[1982 Code § 12-1]
The Governing Body shall consist of the Mayor and six (6) Councilmembers
elected at large in the Borough, all of whom shall be elected and
take office in the manner provided by law. The term of office of the
Mayor and of the Councilmembers shall commence on January 1 next following
their election.
[1982 Code § 12-2]
Pursuant to the Borough law, a vacancy occurring in the office
of the Mayor, whether by resignation or otherwise, shall be filled
by the Borough Council until the next annual election and until the
election and qualification of a successor. At such next annual election
the person elected to fill such vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired
term only. All vacancies in other elective offices shall be filled
by nomination by the Mayor and appointment by him, with the advice
and consent of the Borough Council expressed by a vote of the majority
of the members of the Borough Council present at the meeting, provided
that at least three (3) affirmative votes shall be required for such
purpose, the Mayor to have no vote thereon except in the case of a
tie. All appointments to fill vacancies on the Borough Council shall
be until January 1 following the next general election. If such vacancies
shall occur at so short a period of time before the next annual election
that such office cannot be filled at such election, the vacancy shall
be filled in the same manner as though the same had occurred immediately
after such election and the vacancy shall be filled at the next subsequent
annual election for such portion of the term, if any, as may still
remain unexpired. At such next annual election the person elected
to fill such vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term only.
[New]
The Borough Council shall hold an annual meeting during the
first seven (7) days of January of any year, which meeting will be
held within the Borough and at such time and place as the Borough
Council may by resolution direct.
[1982 Code § 12-4]
The Borough Council shall meet regularly within the Borough
at such times and places as provided by resolution. The Mayor shall,
when necessary, call special meetings of the Borough Council. In case
of his neglect or refusal, any four (4) members of the Borough Council
may call such meetings at such time and place in the Borough as they
may designate, and in all cases of special meetings twenty-four (24)
hours' notice either in writing at the residence address of the member
or by actually reaching the member by telephone shall be given to
all members of the Borough Council.
[New]
At the annual meeting the Borough Council shall fix the time
and place for holding Regular Meetings during the ensuing year, which
time and place shall not be changed except by resolution adopted at
a Regular Meeting.
[New]
The Mayor shall, when necessary, call special meetings of the
Borough Council; in case of his neglect or refusal, any four (4) members
of the Borough Council may call such meetings at such time and place
in the Borough as they may designate, and in all cases of special
meetings, reasonable advance notice, considered to be of forty-eight
(48) hours, except in case of emergency, shall be given in person
to all members of the Borough Council, or left at their place of residence.
[New]
Three (3) Councilmembers and the Mayor, and in the absence of
the Mayor, four (4) Councilmembers shall constitute a quorum.
[New]
If no quorum be present at any meeting, those assembled shall
have power and are hereby authorized to set a new meeting date, and
then adjourn.
[New]
Upon demand of one (1) member of the Borough Council or when
ordered by the Mayor, or when directed by Statute or upon demand of
one (1) member of the Borough Council, a roll call vote shall be taken
and the yeas and nays entered in the Minutes of the Meeting.
[New]
The deliberations of the Borough Council shall be governed by
"Robert's Rules of Order," except when the same are in conflict with
the Laws of the State of New Jersey or this Code, in which event "Robert's
Rules of Order" shall be inapplicable.
[New]
No item may be placed on a Consent Agenda unless the Borough
Council unanimously agrees that it is noncontroversial and unanimously
consents to the item being voted upon in the Consent portion of the
Agenda.
[1982 Code § 12-5]
The Mayor shall preside over all meetings of the Borough Council
but shall not vote except to give the deciding vote in case of a tie.
The Mayor shall nominate and, with the advice and consent of the Borough
Council, appoint all officers in the Borough. No appointments shall
be made except by the vote of a majority of the members of the Borough
Council present at the meeting, provided that at least three (3) affirmative
votes shall be required for such purpose, the Mayor to have no vote
thereon except in the case of a tie. Vacancies in appointive offices
shall be filled by appointment in the same manner for the unexpired
term only. The Mayor shall make such nomination to fill a vacancy
within thirty (30) days after the appointive office becomes vacant.
If the Mayor fails to nominate within thirty (30) days or the Borough
Council fails to confirm any nomination made by the Mayor, then after
the expiration of thirty (30) days the Borough Council shall appoint
the officer. No appointment shall be made except by the vote of a
majority of the members of the Borough Council present at the meeting,
provided that at least three (3) affirmative votes shall be required
for such purpose, the Mayor to have no vote thereon except in the
case of a tie.
[New]
The Mayor shall preside over the deliberations of the Borough
Council and shall conduct the meetings thereof. He shall also participate
in the determination of the Borough affairs to the extent permitted
by statute.
[New]
The Mayor shall on all occasions preserve order and decorum,
and shall cause the removal of all persons who interrupt the orderly
proceedings of the Borough Council.
[New]
When two (2) or more Councilmembers shall request recognition
at the same time, the Mayor shall name the one entitled to the floor.
[New]
The Mayor shall decide all questions of order without debate
subject to an appeal to the Borough Council, and he may call upon
the Borough Council for the opinion of the Borough Council upon any
questions of order.
[New]
The Mayor shall be ex-officio member of all committees, both
standing and special, and shall be informed in advance of all meetings
of such committees.
[New]
The Mayor shall serve as the liaison between the Borough Council
and all Boards, Committees, Agencies or Organizations except as herein
assigned to a specific Council Committee for liaison purposes.
[New]
In the absence of the Mayor, or if he is unable to perform his
duties, the Borough Council President (or, in his inability to act,
the Councilmember having the longest term of service) shall act as
Mayor, as provided by statute.
[1982 Code § 12-6]
At the annual meeting the Borough Council by a majority vote
shall elect from its number a President of the Borough Council, who
shall preside at all of its meetings when the Mayor does not preside.
The President of the Borough Council shall hold office for one (1)
year and until the next annual meeting. He shall have the right to
debate and vote on all questions before the Borough Council. If the
Borough Council at its annual meeting fails to elect a President,
the Mayor shall appoint the President from the Borough Council and
in that case no confirmation by the Borough Council shall be necessary.
If the Mayor is absent from the Borough for a period of three (3)
days or for any reason is unable to act, the President of the Borough
Council shall perform all the duties of the Mayor during his absence
or inability. The Mayor, in case of his intended absence from the
Borough for more than three (3) days at any one time, shall notify
the President in writing of such intended absence, whereupon the President
shall be and become Acting Mayor from the receipt of such notice and
continue to act until the Mayor's return.
[New]
The Mayor shall appoint all committee members.
[New]
The Standing Committees, appointed by the Mayor, are appointed
to expedite and facilitate the work of the Borough Council; but only
within statutory limits as the entire Borough Council is held responsible
for any or all of its acts performed within the scope of authority.
a.
A Standing Committee shall:
1.
Meet when requested by the chairman of the Committee, or a majority
of the committee, and all members thereof shall participate actively
in the Committee deliberations, performances of duties and the formulation
of its recommendation to the Borough Council.
2.
Plan, study, direct, make commitments within budgetary limitations,
and carry on the routine activities for which it has primary responsibility.
3.
Perform such acts as may be assigned to it by the Borough Council.
4.
Report and make recommendations to the Borough Council regarding
its responsibilities and activities.
b.
Except as provided above, a Standing Committee shall not:
[New]
Special Committees may be appointed by the Mayor for purposes
other than those included in the duties of the Standing Committee.
[New]
In case of death, resignation, removal from office or incapacity
to serve as any committee chairman, the Mayor shall name the successor
Chairman. The Mayor may change existing Committee assignments and/or
Chairman when it is in the best interest of the Borough to do so.
