[Adopted 4-23-1996 by Ord. No. 96-3]
There is hereby established a Local Assistance Board in accordance with N.J.S.A. 44:8-114 et seq.
The Local Assistance Board shall be comprised of five persons who shall be appointed by the Mayor subject to confirmation from the Council. At all times, at least one of the persons comprising the Local Assistance Board shall be a woman.
Members of the Local Assistance Board shall serve without compensation but shall be allowed their necessary and actual expenses consistent with the applicable regulations.
The term of office of members of the Local Assistance Board shall be as follows:
A. 
The term of one member (Member No. 1) of the Local Assistance Board shall be a one-year duration, and such member may, but need not be, appointed from among the membership of the Governing Body of the municipality.
B. 
The terms of all other members shall be as follows:
(1) 
Member No. 2 shall be appointed for an initial term of one year. Thereafter, the term for Member No. 2 shall be four years.
(2) 
Member No. 3 shall be appointed for an initial term of two years. Thereafter, the term for Member No. 3 shall be four years.
(3) 
Member No. 4 shall be appointed for an initial term of three years. Thereafter, the term for Member No. 4 shall be four years.
(4) 
Member No. 5 shall be appointed for an initial term of four years. Thereafter, the term for Member No. 5 shall be four years.
C. 
The intention of this article is that Member No. 1 shall at all times be serving a one-year term, and Member Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 shall have their initial terms staggered so that one term expires each year and thereafter all terms shall be four years.
D. 
The term of each member of a Local Assistance Board shall begin on the first day of January, and each member shall continue in office until his successors shall be appointed and qualify. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired terms only and shall be filled by the Governing Body in the same fashion as appointments.
The Local Assistance Board shall organize and select a Chairman and Secretary and shall appoint a Director of Welfare, who shall be the first executive and administrative officer of the Board. The Director of Welfare shall hold office for a term of five years from the date of appointment and shall be paid such salary as may be fixed by the Governing Body. In the case of vacancy in the office of Director of Welfare, one temporary or acting Director may be appointed to serve for not more than 90 days.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Other employees, including assistance clerks, investigators and nurses, if any, and in such number as may be necessary to properly administer public assistance, shall be appointed in the same manner as other employees of the municipality.
No employee of the Welfare Department whose compensation is paid from funds received or appropriated from public assistance or the administration thereof in any manner shall hold any office in any political party.
The Director of Welfare of the Borough of Westwood shall have the following duties:
A. 
Supervise by periodic investigation every person receiving public assistance, said investigation to be made by visitation at least once a month.
B. 
Reconsider from month to month the amount and nature of public assistance given and alter, amend or suspend the same where the circumstances so require.
C. 
Devise ways and means for bringing persons unable to maintain themselves to self-support or to the support of any person or agency able and willing to support them.
D. 
Keep full and complete records of such investigation, supervision, assistance and rehabilitation and all certifications of persons for employment or benefits and cancellations thereof, in such manner and form as required by the Commissioner.
E. 
Bring about appropriate action for commitment to any state or county institution when the best interests of needy persons would be so served.
F. 
Supervise the obtaining of the sworn affidavits required, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 44:8-119, of any applicant for public assistance.
Immediate public assistance shall be rendered promptly to any needy person by the Director of Welfare where the person is found at the time of application. Notwithstanding the foregoing, needy persons residing in public or private facilities providing residential therapeutic medical services shall be deemed the responsibility of the municipality of their customary place of abode prior to placement in said facility.
The Director of Welfare shall also, without limitation, undertake the following duties:
A. 
Inquiries pursuant to N.J.S.A. 44:8-121.
B. 
Determinations and orders pursuant to N.J.S.A. 44:8-123.
C. 
Administration of continued assistance pursuant to N.J.S.A. 44:8-124.
D. 
It shall be the duty of the Director of Welfare to comply with the applicable statutes and supporting regulations relative to the administration of public assistance within the Borough of Westwood. It shall be the duty of the members of the Local Assistance Board to oversee the performance of the Director of Welfare and compliance with applicable regulations.
A. 
In addition, the Local Assistance Board shall adopt such rules, regulations and guidelines as may be necessary to provide for the discharge of the municipality's obligations pursuant to N.J.S.A. 44:8-124 and other statutes.
B. 
The Local Assistance Board shall, except where expressly exempted by specific regulation pertaining to its functions, comply with the Local Budget Law, the Local Fiscal Affairs Law, and the Local Public Contracts Law.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40A:4-1 et seq., N.J.S.A. 40A:5-1 et seq., and N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq., respectively.
C. 
This article is intended to specifically authorize the Local Assistance Board to undertake and discharge all of its duties as provided by law, and the enumeration of its duties and obligations herein is not intended to limit or abridge any statute or regulation that applies to same.