A.
There shall be a Department of Municipal Services, the head of which shall be the Director. Prior to his appointment, the Director shall be qualified by training or experience, or a combination thereof, for the duties of his office.
Under supervision and direction of the Mayor, the Director shall:
A.
Administer the work of the Department.
B.
Supervise and maintain departmental records and collect and record data for payroll and inventory controls and cost analyses.
C.
Enforce standards and procedures for the control, use and care of all Town-owned equipment and of materials and supplies in the custody of the Department.
D.
Have and exercise the duties and powers of a department head as otherwise prescribed by the Mayor or Code.
E.
Provide to the Town Council, in all cases where the Town has incurred costs to abate Code violations, a detailed certification of such costs sufficient to support a lien. This subsection shall apply in any situation where a lien is authorized by a provision of the Code of the Town of Phillipsburg or by the statutes of the State of New Jersey.
[Added 6-6-1995 by Ord. No. 0:95-19]
A.
Division established. Within the Department of Municipal Services, there shall be a Division of Engineering, the head of which shall be the Town Engineer.
B.
Powers and duties. The Division may, at the direction of Mayor:
(1)
Prepare or cause to be prepared plans and specifications for public works and improvements undertaken by the Town, either on force account or by public contract.
(2)
Coordinate the activities of consulting engineers that may be retained from time to time by the Town in connection with the contractual responsibilities of such engineers and examine and reject or approve all vouchers submitted for work performed by contractors in accordance with improvement contracts entered into by the Town.
(3)
Provide and maintain surveys, maps, plans, specifications and operating records with respect to public works and facilities owned or operated by the Town and maintain and index as-built plans of all Town construction.
(4)
Study and report upon the technical requirements of streetlighting and traffic control.
(5)
Provide technical and engineering advice and assistance to other Town departments as required.
(6)
Review all proposed preliminary and final subdivision plats and site plans to ensure their conformity with Chapter 555, Subdivision of Land, and with all other ordinances relating to land use requirements. The Engineer shall issue certificates as to approval of subdivisions of land as authorized by law, when a land subdivision has been approved in accordance with Chapter 555, Subdivision of Land, of the Town (see N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.). Prior to the issuance of such certificate, he shall secure from the Secretary of the Planning Board, whenever the Engineer is not the Secretary, his countersignature, which shall indicate that, according to the records of the Board and his knowledge, information and belief, the certificate is correct.
[Amended 6-6-2006 by Ord. No. O:2006-24]
(7)
Provide staff services to the Planning Board, if the Planning Board so desires. The Division shall, within the limits of available appropriations and with the assistance of such independent consultants as may be retained, provide staff services to the Planning Board. Such services, with limitation thereto, shall include:
(a)
Preparation of maps, charts, tables and exhibits as required for the development and current maintenance of the Master Plan.
(b)
Research, analyses and recommendations with respect to the physical development and needs of the Town.
(c)
Assistance in the development and preparation of the capital program and capital budget for the Town.
(8)
Inspect and approve all improvements prior to the Planning Board's granting subdivision approval or releasing any securities. The Planning Board shall not act finally under Chapter 555, Subdivision of Land, or Chapter 510, Site Plan Review, unless and until the findings and recommendations of the Division of Engineering have been made a part of its public record.
(9)
Maintain the Tax Map for the Division of Assessments and be responsible for promptly recording thereon all changes in ownership from information as provided by law.
(10)
The Engineer may receive applications for and issue street opening permits and may administer the Town ordinances relating to street opening.
C.
Board of Assessments.
(1)
Within the Division of Engineering, there shall be a Board of Assessments. The Board shall consist of three Commissioners to be appointed by the Mayor, each to serve for a term of one year beginning July 1 of the year in which he is appointed. Vacancies shall be filled by the Council for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(2)
The Board of Assessments shall make all assessments for benefits accruing from local improvements, as authorized by ordinance. No member of the Board shall participate in the making of any assessment when he is in any way interested in the improvements, except that this disqualification shall not apply as to an interest by reason of being a taxpayer as to an improvement of a general nature affecting the greater part of the real estate in the Town. In the event of a disqualification as to any local improvement, the Mayor shall appoint a qualified person to serve as Commissioner for the assessment of benefits for such improvement (see N.J.S.A. 40:56-21 and 40:56-22).
Within the Department of Municipal Services, there shall be a Division of Inspections, the head of which shall be the Construction Official. The Division shall:
C.
Make building and other inspections as required to administer and enforce the provisions of any Town code and fire alarm and prevention services (except as such services may be provided by the volunteer fire companies), for which there shall be additional officers and employees as otherwise provided by ordinance.
D.
Conduct and administer such other inspections and enforcement proceedings as are authorized by the ordinances and laws under its administration. It shall, so far as practicable, consolidate and coordinate all regulatory inspections relating to the construction, maintenance, use and occupancy of buildings and structures which are not vested in any other department or division by the Administrative Code. As to other regulatory inspection functions, the Division shall provide for cooperative inspection and enforcement as far as practicable.
F.
Make inspections as required to administer and enforce the provisions of the Property Maintenance Code.
G.
Assist other departments as necessary to provide safe and adequate housing for all citizens.
H.
Provide staff services to the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Adjustment.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Ordinance No. O:2014-09, adopted 4-1-2014, dissolved the Zoning Board of Adjustment and vested the Planning Board with the powers and duties and functions of the Zoning Board of Adjustment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-25(c)(1).
Within the Department of Municipal Services, there shall be a Division of Maintenance Services. Subject to the supervision and direction of the Director, the Division shall:
A.
Maintain, repair, construct and reconstruct all Town streets and roads.
B.
Clean, repair and maintain storm and sanitary sewers and drains and catch basins on a regular basis, plus in emergencies.
C.
Collect and remove leaves and debris from Town streets and roads and sweep and clean such streets and roads on a regular basis.
D.
Remove snow and ice from Town streets and roads and spread sand, salt and other materials as required for safe use of the streets and roads.
E.
Install, repair and maintain street traffic signs, traffic lines and markers in accordance with Town ordinances.
F.
Provide or supervise the provision for the care, storage, use and maintenance of motor vehicles and motorized equipment owned by the Town, in accordance with policies set by the Director.
G.
Collect and dispose of solid wastes as otherwise provided by ordinance.
H.
Operate and maintain such facilities for solid waste disposal as may be authorized by ordinance.
I.
Provide for custodial and janitorial services for municipal building.
J.
Operate and maintain public buildings owned by the Town, except that leases and rentals for the use of Town property shall be administered by the Department of Administration.
K.
Trim, plant and care for Town parks, trees and landscaping.
L.
Maintain and repair play fields, playgrounds and recreational areas and facilities, as requested by and pursuant to instructions of the Director of Recreation, subject to and within the budgetary appropriations of the Department of Recreation.
M.
Establish standards and procedures for the control, use and care of all Town-owned equipment, materials and supplies in the custody of the department.
N.
Supervise and enforce the Town's interest in public contracts for streetlighting.