The Township government shall consist of the Mayor, who shall be the chief executive officer, and the Council and such appointive officers and employees as are provided by this article or otherwise authorized pursuant to law, organized within departments, divisions, offices, bureaus and agencies as herein provided.
A. 
Appointment and term. There shall be an Office of the Clerk, consisting of the Municipal Clerk, a Deputy Municipal Clerk, and such other personnel as may be required. The Clerk and Deputy Clerk shall be appointed by the Council for a term of three years and shall receive such compensation as shall be provided by ordinance. The Municipal Clerk shall, prior to his/her appointment, have been qualified by training or experience to perform the duties of the office.
B. 
Tenure.
(1) 
For the purposes of tenure, the term of a Municipal Clerk shall be deemed to have begun as of the actual date upon which a person serving as Municipal Clerk is appointed. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Municipal Clerk, an appointment shall be made for a new term and not for the unexpired term. A reappointment of an incumbent Municipal Clerk made within 60 days following the expiration of the prior term shall not be considered to be a new appointment and the effective date of the reappointment shall date back to the date of expiration of the initial term of appointment.
(2) 
The Council shall appoint a person to a three-year term as Municipal Clerk within six months after the previous Municipal Clerk has resigned or the office has otherwise become vacant.
(3) 
Should the office of the Municipal Clerk become vacant, the Council may appoint a person to serve as acting Municipal Clerk for a period of not more than six months.
C. 
Secretary of Council. The Municipal Clerk shall act as Secretary to the Municipal Council, prepare meeting agendas at the discretion of the Municipal Council, be present at all meetings of the Municipal Council, keep a journal of the proceedings of every meeting, retain the original copies of all ordinances and resolutions, and record the minutes of every meeting. (S)He shall inscribe all ordinances in the books to be provided for that purpose. After each ordinance (s)he shall also inscribe and certify the proof of publication thereof, as required by law. Each ordinance so inscribed shall be signed by the Mayor and Clerk, who shall attest that it was duly adopted upon a date stated, pursuant to law, and when so signed, the inscribed copy shall be deemed to be a public record of the ordinance. Any omission by the Clerk or Mayor to inscribe, sign or certify as herein required shall not impair or affect the validity of any ordinance which has been duly adopted. At the close of each year, with the advice and the assistance of the Township Attorney, the Clerk shall bind, compile or codify all the ordinances and resolutions, or true copies thereof, which then remain in force and effect. (S)He shall properly index and record books, compilation or codification of ordinances or resolutions.
D. 
Secretary of municipal corporation. The Municipal Clerk shall 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 Municipal Council may, however, provide by ordinance that any other specific officer shall have custody of any specific other class of record.
E. 
Records manager. The Clerk shall serve as coordinator and records manager responsible for implementing local archives and records retention program as mandated pursuant to Title 47 of the Revised Statutes,[1] except such as shall be committed by Charter or ordinance to any other office or be transferred thereto by resolution of the Council. (S)He shall, upon request and upon the payment of fees prescribed therefor, by resolution of the Council, furnish a certified copy of any such paper in his/her custody under the corporate seal of the Township.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.
F. 
Corporate seal. The Municipal Clerk shall cause the corporate Seal of the Township to be affixed to any instruments and writings, when authorized to do so by any ordinance or resolution of the Council, or when necessary to exemplify any document on record in his/her office or to certify any act or paper which from the records of his/her office shall appear to have been a public act of the Township or a public document. (S)He shall not affix the seal or permit it to be affixed to any instrument or writing or other paper, except as in this section provided, unless required to do so by law or ordinance.
G. 
Insurance surety bond and contracts. The Clerk shall be the depository and custodian of:
(1) 
All official surety bonds furnished by or on account of any Township office or officer or employee, except his/her own bond, which shall be placed in the custody of the Township Treasurer.
(2) 
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.
(3) 
All formal contracts for work, labor, services, supplies, equipment and materials to which the Township may be a party.
(4) 
The Clerk shall also have custody of all leases of property owned by the Township.
(5) 
The Clerk shall be the depository for and have custody of all performance bonds running to the Township as obligee, and other forms 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.
H. 
Administration of certain laws and ordinances. In addition to such other functions, powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Charter and ordinances, the Municipal Clerk shall:
(1) 
Serve as the chief administrative officer in all elections in the Township, serve as chief registrar of voters in the Township and perform all the functions required of municipal clerks by the General Election Law (Title 19 of the Revised Statutes)[2] and any other law or ordinance, and receive the fees prescribed therefor.
[2]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 19:1-1 et seq.
(2) 
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.
(3) 
Perform such other duties as are now or hereafter imposed by statute, regulation or ordinance.
I. 
Notice to attend meetings of Council. The Municipal Clerk shall issue notices to the respective members of the Council and to all other persons whose attendance may be required at any regular meetings of the Council. Such notice shall be in accordance with a schedule which the Clerk shall prepare in accordance with a resolution adopted by the Council. The Clerk shall, whenever a special meeting of the Council is called in accordance with the law, issue and cause notices thereof to be served upon the members of the Council and any other persons whose presence may be required, no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.
J. 
Deputy Clerk. There is hereby created the position of Deputy Clerk. (S)He shall be appointed by the Council and shall serve for a term of three years. The duties of the Deputy Clerk shall be to act as an assistant to the Clerk and to perform such duties in connection with the Clerk's office as may be from time to time designated by the Council. The Deputy Clerk shall have all the powers and perform all the duties of the Municipal Clerk during such times and for such specific periods as the Municipal Clerk shall be absent.
[Amended by Ord. No. 8-07]
A. 
Office created. There shall be an Office of the Municipal Tax Assessor, consisting of the Tax Assessor and such other personnel as may be required. The Tax Assessor shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council for a term of four years. Vacancies other than due to expiration of term shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term.
B. 
The Municipal Tax Assessor shall hold a tax assessor certificate provided for in P.L. 1967, c. 44 (N.J.S.A. 54:1-35.25 et seq.).
C. 
Functions. The Office of the Township Tax Assessor shall:
(1) 
Value all real and personal property in the Township for the purposes of assessments and taxation in accordance with general law, and exercise all the powers, functions and duties of the Municipal Assessor pursuant to law.
(2) 
Prepare the tax list in duplicate as required by law and maintain adequate assessment records of each and every parcel of real property assessed.
(3) 
Have custody of and maintain the current Township Tax Map and provide for the recording thereon of all changes in ownership or character of real property assessed.
(4) 
Make and be responsible for all appraisals of property for any Township purpose, provided that the office may, with the approval of the Mayor, and within the limits of available appropriations, retain outside experts or appraisers whenever the public interest requires.
D. 
Board of Assessments.
(1) 
Within the Office of the Township Tax Assessor, there shall be a Board of Assessments for the purpose of making special assessments for local improvements.
(2) 
The Board shall consist of three members and shall be appointed by the Mayor. The first such member shall be the Tax Assessor who shall be a permanent member during his/her tenure of office. The other two members shall be appointed for terms of two years, except as follows: such two-year appointments shall be in alternate years so that neither member's term expires in the same year. To accomplish this, the first appointment of such other member under this section shall be for one year, rather than two. The three-member Board shall have the power, functions and duties and shall follow the procedures prescribed by N.J.S.A. 40:56-1 et seq.
An Auditor shall be appointed by the Council for a term of one year and until his/her successor has been appointed and qualified. The Auditor of the Township shall be compensated by receiving reasonable fees for services performed. The Township Auditor shall be a registered municipal accountant and shall make an annual audit of the books, accounts and financial transactions of the Township in accordance with the provisions of Local Fiscal Affairs Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:5-1 et seq.). The Township Auditor shall also prepare and submit to the Mayor, Business Administrator, and Council, at least quarterly interim reports, assist the Business Administrator and Mayor in the preparation of the budget, and perform such other services as may be requested by the Mayor or the Council.
The Township Attorney shall be an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey. The Township Attorney shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council, and shall serve for a term of one year.
A. 
Compensation. The Township Attorney shall be compensated through a retainer for general services and by an hourly rate for other matters as set forth in an annual professional services agreement between the Township Attorney and the Township.
B. 
Power to compromise. The Township Attorney may, with the approval of the Council by resolution, be empowered to compromise, settle or adjust any rights, claims, demands or causes of action in favor of or against the Township or accept any offer of judgment in favor of the Township. Nothing in this section shall operate to limit or abridge the discretion of the Township Attorney in regard to the proper conduct of the trial or any action or deprive him/her of the powers and privileges ordinarily exercised in judicial proceedings by counsel acting for private clients.
C. 
Expiration of term of office. Upon the expiration of his/her term of office or his/her resignation or removal therefrom, the Township Attorney shall surrender forthwith to the several Township officers charged with the custody thereof all deeds, leases, conveyances, obligations, bonds, contracts, agreements, reports and all other documents in his/her hands belonging to the Township, and shall deliver to his/her successor in office all legal papers and documents relating to the business of the Township, together with a written consent of substitution of his/her successor in all actions then pending and determined in which the Township is a party.
An attorney licensed to practice law in New Jersey shall be appointed Prosecutor by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council, for a term of one year and until his/her successor has been appointed and qualified. The Prosecutor shall receive such compensation as provided by ordinance. The Prosecutor shall represent the Township in matters tried in the local Municipal Court involving violations of the ordinances of the Township, and/or state law which arise out of summonses and complaints issued by a member of the Township or State Police Department, and in matters where, in the discretion of the judge of said court, the services of a Prosecutor are required. The Prosecutor shall also appear in the local Municipal Court on behalf of the Township in matters where his/her services are requested by the Chief of Police or the Township Attorney. The Prosecutor shall also appear on behalf of the Township in the Superior Court or any other court of competent jurisdiction of this state where such appearance is required by the rules governing the courts of the State of New Jersey.
An attorney licensed to practice law in New Jersey shall be appointed Public Defender, by the Mayor with the advice and consent of Council, for a term of one year and until his/her successor has been appointed and qualified. The Public Defender shall receive such compensation as provided by ordinance. The Public Defender shall provide legal representation when the Municipal Court Judge has determined that the person charged in the local Municipal Court with the violation of any law, ordinance or regulation is indigent and is facing a term of imprisonment or any other consequence of magnitude.
There shall be such other agencies and boards, judicial, legislative, advisory and independent agencies and offices of the Township government as are hereinafter established.
The following administrative departments are hereby established:
A. 
Department of Administration.
B. 
Department of Revenue and Finance.
C. 
Department of Public Safety.
D. 
Department of Public Works.
E. 
Department of Community Development.
F. 
Department of Health and Social Services.
A. 
Directors shall devote full time, as and when required, for the proper and efficient discharge of the duties of their office.
B. 
Directors shall, under the supervision of the Business Administrator:
(1) 
Prescribe the internal organization of the department and the duties of subordinate officers and employees within the department.
(2) 
Assign functions, powers and duties to subordinate officers and employees within the department, and modify such assignments as need appears.
(3) 
Supervise the work of the department through the divisions established by the administrative code and such other organization units as the head of the department may find necessary or desirable, and supervise and direct the work of the employees of the department, subject to the provisions of the Charter, this code, or other general law, appoint subordinate officers and employees within their respective departments and, with the approval of the Mayor, remove such officers and employees.
(4) 
Delegate to division heads such of his/her powers as (s)he may deem necessary for efficient administration.
(5) 
Report at least annually to the Mayor and Council, in such form as shall be approved by the Business Administrator, on the work of the department during the preceding year.
Each department shall be headed by a director who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council. Each department head shall serve during the term of office of the Mayor appointing him/her, and until the appointment and qualification of his/her successor. In the absence of a specific appointment of a department director, the Business Administrator shall serve as the director of that department, without additional compensation. A director may serve as a division head, and a division head may serve as a bureau head, without additional compensation. The department head shall appoint all subordinate officers and employees within the respective departments and may, with the approval of the Mayor, remove such officers and employees.
[Amended by Ord. No. 19-09]
A. 
Whenever a vacancy exists by resignation, removal or otherwise, in the office of a director of any department, the Mayor may temporarily fill such vacancy in cases not specifically provided for in the Charter, this code or ordinance, by appointing an acting director from among the existing officers and employees of such department, who shall perform all the duties and functions of such department head until the office shall be filled permanently. Any such appointment of an acting director shall terminate not later than 90 days after the date of the appointment, unless the Council shall, by resolution, authorize one or more extensions thereof.
B. 
The Mayor may also appoint on an annual basis, with the advice and consent of the Council, a temporary director who will perform the duties of the director on a part-time basis in conjunction with his other duties and responsibilities. Each appointment shall be for a term to conclude at the end of the calendar year. The term shall be for one year or until a Director of Public Works is appointed, whichever is sooner.
Whenever a vacancy exists in the office of head of any departmental division by resignation, removal, disability or otherwise, the director of the department may fill such vacancy temporarily by appointing an acting head of such division, who shall have and perform all the functions, powers and duties of such division until the office shall be filled permanently.
No rule or regulation made by any department, officer, agency or authority of the municipality, except such as 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 Council shall provide for the prompt publication of such rules and regulations.
The Mayor, in consultation with the Business Administrator, shall, subject to any pertinent contractual obligations, and within the general limits of the municipal budget, fix the amount of salary, wages or other compensation to be paid to employees of the administrative departments of the Township, within the ranges established by ordinance, except that the salary, wages or other compensation paid the director of each department shall be fixed by the Council by ordinance, and except that salaries of officers which are required by law to be fixed by ordinance shall be fixed by ordinance.
No officer or employee of the Township shall be interested directly or indirectly in any contract or job for work or materials, or the profits thereof, to be furnished or performed for the municipality, and no such officer or employee shall be interested directly or indirectly in any contract or job for work or materials or the profits thereof to be furnished or performed for any person operating any public utility within the territorial limits of the Township.