[1972 Code § 2-3.1; Ord. No. 692-83, § 1; New]
The Township Council shall appoint a Township Clerk to serve
for a term of three years, such term to commence on January 1 of the
year of appointment. Prior to appointment, the Clerk shall be certified
as a Registered Municipal Clerk. Any person who has held the office
for five years continuous from the date of original appointment shall
have tenure of office and may not be removed therefrom, except for
good cause shown after a fair and impartial hearing.
[1972 Code § 2-3.2; Ord. No. 692-83 § 1; Ord. No. 2224-09 § I]
a. The Township Clerk shall serve as Clerk of the Township Council.
The Clerk shall attend all meetings of the Council and of such committees
as may be required by the committee chairman. The Clerk shall keep
and record the minutes of each Council meeting and of each committee
meeting attended. The minutes of each Council meeting shall be signed
by the Officer presiding at the meeting and by the Clerk.
b. The Township Clerk shall cause the Corporate Seal of the Township
to be affixed to all instruments and writings when authorized by ordinance
or resolution of the Council. The Clerk shall also affix the Corporate
Seal to any writing, instrument, document, paper, or record when necessary
to certify that such is a public act or public document of the Township.
The Clerk shall not affix the Township Seal or cause or permit it
to be affixed to any instrument, writing, or other paper unless required
by law or ordinance.
c. The Clerk shall have custody of and shall safely keep all records,
books, and documents of the Township except those committed by the
Charter, by ordinance, or transferred by the Council to any other
office. Upon request and payment of the necessary fee to the Township,
the Clerk shall furnish a certified copy of any such paper in the
custody of the Clerk under the Corporate Seal of the Township.
d. With respect to elections, the Township Clerk shall perform all functions
required by the General Election Laws of the State of New Jersey (N.J.S.A.
19-1 et seq.) and by any other law or ordinance pertaining thereto.
e. The Clerk shall perform such functions as are vested in the Office
of Municipal Clerk by State Law or delegated to the Office by ordinance
of the Council regarding the licensing of bingo games and raffles.
f. The Clerk shall have such other different and additional functions,
powers, and duties as may be prescribed by State Law, by Township
ordinance, or delegated to the Clerk by the Township Council.
g. Pursuant to the authorization from the Township Council, the Office
of the Clerk has been delegated authority to approve the granting
of raffle and bingo licenses.
[1972 Code § 2-3.3; Ord. No. 692-83 § 1]
a. The Township Clerk shall, with the advice and assistance of the Township
Attorney, compile at the end of each year, a record of all ordinances
and resolutions, or true copies thereof, which then remain in force
and effect, in books to be provided for that purpose. The Clerk shall
properly index the books of resolutions and ordinances.
b. Each ordinance validly enacted shall be signed by the Council President
and by the Clerk. The Clerk shall attest that the ordinance was adopted
by the Council on the date stated and approved by the Mayor. In cases
where an ordinance has been passed over the veto of the Mayor, the
Clerk shall attest that the veto was duly overridden by a two-thirds
vote of the members of the Council. When an ordinance shall take effect
by reason of failure of the Mayor to return the ordinance to the Council
within 10 days of its presentation to him, the Clerk shall certify
that the ordinance shall take effect in like manner as if the Mayor
has signed it. Certification of passage of an ordinance by the Clerk
shall be deemed public record of the ordinance.
c. The Clerk shall cause each ordinance passed by the Council to be
published in a newspaper of general circulation within the Township
as required by law. The Clerk shall record and certify proof of such
publication thereof.
d. Prior to each meeting of the Township Council, the Clerk shall compile and prepare an agenda for that meeting indicating all ordinances and resolutions scheduled for submission for consideration of the Council at that meeting. This section is to be read in conjunction with §
3-5 of this Code to the extent that the same is not inconsistent.
[1972 Code § 2-3.4; Ord. No. 692-83 § 1]
The Clerk, subject to the supervision of the Council, shall:
a. Be the depository and custodian of all official surety bonds furnished
by or on account of any officer or employee, except his/her bond which
shall be placed in the custody of the Treasurer, of all insurance
policies upon or with respect to risks insured for the benefit of
the Township or to protect it against any claim, demand or liability
whatsoever; and all formal contracts for work, labor, services, supplies,
equipment and materials to which the Township may be a party.
b. Be the depository for and have custody of all performance bonds running
to the Township as obligee, or any other form of security given by
a contractor, subdivision developer or other persons on account of
work done or to be done in or for the Township.
c. Have custody of all leases of property owned by the Township.
d. Report to the Township Council annually, at such times as the Council
may require, on the coverage, expiration date and premium of each
surety bond and contract of insurance; the nature and terms of outstanding
leases, the rent reserved by each and their respective expiration
dates.
[1972 Code § 2-3.5; Ord. No. 692-83 § 1]
No rule or general regulation made by any department officer,
agency or authority of the Township, except such as relates to the
organization or internal management of the Township government or
a part thereof, shall take effect until it is filed with the Township
Clerk. The Clerk shall maintain a current compilation of all such
rules and regulations which shall be available for the public's inspection
in his/her office during business hours.
[Added 12-18-2019 by Ord. No. 2592-19]
a. The Township Clerk shall maintain a list containing the names and
addresses of residents who identify themselves as being in need of
special assistance in the event of an emergency, and who request that
this information be maintained on their behalf, for public safety
purposes. The list shall be cross-indexed by name and address of each
resident requesting to be on the list, and shall identify the special
circumstances of each individual. The clerk shall provide the list
solely and strictly for the purposes of emergency response to the
West Orange Police Department, to the West Orange Fire Department,
and to each first aid or rescue squad serving the Township, and shall
ensure that they are provided with updates at least monthly.
b. A notice to Township residents advising them that such a list is
being maintained by the Township Clerk for public safety purposes
shall be included annually with the tax bills mailed to local property
taxpayers. The notice shall include information as to how a municipal
resident may add his or her name and address to the municipal list.
c. The Township Clerk shall notify each landlord who has filed a certificate
of registration with the Township of the existence of the list, and
shall provide the landlord with a copy of a notice to be provided
to the landlord's tenants, including information as to how a tenant
may be added to the list.
[1972 Code § 2-3.7; Ord. No. 692-83 § 1]
The Township Council shall appoint, for a term of two years,
a Deputy Township Clerk. The duties of this office shall be to assist
the Township Clerk in all duties and functions delegated to the Clerk
by law, ordinance, or the Township Council. The Deputy Clerk shall
serve in the absence of the Township Clerk with all the duties, obligations,
powers and privileges of the Clerk. The Deputy Clerk shall also perform
such other duties as may be directed by the Council.