There shall be a Department of Administration, the head of which shall be the Business Administrator.
A. 
Appointment. The Mayor shall, with the advice and consent of the Council, appoint a Business Administrator, who shall be chosen solely on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications, with special reference to actual experience in or knowledge of the duties of the office and who shall serve until the appointment and qualification of a successor. At the time of the appointment, the Business Administrator need not be a resident of the Township or the state, but during the Business Administrator's tenure of office, the Business Administrator may reside outside the Township only with the approval of the Council as set forth in N.J.S.A. 40:69A-44.
B. 
Full-time position; holding of other offices. The Business Administrator shall devote full time to the duties of the office, except that nothing herein shall prevent the Business Administrator from also holding any other appointive municipal office of the Township and fulfilling the duties thereof.
C. 
Acting Business Administrator. Whenever and so long as there is a vacancy in the office of Business Administrator, the Mayor may serve as Acting Business Administrator without additional compensation, or the Mayor may appoint another suitable person to act as Acting Business Administrator. Any such appointment shall terminate after 90 days, unless the Council shall, by resolution, authorize one or more extensions. The Acting Business Administrator shall have all the functions, powers and duties of the Business Administrator.
Under the direction and supervision of the Mayor, the Business Administrator shall:
A. 
Assist in the preparation of the budget;
B. 
Administer a centralized purchasing system;
C. 
Be responsible for the development and administration of a sound personnel system;
D. 
Perform such other duties as council may prescribe.
E. 
The Business Administrator shall, subject to the direction of the Mayor, supervise the administration of each of the departments established by ordinance. For this purpose, the Business Administrator shall have power to investigate the organization and operation of any and all departments, to prescribe standards and rules of administrative practice and procedure, and to consult with the heads of the departments under his jurisdiction; provided that with respect to any department of law or department of audit, accounts or control, the authority of the Business Administrator under this subsection shall extend only to matters of budgeting, personnel and purchasing.
Nothing herein shall derogate from the powers and duties of the elective or appointive officials of the Township or of the boards and commissions thereof established pursuant to law or authorize the Business Administrator to exercise the powers and duties thereof.
A. 
Appointment; Term. There is hereby established an Office of Law which shall be filled by the Township Attorney. The Township Attorney shall be appointed by the Council for a term of one year and shall receive such compensation as provided by the Council.
B. 
Powers and Duties. Except as otherwise provided by ordinance, the Township Attorney shall:
(1) 
Serve as legal advisor on all matters of Township business;
(2) 
Represent the Township in all judicial and administrative proceedings in which the Township or any of its officers or agencies may be a party or have an interest;
(3) 
Draft or approve as to form and sufficiency all legal documents, contracts, deeds, ordinances and resolutions made, executed or adopted by or on behalf of the Township;
(4) 
Supervise and direct the work of such additional attorneys and technical and professional assistants as Council may authorize for special or regular employment in the Department of Law.
C. 
Limitation on Power to Compromise. The Township Attorney shall not, without the approval of the Council by resolution, be empowered to compromise, settle or adjust any rights, claims, demands or causes of action in favor of or against the Township, nor to permit, offer or confess judgment against the Township, nor to accept any offer of judgment in favor of the Township. Nothing in this section shall operate to limit or abridge the discretion of the Township Attorney in regard to the proper conduct of the trial of any action or proceeding or to deprive him of the powers and privileges ordinarily exercised in judicial proceedings by counsel acting for private clients.
[Amended 11-27-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-17]
There shall be, within the Department of Police, a Division called Vernon Township Bureau of Animal Control. The Division Head shall be the Certified Animal Control Officer. The Certified Animal Control Officer shall be appointed by and subject to removal by the Mayor. Subordinate officers and employees of the Bureau of Animal Control may also be appointed and removed by the Mayor. The Certified Animal Control Officer shall be supervised by the Chief of Police or his designee.
This provision of the Township Code will expire three (3) years from the date of the adoption of this Ordinance No. 2017-17 and Animal Control will revert to being within the Department of Administration unless this provision of the Township Code is renewed.
A. 
Within the Department of Administration, there is hereby established a Division of Assessments, the head of which shall be the Tax Assessor.
B. 
Prior to appointment, the Tax Assessor shall be qualified by training and experience in municipal taxation, the valuation and assessment of property for purposes of ad valorem taxation and shall be certified as a municipal tax assessor as provided by general law.
C. 
With the assistance of such personnel as may be authorized by ordinance, the Tax Assessor shall:
(1) 
Value all real and personal property in the Township for the purposes of assessment and taxation in accordance with general law, the Charter and ordinances, and exercise all the powers of a municipal assessor pursuant to law;
(2) 
Prepare the tax list and duplicate as required by law, and maintain adequate assessment records of each and every parcel of real property assessed or exempted;
(3) 
Have custody of and maintain an up-to-date Township Tax Map and provide for the recording thereon of all changes in ownership or character of the property;
(4) 
Make appraisals of property for any municipal purpose upon direction of the Mayor.
A. 
There is hereby established, within the Department of Administration, a Division of Personnel, the head of which shall be the Personnel Administrator.
B. 
The Personnel Administrator, subject to the direction and supervision of the Business Administrator, shall serve as professional advisor and staff of the Division and shall:
(1) 
Develop, administer, and evaluate all recruitment and training programs.
(2) 
Assist the Business Administrator with the administration of all pension funds and programs of the Township and retirements thereto.
(3) 
Assist the Business Administrator with the administration of all matters pertaining to health benefits, group life insurance and workers' compensation coverage for all Township officials and employees.
(4) 
Maintain and administer the personnel policies of the Township.
(5) 
Assist the Business Administrator with the administration of an employee disciplinary action system, affirmative action, and grievance procedures and hearings.
(6) 
Assist and advise the Township Mayor, if so requested, with collective bargaining negotiations and labor relations of the Township.
(7) 
Assist and advise the Township Mayor, if so requested, in the interviewing and employee evaluation process.
(8) 
Develop and administer employee development programs, workshops, and activities, independently and at the request of the Township Mayor, as needed to maintain a supportive and productive work environment.
(9) 
Develop, administer, and perform other personnel-related duties as requested by the Business Administrator.
(10) 
Assist and advise all employees with regard to personal or work-related issues which are not conductive to a supportive and productive work environment.
(11) 
Assist in the maintenance of the central payroll system and all social security, pension and insurance records required for Township personnel.