Any person claiming payment from the municipality shall present a detailed
bill of demand (N.J.S.A. 40A:5-16) to the Municipal Clerk, duly certified
or, in the alternative, supported by an affidavit of the claimant.
It shall be the duty of the Clerk to see that the signature of the officer
or employee, who has been duly designated by the local unit to certify that
the materials have been received by or the services rendered to the local
unit, appears on every claim (N.J.S.A. 40A:5-16).
Claims shall then be presented to the chairman of the committee responsible
for the placing of the order who, if satisfied the claims are proper, shall
approve the same. After such approval is given, the chairman shall file the
claims with the Municipal Clerk, who shall then present these claims to the
governing body for formal approval at a regular meeting.
Where the Mayor does not approve claims prior to the time they are presented
to the governing body for approval, it shall be his duty to incorporate in
the official minutes, by signing the approving resolution or by approving
the schedule of claims approved by the governing body, that he has examined
the same and has officially approved the same for payment.
Claims shall be considered by the governing body which shall approve
the same, except that said governing body may reject any claim presented to
it stating the reason for such rejection. Any disapproved claim shall be referred
back to the Municipal Clerk with such instructions as the governing body may
give at the time of disapproval.
It shall be the duty of the Municipal Clerk to record all claims in
the official minutes indicating that the governing body has by formal action
approved the same with appropriate record as to any claims disapproved or
rejected.
It shall be the duty of the Municipal Clerk, or such other officer designated
by resolution of the governing body, to indicate on said claims that they
have been approved for payment, with the date of approval thereof noted on
the claim.
After the Clerk has certified that the claims have been approved, he
shall turn the same over to the Treasurer or other chief financial officer,
who shall forthwith prepare the necessary checks for the payment thereof,
which said checks shall be signed by the Mayor or President of Council and
the Municipal Clerk and thereafter countersigned by the Treasurer or other
chief financial officer. After preparing checks for the payment of claims,
he shall record them in proper books of account and thereafter mail or otherwise
distribute the checks to the claimants.
In the case of payrolls, the appropriate department heads, or such officer
or employee as may be designated by resolution of the governing body, shall
prepare the necessary payrolls for all employees, which payrolls shall be
duly certified by the person authorized to certify that the services have
been rendered and the amount specified is in fact due and owing to the employee
or employees. Said payroll shall then be approved by the department head responsible
therefor and presented to the governing body for approval and, after approval,
shall be paid in due course.
In the case of reimbursement for actual and necessary traveling expenses,
itemized claims, supported by receipts where available, should be presented
in order to obtain reimbursement for expenses incurred by local officials
where authorized to travel by the municipality.