At the time and date fixed in accordance with law, following their election, the members-elect of the Municipal Council shall assemble at the usual place of meeting of the governing body of the municipality and organize and elect one of their number as Mayor. The Mayor shall be chosen by ballot by majority vote of all members of the Municipal Council. If the members shall be unable, within five ballots to be taken within two days of said organizational meeting, to elect a Mayor, then the member who, in the election for members of the Municipal Council, received the greatest number of votes shall be the Mayor. Should such person decline to accept the office, then the person receiving the next highest vote shall be the Mayor, and so on, until the office is filled. (See N.J.S.A. 40:69A-86 [2])
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
[2]
Editor's Note: 0rdinance No. 1245, adopted 12-10-1984, read in part as follows: "Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:45A-1, the date and time of the reorganization meeting of the Township Council are hereby fixed at 8:00 p.m., prevailing time, on the first Monday in January, except that during a year that the first meeting shall be January 2."
A. 
The Mayor shall have only such functions, powers and duties as are prescribed by the Charter, as follows:
(1) 
He shall preside at all meetings of the Township Council and shall have a voice and vote in its proceedings.
(2) 
He shall execute on behalf of the Township all authorized bonds, notes, contracts and written obligations of the Township.
B. 
Any provision of a statute conferring the appointing power or other power upon the Mayor or other executive head of the municipality shall be construed as meaning the Township Manager, except as otherwise provided by the Charter.
A. 
All powers of the Township and the determination of all matters of policy shall be vested in the Council, except as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the Charter or this chapter.
B. 
It is the intention of this chapter that, unless otherwise specifically provided by the Charter, the Township Council shall act in all matters as a body, and it is contrary to the spirit of the Charter for any of its members to seek individually to influence the official acts of the Manager or any other officer or for the Council or any of its members to direct or request the appointment of any person to, or his removal from, office or to interfere in any way with the performance by such officers of their duties.
C. 
The Council and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the Manager and shall not give orders to any subordinates of the Manager, either publicly or privately.
D. 
Nothing herein contained shall prevent the Council from appointing committees or commissions of its own members or of citizens to conduct investigations into the conduct of any officer or department or any matter relating to the welfare of the Township and delegating to such committees or commissions such powers of inquiry as the Township Council may deem necessary.
Members of the Council shall be paid such sum as shall be provided by ordinance, in the same manner as other township salaries are paid, in full compensation for their services and expenses, except as may be otherwise provided by resolution with respect to occasional and specific expenses.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 30, Personnel Policies, Art. VI, Salaries and Compensation.
The Council shall, by resolution, determine its regular meeting time and provide for special meetings, rules of procedure and its standing order of business and agenda for each meeting. As to any matter not covered by the rules of procedure, Robert's Rules of Order shall apply.
A. 
Preparation of ordinances. All ordinances shall be prepared for presentation to the Council upon the request of a Councilman or a request, in writing, by the Manager.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
B. 
Prior approval by administrative staff. All ordinances, resolutions and contract documents, before presentation to the Council, shall have been approved as to form and legality by the Township Attorney or his authorized representative and shall have been examined as to administration by the Manager or his authorized representative. The Manager shall submit to the Council a written memorandum concerning the administrative aspects of each ordinance, resolution and contract, unless he shall advise the Council that no administrative questions are involved. Each administrative memorandum shall include the specific comments and recommendations of the department head concerned with the subject of the memorandum.
C. 
Introducing for passage or approval.
(1) 
Ordinances, resolutions and other matters or subjects requiring action by the Council shall be introduced and sponsored by a member of the Council, except that the Manager or Attorney may present ordinances, resolutions and other matters or subjects to the Council, and any Councilman may assume sponsorship thereof by moving that such ordinances, resolutions, matters or subjects be adopted; otherwise, they shall not be considered.
(2) 
Resolutions.
[Amended 4-19-2004 by Ord. No. 9-2004]
(a) 
No resolution shall be adopted without prior listing on the Council agenda, unless the Council agrees, by unanimous vote of those Council members present, to act on the resolution at the same session wherein it is introduced.
(b) 
Upon presentation of a resolution and prior to any vote thereon, there shall be an opportunity for public comment on the resolution for a period of up to five minutes unless a longer period is authorized by a majority vote to extend the lime for public comment.
(c) 
Any substantive change or amendment proposed to a resolution listed on the agenda shall be subject to the same procedures as to the approval of said changes or amendment in Subsection C(2) above.
(3) 
Ordinances and resolutions shall be called up for action only on motion of a member of the Council.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Former Sec. 2.7, relating to Council appointments, which immediately followed this section, was deleted at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
The Manager shall be responsible to the Council for proper administration of the affairs to the Township.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.