority of the City, except as relates to the organization or
internal management of the City government or a part thereof, shall
take effect until it is filed with the City Clerk. The Clerk shall
maintain a current compilation of all rules and regulations which
shall be available for public inspection in his/her office during
business hours.
Other laws and ordinances. In addition to such other
functions, powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Charter and
ordinances, subject to the supervision and direction of the City Council,
the Clerk shall:
Administer the provisions of city 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.
Have such other, different and additional functions,
powers and duties as may be prescribed by law or ordinance or delegated
to him/her by City Council.
There shall be an Assistant City Clerk who shall
perform the duties of the City Clerk in the absence or upon direction
of the Clerk, and there shall be such other personnel in the office
of the City Clerk as authorized by ordinance.