[1984 Code §§ 2-2.1; 2-5.1]
The Governing Body shall consist of the Mayor and six 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 shall
commence January 1 next following their election.
[New]
The Council shall by ordinance adopt rules of procedure not
inconsistent with this chapter. The rules shall provide for standing
committees of the Council.
[1984 Code § 2-5.6]
The Council shall possess all the powers granted by or permissible
under the laws of the State of New Jersey.
[New]
Council shall take appropriate action to insure that ordinances
and resolutions of the preceding year are compiled or codified.
[New]
Whenever a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Borough Council
for any reason other than the expiration of term of office, the vacancy
shall be filled pursuant to State statutes.
[New]
Every person appointed by the Mayor, the Borough Council or
by the Governor to fill a vacancy, either for the unexpired term or
temporarily, shall have the qualifications required by Statute to
permit the appointee to qualify for election to the office, and if
the previous incumbent had been elected to office as the nominee of
a political party, the person so appointed shall be of the same political
party.
[1984 Code § 2-2.1]
The Mayor shall hold office for four years and until his successor
qualifies. Councilmembers shall hold office for three years and until
their successors qualify and their respective terms shall be arranged
so that the terms of two members of Council expire at the end of each
year.
[1984 Code § 2-4; § 2-3.2; § 2-3.3;
New]
The Mayor shall preside over all meetings of the Council but
shall not vote except to give the deciding vote in case of a tie.
Except as otherwise provided by Statute or specific ordinance, the
Mayor shall nominate and, with the advice and consent of the Council,
appoint all officers in the Borough, and the chairman and members
of all standing committees. No appointments requiring Council confirmation
shall be made except by a majority vote of the Councilmembers present
at the meeting, provided that at least three 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 30 days
after the appointive office becomes vacant. If the Mayor fails to
nominate within 30 days or the Council fails to confirm any nomination
made by the Mayor, then, after the expiration of 30 days, the Council
shall appoint the officer.
The Mayor shall see that the laws of the State and the ordinances
of the Borough are faithfully executed, and shall recommend to the
Council such measures as he may deem necessary or expedient for the
welfare of the Borough. He shall maintain peace and good order and
have the power to suppress all riots and tumultuous assemblies in
the Borough.
The Mayor shall have the powers granted by the laws of New Jersey
and the ordinances of the Borough. The Mayor shall supervise the conduct
and acts of all officers in the Borough and shall execute all contracts
made on behalf of the Council. The Mayor may, without further approval,
appoint committees whose function is solely to study, advise and make
recommendations to him in the exercise of his powers and duties under
law.
[1984 Code § 2-5.4; § 2-5.5]
At the organizational meeting the Council, by a majority vote,
shall elect from their number a President of the Council, who shall
preside at all of its meetings when the Mayor does not preside. The
President of the Council shall hold office for one year and until
the next annual meeting. The President of the Council shall have the
right to debate the vote on all questions before the Council. If the
Council at its annual meeting fails to elect a President, the Mayor
shall appoint the President from the Council and in that case no confirmation
by the Council shall be necessary. If the Mayor is absent from the
Borough for a period of three consecutive days or for any reason is
unable to act, the President of the Council shall perform all the
duties of the Mayor during his absence or inability. In case of the
Mayor's intended absence from the Borough for more than three days
at any one time, the Mayor shall notify the President in writing of
such intended absence, whereupon the President shall become Acting
Mayor upon the receipt of such notice and continue to act until the
Mayor's return. In case of the temporary inability of the President
to so act, the Councilmember having the longest term of service as
such may act temporarily for the President.
[1984 Code § 2-5.2]
The Council shall meet for organization on the first day of
January, or during the first seven days in January in any year at
such time and place as the Council may direct. Thereafter, the Council
shall meet regularly within the Borough at such times and places as
provided by the Rules of Council. The Mayor shall when necessary call
special meetings of the Council. In case of his neglect or refusal,
any four members of the Council may call such meetings at such time
and place in the Borough as they may designate. In all cases of special
meetings, 48 hours written notice (or actual voice contact) shall
be given to all members of the Council. Written notice may be given
by leaving such notice at their places of residence.
[1984 Code § 2-5.3]
Three members of Council and the Mayor or, in the absence of
the Mayor, four Council-members shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business; but a smaller number may meet and adjourn
from time to time.
[1984 Code § 2-5.7]
The Council shall provide by resolution rules of procedure not
inconsistent with law or this Code. Proceedings at all meetings shall
be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order, revised, except
where the Council provides otherwise by resolution. The Attorney,
or in his absence, the President of Council, shall be ex-officio parliamentarian
and shall give his opinion on questions of procedure at the request
of members of the Council.
[1984 Code § 2-5.8]
All regular and special meetings of the Council shall be open
to the public. The Attorney, the Borough Clerk, and any other Borough
officer or employee whose presence shall be required by resolution
of the Council shall attend such meetings.
[1974 Code § 2-6.1]
Borough ordinances shall be submitted in writing for introduction
at a meeting of the Council and be voted on at such meeting. No ordinance
shall be adopted except on second reading after publication by the
vote of a majority as required by law, of the members of the Council
present at the meeting, the Mayor to have no vote except in the case
of a tie.
[1984 Code § 2-6.2]
No ordinance shall be considered for final adoption until it
has been advertised as required by law. The Clerk shall be responsible
for arranging for the advertising of proposed ordinances.
[1984 Code § 2-6.3]
Within five days after its passage, Sundays excepted, every
ordinance passed by the Council shall be presented to the Mayor by
the Borough Clerk, whose report shall be conclusive evidence that
the ordinance has been so presented.
If the Mayor approves an ordinance, he shall sign it within
five days after its passage, Sundays excepted, and file it with the
Borough Clerk. If the Mayor does not approve an ordinance, he shall
return it within five days after he receives it, Sundays excepted,
with his objections in writing, to the Borough Clerk. At its next
meeting, the Council shall cause the objections to be entered at length
on its minutes and proceed to reconsider the ordinance.
If an ordinance contains more than one district section, clause
or item, the Mayor may approve one or more and veto the rest.
[1984 Code § 2-6.4]
If 2/3 of all the Councilmembers at the next meeting as aforesaid
or at any subsequent meeting to which they postpone such reconsideration,
vote to pass the ordinance or the vetoed part over the veto of the
Mayor, the ordinance shall take effect.
[1984 Code § 2-7.2]
a. The Borough Clerk shall record all ordinances in books to be provided
for that purpose. After each ordinance the Clerk shall record and
certify the proof of its publication as required by law. Each ordinance
so recorded shall be signed by the Mayor and the Borough Clerk, who
shall attest that it was adopted on a date stated, and when so signed
the recorded copy shall be deemed to be a public record of the ordinance.
Any omission by the Clerk or the Mayor to record, sign or certify
shall not impair or affect the validity of an ordinance which has
been duly adopted.
b. Periodically, as determined by the Council, the Borough Clerk shall
compile at least two copies of all ordinances that have been adopted
since the previous revision or supplement and forward them to a company
selected by the Council to prepare a supplement to the revision.
c. The Borough Clerk shall compile annually, in the order of their adoption,
all resolutions adopted by the Council during the year and shall preserve
them.