All powers of the municipality and the determination
of all matters of policy shall be vested in the Township Council,
except as otherwise provided by the Charter, general law or this chapter.
[Amended 11-1-1977 by Ord. No. 40-11-77; 12-15-2009 by Ord. No. 16-12-2009]
The compensation of each member of the Council
shall be as set forth in the annual Salary Ordinance.[1] Any member elected or reelected after 2008 may participate
in the Township’s group health, dental or prescription benefits
plan only at his/her own expense.
[Amended 12-21-1971 by Ord. No. 22-12-71; 2-17-2004 by Ord. No. 3-2-2004]
At the annual reorganization meeting of the
Township Council, the Township Council shall designate one of its
members to serve as Deputy Mayor, to assume the functions of the Mayor
in the Mayor's absence, such as presiding at meetings of the Council,
executing bonds, notes, contracts and other written obligations to
the municipality and such other duties as would otherwise be performed
by the Mayor.
[Amended 12-21-1971 by Ord. No. 22-12-71]
A.
The Mayor shall have only such powers and duties as
Mayor as are expressly vested in him by this chapter. The Mayor shall
preside at all meetings of the Township Council and shall have a voice
and vote in its proceedings.
B.
In the absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor shall
preside at all regular and special meetings. In the absence of the
Mayor and the Deputy Mayor, the Township Clerk shall call the Council
to order, in the event there is a quorum, and it shall thereupon elect
a temporary Chairman for the time being. Upon the arrival of the Mayor,
the Deputy Mayor or the temporary Chairman, as the case may be, shall
immediately relinquish the chair upon the conclusion of the business
immediately before the Council.
C.
All bonds, notes, deeds, contracts and written obligations
of the municipality shall be executed on its behalf by the Mayor,
or in the event of his inability to act, the Deputy Mayor, or in the
event of the inability of the Mayor or Deputy Mayor to act, such Councilman
as the Township Council shall designate to act as Mayor during his
absence or disability.
A.
Regular Meetings. The Council shall meet annually
for organization on the first regular business day of January. The
Council shall meet regularly thereafter on such dates and at such
times as shall be set forth on the resolution establishing that year’s
meetings as adopted at the organization meeting; but in no event shall
the Council meet less than monthly.
[Amended 5-19-1970 by Ord. No. 8-70; 2-17-2004 by Ord. No. 3-2-2004; 7-19-2005 by Ord. No.
10-7-2005; 12-7-2010 by Ord. No. 30-12-2010]
B.
Special meetings. The Mayor may, and upon written
request of a majority of the Council shall, call a special meeting
of the Council. The call for a special meeting shall specify the purpose
of the meeting, and no business shall be transacted at any special
meeting other than that specified. The Mayor's call for a special
meeting shall be filed with the Clerk at least 24 hours prior to the
time for which the meeting is called. The Clerk shall forthwith give
notice thereof by telephone or telegraph to each Councilman, at such
place as he shall have previously designated for that purpose, and
also serve or cause to be served a written copy of the call upon each
Councilman by delivery of a copy to him personally or by the leaving
of a copy at his usual place of abode. The municipal police shall
cooperate with the Clerk in effectuating such service of notice. Upon
written waiver of notice executed by all of the members of the Council,
a special meeting may be held without prior notice, notwithstanding
the above provisions of this subsection.
[Amended 2-17-2004 by Ord. No. 3-2-2004]
C.
All regular and special meetings of the Council shall
be open to the public. The Manager, Attorney, Clerk and Engineer,
and such other municipal officers and employees as may be required
by general or special order of the Council, shall attend regular and
special meetings of the Council.
[Amended 11-1-1977 by Ord. No. 40-11-77]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 3-7, Conferences,
as amended, was repealed 2-17-2004 by Ord. No. 3-2-2004.
A majority of all the members elected to the
Council shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting
of the Council, but a lesser number than a quorum may adjourn any
meeting. If no member of the Council is present 1/2 hour after
the appointed time for any meeting, the Clerk shall adjourn the meeting.
[Amended 4-28-1981 by Ord. No. 9-4-81]
A.
Council meetings.
(1)
The format for Council meeting agendas shall be as
follows:
[Amended 6-9-1998 by Ord. No. 27-6-98]
|
Call to order
| |
|
Flag salute
| |
|
Statements of conformance with Open Public Meetings
Act[1]
| |
|
Roll call
| |
|
Proclamations
| |
|
Approval of minutes
| |
|
Correspondence
| |
|
Preliminary public comment
| |
|
Ordinances, second reading
| |
|
Ordinances, first reading
| |
|
Resolutions
| |
|
Motions
| |
|
Public comments
| |
|
Staff comments
| |
|
Adjournment
|
(a)
Items may be added to or removed from the agenda at
any point by a majority vote of those Council members present.
(b)
Preliminary public comment shall be limited to five
minutes per speaker. The total time for preliminary public comment
shall not exceed 15 minutes. Time limits imposed on preliminary public
comment can be suspended by a 2/3 vote of those Council members
present.
(c)
Additions to the agenda will be considered only after
Council comments have been made.
(d)
Beginning at 11:00 p.m., the Mayor will entertain
a motion for adjournment at the conclusion of each item of business.
An affirmative vote by a majority of those Council members present
shall constitute approval of such a motion.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.
(2)
Procedure for Council motions or comments.
(a)
Motions or comments shall be made only by the member
who has the floor.
(b)
Motions shall not be discussed until seconded.
(c)
Each Council member will have an opportunity to discuss
the motion for five minutes, after which each member will have a second
opportunity for a two-minute discussion.
(d)
Amendments to motions will be discussed in the same
manner as motions, except that both opportunities for discussion shall
be limited to two minutes.
(e)
A motion to table a specific date shall be discussed
only as to the date. Discussion shall be limited in the same manner
provided for amendments to motions.
(f)
A motion to table to no specific date shall not be
discussed.
(g)
A Council member shall not grant his allotted discussion
time to another Council member without the consent of a majority of
the Council members present.
(h)
Council and staff comments at the end of the agenda
shall be limited to five minutes per person.
(i)
All votes on motions shall be by roll call, with the
Township Clerk calling Council members in alphabetical order, with
the exception that the Mayor shall vote only after all other members
present have voted or abstained.
(j)
Rules imposing time limits may be relaxed by a 2/3
vote of the Council members present.
(3)
Procedure for public comment.
(a)
The chair will receive and direct all questions from
and answers to the public. Each Council member will be given the opportunity
to discuss or answer a public comment or question. Comments or answers
shall be limited to five minutes.
(b)
Ordinances. The Council, by a vote of a majority of the members present, may permit public comment prior to first reading. This comment shall not be considered a public hearing and is subject to the time limitations of § 3-9A(1)(b).
(c)
Resolutions. The Council, by a vote of a majority of the members present, may permit public comment before a vote on the resolution is taken. This comment shall not be considered a public hearing and is subject to the time limitations of § 3-9A(1)(b).
(d)
In lieu of, or in addition to, public comment at meetings, the Council, by a majority vote of the members present, may authorize the Township Clerk to send a copy of a proposed ordinance or resolution to appropriate community groups. The Township Clerk shall include a notice that all comments, if in writing, must be received by the Friday before the next meeting at which the ordinance or resolution is to be considered. Oral comments will be permitted at the meeting in accordance with § 3-9A(1)(b).
(e)
Rules imposing time limits may be relaxed by a 2/3
vote of the Council members present.
B.
Caucus meetings.
(1)
The format for caucus meeting agendas shall be as
follows:
|
Ordinances, second reading
| |
|
Ordinances, first reading
| |
|
Ordinances, tabled
| |
|
Ordinances, proposed
| |
|
Introduction of new ordinances
| |
|
Resolutions
| |
|
Introduction of new resolutions
| |
|
Discussion
|
(a)
Discussion of any item shall not exceed one hour.
At the end of that time the chair will call for a vote to place the
item on the next Council meeting agenda. If a majority of the Council
members present do not approve, the chair will call for a vote to
place the item on the next caucus agenda or a specified future caucus
agenda. If a majority of the Council members present do not approve,
the chair will call for a vote to remove the item from the agenda
until revised and resubmitted.
(2)
Procedure for discussion.
(a)
Rules imposing time limits may be relaxed by a 2/3
vote of the Council members present.
(b)
Beginning at 11:00 p.m. the Mayor will entertain a
motion for adjournment at the conclusion of each item of business.
An affirmative vote by a majority of those Council members present
shall constitute approval of such a motion.
C.
Except as may be provided in this Code or by other
applicable law, questions of order, methods of organization and the
conduct of business of the Council shall be governed by the latest
revised edition of Robert's Rules of Order.
