[Amended 1-16-2001 by Ord. No. 1838-2001; 12-16-2025 by Ord. No. 2772-2025]
A. 
Number; Deputy Mayor.
(1) 
There shall be a Council elected in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:69A-81 et seq., which shall be comprised of five members, elected at large, one of whom shall be elected by the Council as Mayor at the first meeting in January following the November election at which members of council are elected, and shall serve for a term of two years until the January following the next such election, as provided by law.
(2) 
One of the members of the Council shall also be elected by the Council to be Deputy Mayor.
B. 
The term of office of each Councilperson elected at a regular general election shall serve for a term of four years pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:69A-83.
C. 
Vacancies in office shall be determined pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:16-1 et seq., known as the "Municipal Vacancy Law."
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:69A-88, all powers of the municipality and the determination of all matters of policy shall be vested in the Municipal Council except as otherwise provided by the Optional Municipal Charter Law (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-1 to 40:69A-210) or by general law.
The Council is responsible for the fiscal and financial policies of the Borough and shall have the duty to raise the revenues required by the Borough and to adopt an annual budget, which will include all appropriations required by state law.
The Council is responsible for establishing and supervising the administrative policies of the Borough. However, while retaining these responsibilities, the Council shall avoid concerning themselves with detailed and routine matters which, within the framework of the policies, they establish and announce are the delegated duties of the Manager, his/her department heads and other appropriate officials and employees of the Borough. The Council shall require the Manager to establish the policies, organizational structure, duties and responsibilities of those department heads, not otherwise established by statute or ordinance and their major subordinates, reporting to him/her within the framework of the general administrative policy set forth herein.
The Council shall appoint, within the framework of appropriate ordinances and resolutions adopted by the Council and within the authority of all general laws and statutes of the State of New Jersey, the following personnel: Assessor, Auditor, Attorney, Manager, Clerk, Judge of the Municipal Court, Treasurer, Class IV members of the Planning Board and two alternates, all members of the Zoning Board and two alternates and such other boards, offices and officers as it may deem necessary for the proper and efficient conduct of the affairs of the Borough.
The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the Council and shall have the same participatory and voting rights as all Councilpersons. He/she shall appoint the members of and fill vacancies in the Library Board and shall appoint the Class II member of the Planning Board and shall sit as the Class I member of the Planning Board. All bonds, notes, contracts and written obligations of the Borough shall be executed on its behalf by the Mayor or, in the event of his/her temporary absence or disability, by the Deputy Mayor.
[Amended 1-16-2001 by Ord. No. 1838-2001]
In the absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor shall perform the duties of the Mayor. The Deputy Mayor, when authorized by the Mayor pursuant to N.J.S.A. 37:1-13, shall solemnize marriage between such persons as may lawfully enter into the matrimonial relation.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 2-11.1, Deputy Mayor for Community Affairs, added 1-16-2001 by Ord. No. 1838-2001, was repealed 12-16-2025 by Ord. No. 2772-2025.
[Added 1-16-2001 by Ord. No. 1838-2001; amended 12-16-2025 by Ord. No. 2772-2025]
The term of the Deputy Mayor shall be one year commencing upon the reorganization of the Council through December 31 of the same year.
There shall be an annual reorganizations of the Council which shall be on the first day of January or at such other times and hours as shall be selected by the Council during the first seven days of January pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:45A-1.
[Amended 5-18-2004 by Ord. No. 1976-2004; 11-22-2016 by Ord. No. 2411-2016]
A. 
Regular meetings. The Council shall hold one regular meeting each month on the Tuesday set by the Council in accordance with Section 13, PL 1975, Chapter 231, of the Laws of the State of New Jersey[1] by resolution adopted at the annual reorganization meeting. Said meetings shall begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise stated in said resolution and shall be held in the Council chambers in the Municipal Building or such other place as the Council may decide. In the event that the meeting schedule is revised, a notice shall be posted and published as required by law.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 10:4-18.
B. 
Special meetings. Special meetings may be called at any time by the Mayor, the Manager, by two members of the Council or by petition signed by voters equal in number to not less than 2% of the number of persons voting in the last preceding general election. The business of a special meeting shall be specified in the call for such meeting, and no other business may be considered. The call for such special meeting shall be delivered to the Municipal Clerk, who shall forthwith notify each member of the Council electronically or by telephone or by such other means at his/her disposal. No special meeting may be called without four days' notice, as set forth above, unless the Mayor or Manager declares that an emergency exists affecting the health, safety and welfare of the people, requiring a meeting in a shorter time. In such event, the Municipal Clerk on the filing of a call for an emergency special meeting shall forthwith notify the members of the Council electronically, by telephone or such other means at his/her disposal. A special meeting may be held without prior notice, upon a written waiver of notice, executed by a quorum of all of the members of the Council and filed with the Municipal Clerk.
C. 
Work sessions. The Council shall hold one work session each month on the Tuesday set by the Council in accordance with Section 13, PL 1975, Chapter 231 of the Laws of the State of New Jersey by resolution adopted at the annual reorganization meeting. Said meetings shall begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise stated in said resolution and shall be held at the Municipal Building or such other place as the Council may decide. Matters to be considered at the next regular meeting shall be reviewed at the work session. Other matters may be added to the agenda after the work session as deemed necessary by the Manager and Municipal Clerk.
D. 
All Borough officers or employees requested by the Borough Manager shall attend the regular meetings, work sessions or special meetings.
[Amended 11-22-2016 by Ord. No. 2411-2016]
The business of the Council, at regular meetings and as applicable at special meetings, shall be as follows:
A. 
Statement of compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.
B. 
Quorum roll call.
C. 
Flag salute.
D. 
Proclamations/presentations.
E. 
Comments by Councilpersons.
F. 
Introduction of proposed ordinances, at first reading.
G. 
Hearing upon adoption or amendment of proposed ordinances, on second reading.
H. 
Comments by the public on consent agenda items only.
I. 
Resolution by consent.
J. 
Resolutions not on consent.
K. 
Comments by public.
L. 
Adjournment.
The minutes of previous meetings of the Council may be approved without reading, if the Clerk has previously furnished each member of the Council with a copy thereof three days preceding the work session scheduled for the public meeting at which the minutes are to be approved; however, any member of the Council may cause the minutes or any part thereof to be read prior to approval.
A majority of the members elected to the Council shall constitute a quorum at a regular or special meeting. In the event that no quorum is present within 15 minutes following the appointed time for a meeting, the Clerk or presiding officer shall declare the meeting adjourned. An affirmative vote of a majority of all members present shall be necessary to take any action or pass any measure, except as otherwise provided by law.
Consideration of motions and debate, at all meetings of the Council, except as modified herein, shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order. The Presiding Officer may take a consensus on any issue at any meeting. The purpose of taking a consensus is to determine the general sense of the Council on a particular issue.
The Council may suspend the Rules of Procedure or the Order of Business, at any meeting, for an emergent or special purpose.
The following rules of procedure are intended as a guide for all meetings:
Rule I. To the extent that these Rules of Procedure shall differ with Robert's Rules of Order, these rules shall govern.
Rule II. Presiding Officer. The Mayor shall be the presiding officer of the Council. In the Mayor's absence, the Deputy Mayor may preside. In the absence of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the Council shall choose the Chair. The presiding officer shall be called last.
Rule III. Call to Order.
a.
The Mayor shall take the Chair at the hour appointed for the meeting and shall within five minutes of the appointed hour call the Council to order.
b.
In the absence of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the Clerk shall call the Council to order. The Clerk shall then determine whether a quorum is present and, in the event a quorum is present, call for the election of a Chair Pro Tempore. Upon the appearance of the Mayor or Deputy Mayor, the Chair Pro Tempore shall forthwith relinquish the Chair, and when the Deputy Mayor is presiding, he/she shall likewise relinquish the Chair upon the appearance of the Mayor.
Rule IV. Roll Call. At the beginning of each meeting of the Council, the Clerk shall call the roll of the members in alphabetical order, except that the presiding officer shall be called last and the names of those present shall be entered in the minutes. If any member appears after the roll call, the Clerk shall enter in the minutes the time of attendance of such member.
Rule V. Reading of Minutes. Reading of the minutes of a Council meeting is deemed waived unless requested by a majority of the Council, provided that the Clerk, at least three business days preceding the day of the meeting, shall deliver a copy thereof to each member of the Council.
Rule VI. Voting.
a.
The vote upon every motion, resolution or ordinance shall be taken by roll call in alphabetical order except that the Mayor shall be polled last and the yeas and nays shall be entered upon the minutes. No ordinance or resolution may be adopted without the affirmative vote of a majority of all the members of the Council or as otherwise required by law.
b.
Upon the call of the roll, no member shall discuss or explain his/her vote; and the silence of any Councilperson who is present shall be recorded as present unless he/she states directly that he/she abstains.
c.
The minutes of each regular and special meeting shall be signed by the Councilpersons present and by the Clerk, following approval.
Rule VI A. Consent Calendar.
All resolutions previously sent to Councilpersons prior to the meeting at which a vote on said resolution is anticipated and upon which no discussion is anticipated shall be included in a single resolution entitled "Resolutions by Consent." Resolutions by Consent may be voted upon at regular meetings or special meetings as applicable.
[Amended 1-16-2002 by Ord. No. 1887-2002]
All resolutions listed on Resolutions by Consent shall be adopted by a single roll call vote and no discussion thereon shall be entertained at the time the Resolution by Consent is moved for adoption.
Any Councilperson, for any reason whatsoever and said reason does not have to be disclosed, may remove any item listed for consent at any time prior to the adoption of the Resolution by Consent.
In order to provide an orderly method of preparing the Resolutions by Consent, Councilpersons should notify the Municipal Clerk by 11:00 a.m. on the day on which the Council meeting is to be held at which the Resolutions by Consent is to be adopted of the matter to be removed from the Consent Calendar. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, each Councilperson shall still have the right to remove any matter from consent prior to the adoption of the Resolutions by Consent even if said removal is subsequent to the aforesaid time and day by notifying the Clerk or the Mayor.
The Resolutions by Consent shall not be utilized with respect to the adoption of ordinances or other matters as required by law.
Rule VII. Committees.
a.
There shall be no standing committee of the Council, other than the committee of the whole. The rules of the Council shall govern the meetings of the committee of the whole so far as applicable.
b.
Special committees of the Council for legislative purposes may be appointed by the Mayor (and Council) pursuant to resolution. No special committee shall proceed to the consideration of any matter referred to it unless a majority of the members of the committee shall be present. All committee meetings shall be held at the municipal building or in another public building. No special committee shall report on a matter referred to it at the same meeting at which the reference is made, except by unanimous consent of the members of the committee.
Rule VIII. Appointments by Council.
a.
The Council will consider such nominations for offices to be filled in committee of the whole, which will report to a regular meeting of the Council which shall vote thereon.
b.
In the discretion of the Chair, a group of nominations may be considered together where there is no apparent division in the Council as to the nominees included in the group.
Rule IX. Rules of Debate.
a.
Question under consideration. When a question is moved and seconded, it is under consideration and no motion shall be received thereafter, except to adjourn, to lay on the table, to postpone or to amend, until the question is decided. These motions shall have preference in the order in which they are mentioned and the first two shall be decided without debate.
b.
Presiding officer. Such member of the Council as may be presiding may move, second and debate from the Chair, subject only to such limitations of debate as are by these rules imposed upon all members and shall not be deprived of any of the rights and privileges of a Councilperson by reason of his/her being the Mayor or presiding officer.
c.
Obtaining the floor; improper reference to be avoided. Every member desiring to speak for any purpose whatsoever shall address the presiding officer and, upon recognition, shall confine himself/herself to the question under debate, avoiding all personal attacks and indecorous language.
d.
Interruption. A member once recognized shall not be interrupted when speaking unless it be to call him/her to order or as herein otherwise provided. If a member while speaking be called to order, he/she shall cease speaking until the question of order is determined by the presiding officer and if determined to be in order, he/she shall be permitted to proceed.
e.
Appeal. Any member may appeal from the decision of the Chair upon a question of order. The Chair shall thereupon submit to the Council the question, "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" and the Council without debate shall decide by a majority vote.
f.
Closing debate. Any Councilperson shall have the privilege to move the question to be called.
Rule X. Manner of Addressing Council. In the proper order of business, anyone in the audience may address the Council upon recognition by the Chair. A person addressing the Council shall step up to the microphone, shall give his/her name and address in an audible tone of voice for the record and shall adhere to the time limit, if any, fixed by Council. All remarks shall be addressed to the Chair and not to any member thereof, unless the Chair so directs. No person, other than members of the Council and the person having the floor, shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a member of the Council, without the permission of the presiding officer. No question shall be addressed to a Councilperson other than through the presiding officer.
Rule XI. Decorum.
a.
By Councilpersons. While the Council is in session, the members shall preserve order and decorum and a member shall neither by conversation or otherwise, except as herein provided, delay or interrupt the proceedings or disturb the peace of the Council or any member while speaking or refuse to obey orders of the Council or its presiding officer.
b.
Others. Any person making impertinent or slanderous remarks or who shall become boisterous while addressing the Council may be barred by the presiding officer from further appearance before the Council, at that meeting, unless permission to continue or again address the Council be granted by the majority vote of the Council.
Rule XII. Enforcement of Decorum. The presiding officer may utilize all appropriate Borough personnel to maintain order and decorum at the Council meetings.
Rule XIII. Preparation of the Minutes.
a.
The minutes of each Council meeting shall contain every formal action of the governing body whether such action is represented by a motion, resolution or an ordinance.
b.
Remarks of Councilpersons. A Councilperson may request, through the presiding officer, the privilege of including in the minutes, an abstract of his/her statement reasonable in length on any subject before the Council. Such abstract shall be entered in the minutes.
c.
Council committee reports. A Council committee may request that any detailed written report of the committee be made a part of the minutes. Such report shall be first filed with the Clerk and shall be included in the minutes upon the consent of the Council.
[Added 10-28-2014 by Ord. No. 2325-2014]
A. 
All elected, newly elected or newly reelected members of the Borough Council shall not be eligible for Borough-subsidized health benefits, specifically including but not limited to hospital, medical, dental, major medical insurance benefits and prescription benefits.
B. 
Elected, newly elected or newly reelected members of the Borough Council may obtain health benefits through the Borough by contributing 100% of the costs of the hospital, medical, dental, major medical insurance benefits and prescription benefits and may also obtain hospital, medical, dental, major medical insurance benefits and prescription benefits for his/her dependents through the Borough by contributing 100% of the cost of the hospital, medical, dental, major medical insurance benefits and prescription benefits for said dependents.