Township of Washington, NJ Article I Township Clerk

§ 23-1 Appointment; term; qualifications; removal.

The Township Clerk shall be appointed by the Township Committee. The term of office shall be three years, which shall run from the date of appointment. No person shall be Township Clerk unless that person meets all of the qualifications and requirements set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:9-133.2 and 40A:9-133.4c. No person shall be reappointed as Township Clerk unless that person holds a Registered Municipal Clerk certificate, as required by N.J.S.A. 40A:9-133.6. The Township Clerk shall be eligible for tenure as set forth by law. The Township Clerk shall be generally governed by the parameters of state statute and township ordinances/resolutions. The removal of the Township Clerk shall be pursuant to law.

§ 23-2 Powers and duties.

A. The Clerk shall serve as secretary of the Township and custodian of the Township Seal and of all minutes, books, deeds, bonds, contracts and archival records of the Township, except those committed by ordinance to any other office or transferred thereto by the Township Committee.

B. The Clerk shall act as secretary to the Township Committee, prepare meeting agendas at the discretion of the Township Committee, be present at all meetings of the Township Committee, unless expressly excluded by a majority of the Committee present, keep a journal of the proceedings of every meeting, retain the original copies of all ordinances and resolutions and record the minutes of every meeting. The Clerk shall also file all ordinances in books to be provided for that purpose. Each ordinance so recorded shall be signed by the Clerk, who shall attest that it was fully adopted upon a date stated, and, when so signed, the recorded copy shall be deemed to be a public record of the ordinance. Any omission by the Clerk to sign or certify shall not impair or affect the validity of any ordinance which has been duly adopted. The Clerk shall, on request and by the payment of fees prescribed therefor by state statute or Township ordinance/resolution, where applicable, furnish a copy of any Township paper in his/her custody and, if necessary, under the corporate seal of the Township.

C. The Clerk shall cause the corporate seal of the Township to be affixed to instruments and writings, when authorized by ordinance or resolution of the Township Committee or when necessary to exemplify any document or record in his/her office or to certify any act or paper from which the records in his/her office shall appear to have been a public act of the Township or a public document. He/she shall not affix the seal or cause or permit it to be affixed to any other instrument, writing or other paper, unless required by law or ordinance.

D. The Clerk, subject to the supervision of the Township Committee and in addition to all other duties set forth herein and/or set forth in general law and other Township ordinances, shall:

(1) Be the depository and custodian of all official surety bonds furnished by or on account of any officer or employee, except the Clerk's own bond, which shall be placed in the custody of the Chief Municipal Finance Officer; of all insurance policies upon or with respect to risks insured for the benefit of the Township or to protect it against any claim, demand or liability whatsoever; and of all formal contracts for work, labor, services, supplies, equipment and materials to which the Township may be a party.

(2) Have custody of all leases for property owned by the Township.

(3) Report to the Township Committee annually, or at such other times as it may require, on the coverage, expiration date and premium of each surety bond, contract of insurance and performance/maintenance guaranties, the nature and terms of outstanding leases, the rent received by each and their respective expiration dates.

(4) Issues licenses, i.e., liquor, bingo and raffles, peddler, etc.

(5) Work all hours and days as assigned by the Township Committee by resolution in the municipal building or other place as so designated by the Township Committee.

(6) Be available by telephone and/or other forms of communications equipment when needed by the Township Committee, any member thereof or any employee of the Township.

(7) Be available to residents of the Township of Washington and act in a responsible and professional manner to all inquiries on a timely basis.

E. The Clerk shall maintain a current compilation of all administrative rules and regulations, which shall be available for public inspection in his/her office during business hours. The clerk shall have the power to administer oaths in matters concerning Township business.

F. In addition to such other functions, powers and duties as may be prescribed by ordinance and subject to the supervision and direction of the Township Committee, the Clerk shall:

(1) Perform as the chief administrative officer in all elections held in the Township and serve as Chief Registrar of voters in the Township, both subject to the requirements of Title 19 of the New Jersey Statutes Annotated.

(2) Serve as the administrative officer responsible for the acceptance of applications for licenses and permits and the issuance of licenses and permits, except where statute or Township ordinance has delegated that responsibility to some other Township officer.

(3) Serve as coordinator and records manager responsible for implementing local archives and records retention programs, as mandated pursuant to Title 47 of the New Jersey Statutes Annotated.

(4) Make municipal improvement (assessment) searches.

(5) Have such other different and additional functions, powers and duties as may be provided by law or ordinance or delegated to the Clerk by the Township Committee.

§ 23-3 Deputy Township Clerk.

[Amended 4-17-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-08]

The Township Committee may appoint a Deputy Township Clerk for any period of time necessary, not to exceed one calendar year. The Deputy Township Clerk shall have all the powers and perform all the duties of the Township Clerk during such specific period(s) of time as the Clerk is absent or disabled, as determined by the Township Committee. He/she shall assist the Township Clerk in the performance of his/her duties separate and apart from the conditions herein, as the Township Committee may from time to time prescribe.

§ 23-4 Compensation.

The compensation of the Township Clerk and Deputy Township Clerk shall be fixed from time to time by ordinance by the Township Committee.