The purpose and intent of this chapter is to
foster the openness of government and provide citizens with information
concerning the various appointed volunteer municipal positions which
exist within the Borough of South Plainfield. This chapter further
provides for a procedure whereby a citizen can indicate his/her desire
to serve in a particular appointed position. Finally, this chapter
provides for a notification process so that those citizens who have
indicated a desire to hold a position will be notified when that position
is under consideration for appointment and will ultimately be notified
as to the action that was taken.
The following terms, as used in this chapter,
shall have the meanings set forth below unless the context within
which the term is used clearly provides for a different meaning:
APPOINTED VOLUNTEER MUNICIPAL POSITION
Any appointed volunteer position within the Borough government,
which is created either by statutory law or by ordinance or resolution.
Examples of such positions are members of any board, agency, or committee
of the Borough.
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
The official or body which by virtue of statutory law or
by ordinance or resolution is given the authority to appoint a person
to hold a particular appointed volunteer municipal position.
The Borough Administrator/Clerk shall cause
a register of appointed volunteer municipal positions to be prepared
and maintained. Such register shall be made available on the Borough's
Web site and at the Municipal Building and shall set forth at least
the following:
A. Title of each appointed volunteer municipal position.
B. Brief description of the position's powers and duties.
C. Any special credentials or qualifications required
to hold the position.
D. The length of term for the position.
E. The name of the person currently holding the position,
the expiration date of his or her term, and the number of vacant seats
on the board or commission.
F. The dates/times and frequency of any meetings which
the holder of the position must attend.
The Borough Administrator/Clerk shall maintain
a current updated listing of all existing vacancies for each appointed
volunteer municipal position within the municipality. Such list shall
be made available free of charge at the Municipal Clerk's office and
shall, in addition, be posted by the Municipal Clerk on a bulletin
board maintained for public announcements in the Municipal Building.
Unless essential for the proper functioning and/or carrying on of business of the local agency upon which the vacancy has occurred, a vacancy shall not be filled for a period of 10 days from its posting in order to allow interested persons time to submit applications as provided in §
118-6 below.
The Municipal Clerk shall maintain an application
form to be completed by any person interested in serving in an appointed
volunteer municipal position. Such application shall, at a minimum,
contain the following information:
E. Appointed volunteer municipal position sought.
F. Qualifications/experience for position.
Any person interested in serving in an appointed
volunteer municipal position may file an application for such position
with the Borough Clerk. Such application(s) may be filed at any time,
whether or not the appointed volunteer municipal position sought is
vacant. A person may withdraw his or her application at any time.
The Municipal Clerk shall maintain all filed
applications in a file or binder, segregated for each board or commission.
Applications shall be considered void after two years unless renewed
by the applicant.
Prior to filling any appointed volunteer municipal
position, the appropriate appointing authority shall review each application
filed for that position. Each person having submitted an application
for an appointed volunteer municipal position under consideration
to be filled shall be notified of said vacancy. The appointing authority
shall conduct such review, investigation and/or interviews as the
appointing authority deems necessary or advisable, in its discretion.
After a decision is reached to fill a vacant appointed volunteer municipal
position, all those who had submitted an application for that position
shall be notified of the appointing decision.