[Adopted 12-26-1975 by Ord. No. 700 as § 2-1 of
the 1975 Revised General Ordinances (Ch. 17 of the 1986 Code); amended
in its entirety 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-23]
A.
There shall
be a Borough Clerk, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:9-133 et seq., who shall
be appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Borough
Council, to an initial term of three years and who shall receive a
salary as determined by the annual salary ordinance and resolution.
The Borough Clerk must be certified as a registered municipal clerk
by the Department of Community Affairs Division of Local Government
Services. Upon completion of an initial three-year term of office
and reappointment by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the
Borough Council, the Borough Clerk shall be granted tenure pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 40A:9-133 et seq.
B.
In the
case of a vacancy in the office of Borough Clerk, the Mayor, with
the advice and consent of the Borough Council, may appoint an Acting
Borough Clerk pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:9-133.
C.
The Borough
Clerk shall be the Director of the Clerk's Office and shall report
to the Borough Administrator and provide regular reports of the activity
of the office to the Borough Administrator. The Borough Clerk's Office
may be staffed by any number of clerk-typists and administrative assistants,
as may be determined by the Mayor and Borough Council, who shall receive
a salary as determined by the annual salary ordinance and resolution
and who shall work under the direction of the Borough Clerk in fulfilling
the responsibilities and duties of the Clerk's Office, the Borough
Administrator's Office, and the Mayor's Office.
D.
There may
be a Deputy Borough Clerk, as may be determined by the Mayor and Borough
Council, who shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and
consent of the Borough Council, and who shall receive a salary as
determined by the annual salary ordinance and resolution. The term
of office shall be for one year from January 1 to December 31. The
filling of a vacancy shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term.
The Deputy Borough Clerk shall work under the direction of the Borough
Clerk in supervising the staff of the Clerk's Office and fulfilling
the responsibilities and duties of the Clerk's Office, the Borough
Administrator's Office, and the Mayor's Office.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:9-133 et seq., and subject to the supervision
of the Mayor and Council and the Borough Administrator, the Borough
Clerk shall have all the following powers and duties:
A.
Act as
secretary of the municipal corporation and custodian of the municipal
seal and of all minutes, books, deeds, bonds, contracts, and archival
records of the municipal corporation. The governing body may, however,
provide by ordinance that any other specific officer shall have custody
of any specific other class of record.
B.
Act as
secretary to the governing body for the purpose of: preparing meeting
agendas for all meetings of the Mayor and Council; being present at
all meetings of the Mayor and Council; keeping the minutes of all
meetings of the Mayor and Council; maintaining a journal of the proceedings
of every meeting of the Mayor and Council; and retaining the original
copies of all ordinances and resolutions adopted by the Mayor and
Council.
C.
Serve as
the chief administrative officer in all elections held in the municipality,
subject to the requirements of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.
D.
Serve as
chief registrar of voters in the municipality, subject to the requirements
of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.
E.
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 municipal ordinance has delegated that responsibility
to some other municipal officer.
F.
Serve as
coordinator and records manager responsible for implementing local
archives and records retention programs as mandated pursuant to Title
47 of the Revised Statutes.
The Clerk shall have custody of and safely keep all records,
books and documents of the Borough, except those committed by ordinance,
resolution or law to any other office. On request and on the payment
of the fees prescribed therefor, the Clerk shall furnish a certified
copy of any paper in the Clerk's custody under the corporate seal
of the Borough.
The Clerk shall cause the corporate seal of the Borough to be
affixed to instruments and writings when authorized by ordinance or
resolution of the Mayor and Council or when necessary to exemplify
any document on record in the Clerk's office or to certify any act
or paper which from the records in the Clerk's office shall appear
to have been a public act of the Borough or a public document.
Subject to the supervision of the Mayor and Borough Council
and the Borough Administrator, the Borough Clerk shall have all the
following authorities and responsibilities:
A.
Be a signatory on all Borough bank accounts and checks thereof.
B.
Record, sign, and certify all ordinances as to their adoption and
proof of publication and maintain all ordinances within a properly
updated and indexed Borough Code Book. Any omission by the Clerk to
record, sign or certify any ordinance or properly maintain it within
the Borough Code Book shall not impair or affect the validity of an
ordinance which has been duly adopted.
C.
Be the depository for and the custodian of all of the following:
(1)
Bylaws
of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Wood-Ridge.
(2)
Surety
bonds furnished by or on account of any officer or employee of the
Borough, except the Clerk's own bond, which shall be placed in the
custody of the Tax Collector.
(3)
Performance
bonds pledged and inuring to the benefit of the Borough or any other
form of security given by a contractor, subdivision developer or other
persons on account of work done or to be done in or for the Borough.
(4)
Insurance
policies on or with respect to risks insured for the benefit of the
Borough or to protect it against any claim, demand or liability.
(5)
Contracts
for work, labor, services, supplies, equipment and materials to which
the Borough may be a party.
(6)
Deeds
and leases of property owned by the Borough.
(7)
Personnel
records of all employees of the Borough.
(8)
Bylaws,
policies, rules, and/or regulations promulgated by the Mayor and Council
and/or any Borough officer or employee governing the powers, duties
and/or conduct of any Borough employees or the operation of any department,
agency, office, board or commission of the Borough.
D.
Serve as executive secretary to the Mayor, the Borough Council, and
the Borough Administrator and assign and supervise subordinate staff
as necessary to perform and fulfill any and all such related duties.
E.
Serve as the Borough Assessment Searcher, with a salary as determined
by the annual salary ordinance and resolution, if so appointed by
the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Borough Council.
F.
Serve as the Borough Registrar of Vital Statistics and Secretary
of the Board of Health, with a salary as determined by the annual
salary ordinance and resolution, if so appointed by the Board of Health.
G.
Act as the point of contact for inquiries from, and provide customer
service support to, residents, other government instrumentalities
and agencies, and the public at large.
H.
Any such other authorities and responsibilities which may be directed
or delegated by the Mayor and Borough Council via resolution or ordinance.
I.
Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Mayor and Borough
Council and/or the Borough Administrator.
