There shall be an office of the Clerk, the head of which shall be the Municipal Clerk. The Municipal Clerk shall be appointed by the Council and shall, prior to appointment, be qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office. The Clerk shall serve for a term of three years, except where the Clerk has, pursuant to law, received tenure, and the Clerk shall receive compensation as provided by ordinance.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
The Clerk, or such Deputy Clerk as may be designated by the Clerk and Township Council, shall serve as Clerk of the Township Council and as secretary of any special legislative committees of the Council appointed pursuant to the Charter. The Clerk or designated Deputy Clerk shall attend all public meetings of the Council and of such committees when required by the chairperson thereof and shall keep the minutes of the proceedings of the Council and of such committees. The minutes of each meeting of the Council shall be signed by the officer presiding at the meeting and by the Clerk or designated Deputy Clerk.
A. 
The Clerk shall engross all ordinances and all resolutions of a permanent character in books to be provided for that purpose. After each ordinance, the Clerk shall also engross and certify the proof of publication thereof as required by law. Each ordinance and resolution so engrossed shall be signed by the Mayor and the Clerk, who shall attest that it was duly adopted upon a date stated, and when so signed, the engrossed copy shall be deemed to be a public record of the ordinance or resolution. Any omission by the Clerk or the Mayor to engross, sign or certify as herein required shall not impair or affect the validity of any ordinance which has been duly adopted.
B. 
At the close of each year, the Clerk, with the advice and assistance of the Township Solicitor, shall bind, compile or codify all the ordinances and resolutions, or true copies thereof, which then remain in force and effect. The Clerk shall also properly index the record books, compilation or codification of ordinances and resolutions.
The Clerk shall have custody of and shall safely keep all records, books and documents of the Township, except those committed by Charter, statute or ordinance to any other office. The Clerk shall, upon request and upon the payment of the fees prescribed therefor for the use of the Township, furnish a certified copy of any such paper in the Clerk's custody, under the Corporate Seal of the Township. All records, books and documents required to be kept by the Clerk as custodian and all other official Township records maintained by any other Township official shall be maintained at the Township offices.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
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 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 Township or a public document. The Clerk shall not affix the Seal or cause or permit it to be affixed to any other instrument or writing or other paper, unless required by law or ordinance.
The Clerk, subject to the supervision of the Manager, shall:
A. 
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 Treasurer); 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 municipality may be a party.
B. 
Be the depository for and have custody of all performance bonds running to the Township as obligee, or any other form of security given by any contractor, subdivision developer or other persons on account of work done or to be done in or for the Township.
C. 
Have custody of all leases of property owned by the Township.
D. 
Report to the Manager annually, and at such time as the Manager may require, on the coverage, expiration date and premium of each surety bond and contract of insurance, the nature and terms of outstanding leases, the rent reserved by each, and their respective expiration dates.
No rule or general regulation made by any department, officer, agency or authority of the municipality, except as it relates to the organization or internal management of the municipal government or a part thereof, shall take effect until it is filed with the Municipal Clerk. The Clerk shall maintain a current compilation of all such rules and regulations, which shall be available for public inspection in the Clerk's office during regular business hours.
In addition to such other functions, powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Charter and ordinances and subject to the supervision and direction of the Manager, the Clerk shall:
A. 
Perform all of the functions required of municipal clerks by the General Election Law (Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, N.J.S.A. 19:1-1 et seq.) and any other law or ordinance.
B. 
Administer the provisions of the Township ordinances with reference to the licensing of occupations and activities for which licenses are required by law or ordinance to be obtained from the Clerk.
C. 
Issue certificates as to approvals granted pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.).
D. 
Have such other, different and additional functions, powers and duties as may be prescribed by law or ordinance, or as may be delegated by the Manager.
[Amended 4-21-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-10]
There shall be the office of Deputy Clerk, the number of which shall be determined in accordance with the needs of the community, as defined and limited by N.J.S.A. 40A:9-135(b). The Deputy shall be appointed by the Council, and the Council shall define the compensation and the powers, duties and functions of such office. Among other such powers, duties and functions delegated to the Deputy by the Council, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:9-135(b), the Deputy shall serve as Acting Municipal Clerk during the absence or disability of the Municipal Clerk, and the Deputy shall have all of the powers and shall perform all of the duties of the Municipal Clerk during such times.