[1991 Code § 30-1]
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:63-4 et seq., all legislative power
of the Township shall be exercised by the Township Committee.[1]
[1]
Springfield Township is governed under the Township form of
government outlined in Chapter 63 of Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes.
The Administrative Chapter has been drafted in conformity with the
Township law and in many instances, provisions have been restated
in the Code. Other enabling laws pertaining to the Administrative
Chapter are N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, Police Department; N.J.S.A. 40A:14-7,
Fire Departments; N.J.S.A. 2A:9-7 et seq., Municipal Court; N.J.S.A.
40:55D-69, Zoning Board of Adjustment; N.J.S.A. 40:55D-23, Planning
Board; N.J.S.A. 26:3-1 et seq., Board of Health. Other authority to
regulate the internal affairs of the Township is contained in N.J.S.A.
40:48-2. For statutes requiring the taking of oaths of office and
requiring bond of certain officers and employees, see Local Fiscal
Affairs Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:5-33 et seq. For salary grades and ranges,
wages, compensation and fees of all officers and employees of the
Township, see the current salary ordinances of the Township. Such
ordinances are not included in these Revised Ordinances, but are saved
from repeal. See Adopting Ordinance.
[1991 Code § 30-2]
The Township Committee will organize annually on January 1 or
during the first seven days of January in any year, at which time
it will elect a Chairman, who shall have the title of "Mayor," from
among its members, and a Vice Chairman, who shall have the title of
"Deputy Mayor." The Mayor shall preside at meetings of the Township
Committee and perform such other duties as the Township Committee
may prescribe.
[1991 Code § 30-3; New]
The Mayor shall:
a.
Preside at all meetings of the Township Committee.
b.
Appoint advisory committees to study and make recommendations to
the Township Committee.
c.
Appoint advisory committees and or members to certain boards and
commissions, as permitted or required by law.
d.
Appoint personnel to represent the municipality on State, County
and regional boards, committees, authorities or commissions when requested
to do so by the County or the State or when the best interests of
the municipality will be served by participation with other municipalities
in regional undertakings. Such appointments shall be with the advice
and consent of the Township Committee unless otherwise provided by
law.
e.
Issue proclamations concerning holidays and events of interest in
the Township.
f.
Serve as the municipality's chief official at meetings and ceremonies.
g.
Execute contracts, agreements and other legal documents following
authorization by the Township Committee.
h.
Serve as a member ex officio on certain statutory boards and commissions.
i.
Exercise every other power usually exercised by Township Mayors or
conferred upon him or her by law and formal action by the Township
Committee.
[1991 Code § 30-2; New]
In the absence of the Mayor, when the Mayor has informed the
Township Committee of his or her expected absence and the duration
thereof, or in the event the Mayor is incapacitated from performing
his or her duties, the Deputy Mayor shall have all of the powers and
duties of the Mayor and shall serve and be known as the "Acting Mayor".
[1991 Code § 30-4A]
The Township Committee shall meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays
in each month and have such other meetings or adjourned meetings at
such time and place as it may by resolution direct, but all regular
meetings shall be held within the Township.
[1991 Code § 30-4; New; Ord. No.
02-28 § I(A)]
A special meeting may be called at any time upon written request
of a majority of the members of the Township Committee. The request
and call for a special meeting shall specify the purpose of the meeting,
and no business shall be transacted at any special meeting other than
that specified. The call for a special meeting shall be filed with
the Clerk and served upon each Committee member as hereinafter provided
at least 48 hours prior to the time for which the meeting is called,
provided that the Mayor may determine that an emergency exists affecting
the health or safety of the people, which requires consideration by
the Township Committee within a shorter time, and upon such determination
which the Mayor shall set forth in the call, the call may be filed
with the Clerk at any time prior to the time set for the meetings.
Upon the filing of any call for a special meeting, subject to the
requirement of the Sunshine Law, the Clerk shall forthwith give notice
thereof by telephone to each Township Committee member at such place
as each shall have previously designated for that purpose, and shall
also serve or cause to be served a written copy of the call upon each
Township Committee member, by delivery of a copy to each of them personally
or by the leaving of a copy at each of their usual places of abode.
The Police Department shall cooperate with the Clerk in effectuating
such service of notice. Upon waiver of notice by all members of the
Township Committee, a special meeting may be held without prior notice
notwithstanding the above provisions of this section.
[1991 Code § 30-5]
All regular and special meetings of the Township Committee shall
be open to the public. The rules of procedure to be followed for the
conduct of business of the Committee shall be provided by resolution.
[1991 Code § 30-6]
In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6
et seq., the Committee may meet at any time in informal conference,
which shall include executive sessions and work sessions, for the
consideration of any Township business or to meet with any officer
or employee of the Township or any other person on Township business.
No person other than those specifically invited by the Committee to
attend shall be authorized to participate in any such conference.
[1991 Code § 30-7; Ord. No. 02-28 § I(D)]
A majority of the whole number of members of the Township Committee
shall constitute a quorum, and no ordinance shall be adopted by the
Township Committee without the affirmative vote of a majority of the
quorum of the Committee. If a quorum is not present 15 minutes after
the appointed time for any meeting, those members present may declare
the meeting adjourned.
[1991 Code § 30-8]
When mandated by law, the vote upon every resolution or ordinance
shall be taken by roll call, and the yeas and nays shall be entered
on the minutes. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the
Township Clerk.
[New; Ord. No. 02-28 § I(D)]
The agenda for each meeting of the Township Committee shall
be prepared by the Township Clerk. Except for important or timely
matters which may be added to the agenda at any time with the approval
of a majority of those present of the Township Committee, the agenda
for each meeting of the Committee shall include only such matters
of Committee business as have been prescribed or delivered to the
Township Clerk not later than 12:00 noon on the Friday preceding the
meeting. The Township Clerk will prepare a tentative agenda which
shall be considered and approved by the Committee at its agenda or
conference meeting preceding the regular or special meeting. The Clerk
shall post a copy of the agenda in a conspicuous place in the meeting
room.
[1991 Code § 30-9]
All ordinances shall be introduced, read, heard and enacted
in the manner provided by general law.
[1991 Code § 30-10; Ord. No. 91-17; Ord. No. 92-27; Ord. No. 02-28 § I(B)]
The Mayor shall appoint members of the working committees of
the Township Committee. Such nomination process may be a part of the
annual reorganization meeting in January. These working committee
appointments will be made so that each member of the Township Committee
serves on an equal number of working committees. Any reorganization
of these working committees shall be done so that equality of membership
is maintained. The current number and functions of the five working
committees shall not be altered except by an ordinance duly adopted.
[Ord. No. 02-28 § I(B)]
a.
Any and all members of the Township Committee must submit to the
Township Administrator a written notice of any business dealings with
one or more employees of the Township. A business dealing is to be
considered an enterprise in which money is exchanged for services
rendered, some monetary benefit is expected to accrue for either or
both parties or a venture where a third party may expect monetary
benefits. These can be, but are not limited to, partnerships, corporations
(not publicly listed) or professional relationships. Items excluded
from this include, but are not limited to, taxes or Committee salaries.
b.
These notices will be retained by the Administrator and may be reviewed
by any member of the Township Committee. These are to be considered
as part of the permanent record of this Township and may be referred
to by members of the Township Committee.
[1991 Code § 30-12; Ord. No. 92-30; Ord. No. 02-28 § I(B)]
Where a conflict of interest exists or may exist, as the Committee
deliberates or votes on that issue, it is expected that the Committee
member recuse himself from the vote so as not to bring into question
the fair and impartial action of the Committee.
[Ord. No. 2002-21]
No person shall be hired for employment by the Township, except
by a roll call majority vote of the Township Committee members present.
