There is hereby created the office of Municipal
Administrator.
The Administrator shall be appointed by the
Mayor with the advice and consent of the governing body. If the mayor
fails to nominate within 30 days after the office of Municipal Administrator
is created or after the office becomes vacant or the council fails
to confirm any nomination made by the Mayor, then after the expiration
of 30 days, the Council shall appoint the Municipal Administrator,
a majority vote having at least three affirmative votes being required
for such purpose. The Mayor shall have no vote thereon except in the
case of a tie.
The Municipal Administrator shall be a resident
of the Borough. If the Municipal Administrator is not a resident of
Palisades Park at the time of appointment, the Municipal Administrator
shall become a resident of Palisades Park within 90 days thereafter
and will remain so during his/her tenure.
The term of office of the Municipal Administrator
shall be at the pleasure of the governing body.
The Municipal Administrator may be removed by
a two-thirds vote of the full governing body. The resolution of the
removal shall become effective three months after its adoption by
the governing body. The governing body may provide that the resolution
shall have immediate effect, provided, however, that the governing
body shall cause to be paid to the Administrator any unpaid balance
of his salary and his salary for the next three calendar months following
the adoption of the resolution.
The Municipal Administrator shall be chosen
on the basis of executive and administrative abilities and qualifications,
with special regard to education, training and experience in government
affairs and shall be a graduate of a duly accredited college or university.
The Municipal Administrator shall receive such
compensation as the ordinance creating such office shall provide and
as from time to time may otherwise be directed by the governing body
by ordinance. The Municipal Administrator's compensation shall not
be reduced during the term of office except by a two-thirds vote of
the full governing body. The initial salary for the Municipal Administrator
shall be $97,000 annually.
The Municipal Administrator shall be the Chief
Administrative Officer of the Borough. The Administrator's actions
shall be subject to the policy and directives of the Mayor and/or
resolutions of the Council. He/she shall be responsible for carrying
out policies established by the Mayor and Council, for the enforcement
and execution of all ordinances of the Borough and all state laws
and regulations subject to enforcement by Borough action and, in general,
for the proper administration of all affairs of the Borough within
the jurisdiction of the governing body.
For the purpose of carrying out his/her responsibilities
under this chapter and within the limitations permitted by authorized
staff and appropriations, the Municipal Administrator shall:
A. Direct and supervise the administration of all departments
and offices of the Borough government subject to the provisions of
statute and other Borough ordinances, except the Municipal Administrator
shall have no influence in the day-to-day operation of the Police
Department so long as there is a Chief of Police for the Borough of
Palisades Park.
B. Recommend for appointment all department heads to
the Mayor and Council.
C. Establish and maintain sound working policies including
scheduling of vacation holiday and sick leave; maintain appropriate
records of such reports and to enforce the personnel policy of the
Borough and any contractual obligations with employees entered into
by the Borough and, if requested by the Mayor, shall attend any meetings
of the Borough Council without the right to vote but with the obligation
to take part in the discussions if requested by the Mayor or any members
of the Council.
D. Prepare annually and recommend to the Mayor and Council
an operating and capital budget together with such explanatory comment
or statement as may be deemed desirable and/or necessary. The operating
budget shall be in such form as is required by law and shall, in addition,
contain detailed analysis of the various items of expenditure and
revenue.
E. Maintain a continuing review and analysis of budget
operations, work programs and cost of Borough services.
F. Work together with the chief financial officer to
approve and recommend to the Council the payment of all bills and
vouchers subject to law.
G. Make such study of governmental and administrative
operation of and needs of the Borough government and prepare and recommend
to the Council for adoption such plans, programs and measures as the
Administrator may deem necessary or expedient to meet present and
foreseeable needs.
H. Keep the Council advised of the financial condition
of the Borough and make such reports to the Council as requested by
it at least once a year and make an annual report on the administration
of the Borough government to the Mayor and Council.
I. Prepare, in conjunction with the Borough Clerk and
the Mayor, a preliminary agenda of Borough business for review and
consideration by the governing body at its meetings.
J. Devise and administer a system of referral and follow-up
by operating departments of requests for information regarding municipal
services from members of the public subject to the authority of the
Borough Clerk.
K. Administer programs in various other areas of internal
housekeeping such as insurance, assignment of space in the municipal
building, furniture, facilities and inventories of municipal property,
real and personal.
L. Perform such other duties as may be required of the
Municipal Administrator by ordinance or resolution of the Council.
M. Provide a liaison between the Mayor and Council and
the various municipal boards, agencies and departments of the Borough
and its professional advisors.
N. Inform and keep the Mayor and Council on all matters
assigned to him/her or otherwise within his/her jurisdiction.
O. Be responsible for the coordination of intra-departmental
operations and manage the day-to-day operation of the Borough Hall
by coordinating and supervising the activities of the Borough employees.
P. Study continually present and future budgets, purchasing
procedures, administrative procedures and personnel organization and
policies and make such recommendations to the Mayor and Council relating
thereto as he/she shall deem necessary.
Q. Be responsible for continually improving communications
between the various Borough personnel, departments, agencies, boards
and the Mayor and Council.
R. See that all the terms and conditions imposed in favor
of the Borough or its inhabitants in any statute or contract are faithfully
kept and performed and, upon knowledge of any violation, call the
same to the attention of the Borough Council.
S. Shall act as the chief labor negotiator for the purpose
of collective bargaining with all employees, but all settlements and
agreements are subject to approval by the Borough Council.
T. Review continually and make recommendations to the
Insurance Committee of the Borough Council for the Borough's insurance
program.
U. Act as liaison between the Borough and the various
county, state and federal agencies with respect to all applications
for funds and/or services and/or grants needed or required by the
Borough.
V. Review daily complaints concerning the functions and
obligations of the Borough as made by any of its residents, and keep
a permanent record of all complaints and the disposition made.
W. Make any recommendations which he/she may believe
will increase the efficiency of the operation of the Borough.
X. Prepare and present to the Mayor and Council a semiannual
report of the Borough affairs, which shall include a report from each
department head.
Y. Investigate, at any time, the affairs of any department
or office of the Borough and report any and all findings to the Mayor
and Council.
Z. Review, recommend, and evaluate the impact of proposed
federal and state legislation and the effect of new and existing legislation.
AA. Recommend and supervise the nature, location, cost
and extent of public improvements and coordinate the execution of
same.