[New]
The Township of Fairfield is governed by the Small Municipality
Plan of the Optional Municipal Charter Law, Chapter 210 of New Jersey
Laws of 1950, as amended and supplemented, N.J.S.A. 40:69A-115 et
seq., and any and all general laws as therein defined which are or
may be applicable to the Township. As provided in its Charter, the
Councilmembers shall be elected by the voters of the Township.
At the general election held on the first Tuesday after the
first Monday in November or at such other time as may be provided
by law for holding general elections, in which case the term of office
of the Councilmembers shall begin on January 1 next following their
election.
[New]
All legislative power of the Township will be exercised by the
Township Council pursuant to the Charter. The Township Council, in
addition to such other powers and duties as may be conferred upon
it by the Charter or otherwise by general law, may require any municipal
officer to prepare and submit sworn statements regarding his official
duties and the performance thereof, and may investigate the conduct
of any department, office or agency of the municipal government.
[New; Ord. No. 2009-33 § 1]
The Council shall organize annually during the first week of
January, at which time it shall select a President of the Council
from among its members. The Mayor shall preside over all meetings
of the Council. In the absence of the Mayor, the President shall preside.
In the absence of the Mayor and the President, the Councilmember having
the most seniority on the Council shall be the next presiding officer.
[New]
Vacancies in the Council shall be filled in the manner provided
by Statutes. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall be a member
of the same political party as the prior incumbent.
[New]
The Township Clerk, appointed by the Mayor with the advice and
consent of the Council, shall maintain, prepare and sign the minutes
of the Council, maintain the records of the Council and perform such
other duties as shall be assigned. At public meetings of the Council,
the Township Clerk shall, in the proper order of business, announce
the subject and author of all correspondence received. At the request
of any member, any item of correspondence shall be read in full.
[New]
The agenda for each regular meeting of the Council shall be
prepared by the Clerk and made available to the Councilmember 24 hours
prior to the opening of the meeting. Written notice of changes in
the agenda shall be made available to each Councilmember prior to
the convening of a meeting. Additional copies of the agenda shall
be available to the public.
[New]
The Council shall hold its reorganization meeting annually as set forth in Subsection
2-1.3. The Council shall meet regularly thereafter in the Municipal Building for regular Council meetings as established by Resolution of the Council. When the time for any regular meeting of the Council falls on a legal holiday, as prescribed by law, such meeting shall be rescheduled, if necessary.
[New]
Special meetings, emergency meetings, executive sessions and
special public hearings, when necessary, will be held in accordance
with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-6,
et seq.).
[New]
The vote upon every motion, resolution or ordinance shall be
taken by roll call. The vote shall be "aye" or "nay" or word to effect
of affirmative or negative by each member, and there shall be no further
discussion following the commencement of the roll call. The vote of
each member shall be entered on the minutes. Any member of the Council
may abstain from voting at any time. When the roll is called on any
question, the silence of a Councilmember present shall constitute
an affirmative vote unless he states that he abstains. The question
shall be determined by a majority of those members voting unless otherwise
provided by law. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the
officer presiding and by the Township Clerk.