[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Mercer
County as Ch. 2.02 of the 2003 Mercer County Code (Ord. No. 76-5). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Pursuant to P.L. 2020, c. 67, effective 1-1-2021, the Code
of Mercer County has been amended to delete the term “Board
of Chosen Freeholders” and replace it with the term “Board
of County Commissioners.” In addition, the terms “Freeholder”
and “Chosen Freeholder” have been deleted and replaced
by the term “County Commissioner.”]
[Amended by Ord. No. 77-44; Ord. No. 77-50; Ord. No. 82-6; Ord. No. 92-3]
The administrative branch shall consist of the office of the County Executive; departments, divisions, offices and agencies under his/her discretion and control; agencies independent except for compliance with administrative procedures pertaining to budgeting, purchasing and related functions as specified herein; state-appointed boards, agencies and advisory boards established pursuant to Chapter 3.01, Boards, Commissions and Agencies Generally.
[Amended by Ord. No. 92-3]
A.
The County Executive may organize and reorganize functions, powers
and duties within departments, offices and agencies under his/her
jurisdiction, subject to available appropriations; provided, that
he/she shall not do so between departments, without first submitting
a plan therefor to the Board for approval. Any such plan may go into
effect 45 days after submission unless the Board shall, by resolution,
reject it or return it for revision.
B.
New departments shall be created, or existing ones abolished or consolidated
by amendment of this chapter.
[Amended by Ord. No. 92-3]
Department heads shall be qualified by education and experience
for their duties. They shall be appointed by the County Executive,
with advice and consent of the Board, and serve at his/her pleasure;
provided, that the Board may overrule dismissal of a department head
by a 2/3 vote, pursuant to Sections 41 and 87 of the Charter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:41A-41 and 40:41A-87.
Each department head, subject to the direction and supervision
of the County Executive, shall:
A.
Plan and organize the work of the department;
B.
Direct and supervise the personnel of the department;
C.
Authorize all department purchase requisitions and payrolls and approve
all vouchers;
D.
Appoint, discipline and remove departmental employees, subject to
civil service requirements and to written delegation of the appointing
and removal authority by the County Executive.
[Amended by Ord. No. 92-3]
A vacancy in any office subject to appointment by the County
Executive with advice and consent of the Board, may be filled temporarily
by appointment of an acting officer with all the functions, powers
and duties of a permanent appointee.
[Amended by Ord. No. 92-3]
Suspensions and removals of officers or employees by department
heads shall be subject to the requirement of civil service or of Section
87b of the Charter,[1] whichever is applicable in a given case.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:41A-87b.
[Amended by Ord. No. 77-50; Ord. No. 92-3]
A.
Subject to prior approval of the County Executive and such general
rules as may be in effect, the head of each department or agency may
issue and enforce regulations governing the care, use and custody
of County property under his/her jurisdiction, the rendering of services
by his/her department, and the conduct and discipline of employees.
B.
No such regulation made by any department, officer, agency or authority
of the County, except such as relates to the organization or internal
management of the County government or a part thereof, shall take
effect until it is filed by the Clerk to the Board with the clerk
of each municipality in the County, and in such other manner as may
be provided by ordinance. The Clerk to the Board shall provide for
the prompt publication of such rules and regulations.
The office of the County Executive shall include the Administrator,
Chief of Staff, County Counsel; the offices of Intergovernmental Affairs,
Veterans Affairs and Public Information; such positions as may be
authorized for budget preparation and control, management systems,
data processing and related functions; the County Executive may organize
the office, at his/her discretion, subject to civil service position
classification requirements.
[Amended by Ord. No. 92-3]
The Chief of Staff shall serve at the pleasure of the County
Executive and shall be responsible only to the Executive. The Chief
of Staff shall be qualified by education, experience and ability to
assist the County Executive in the areas of policy, development and
strategic planning and coordination between all boards, commissions
and constitutional offices. The Chief of Staff shall be responsible
for such related functions as the County Executive may assign.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original §§ 2.02.150, Division of
Economic Development and Housing, and 2.02.160, Division of Planning,
which immediately followed this section, were repealed 9-25-2014 by
Ord. No. 2014-10.
[Amended by Ord. No. 77-50; Ord. No. 79-27; Ord. No. 92-3]
As continued by Chapter 3.01, Boards, Commissions and Agencies Generally, of the Code of Mercer County, the following advisory bodies are assigned to the Office of County Executive:
