[Ord. No. 2014-8]
The office of municipal clerk of Princeton is hereby created
in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:9-133 through 135, in the Department
of Administration and Finance.
[Ord. No. 2014-8]
The clerk shall be appointed by the council for a term of three
years. For the purposes of tenure, the term of the municipal clerk
shall be deemed to have begun as of the actual date upon which a person
serving as municipal clerk is appointed. In the event of a vacancy
in the office of municipal clerk, an appointment shall be made for
a new term and not for the unexpired term. A reappointment of an incumbent
municipal clerk made within 60 days following the expiration of the
prior term shall not be considered to be a new appointment and the
effective date of the reappointment shall date back to the date of
expiration of the initial term of the appointment. The council shall
appoint a person to a three-year term as municipal clerk within six
months after the previous municipal clerk has resigned or the office
has otherwise become vacant. Should the office of municipal clerk
become vacant, the council may appoint a person to serve as acting
municipal clerk for a period of not more than six months.
[Ord. No. 2014-8]
The municipal clerk shall have the following powers and duties:
(a)
Act as secretary of the municipal corporation and custodian of the
municipal seal and of all minutes, books, deeds, bonds, contracts,
and archival records of the municipal corporation. The council may,
however, provide by ordinance that any other specific officer shall
have custody of any specific other class of record;
(b)
Act as secretary to the governing body, prepare meeting agendas at
the discretion of the council, be present at all meetings of the council,
keep a journal of the proceedings of every meeting, retain the original
copies of all ordinances and resolutions, and record the minutes of
every meeting;
(c)
Serve as the chief administrative officer in all elections held in
the municipality, subject to the requirements of Title 19 of the Revised
Statutes;
(d)
Serve as chief registrar of voters in the municipality, subject to
the requirements of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes;
(e)
Serve as the administrative officer responsible for the acceptance
of applications for licenses and permits and the issuance of licenses
and permits, except where statute or municipal ordinance has delegated
that responsibility to some other municipal officer;
(f)
Serve as coordinator and records manager responsible for implementing
local archives and records retention programs as mandated pursuant
to Title 47 of the Revised Statutes; and
(g)
Perform such other duties as are now or hereafter imposed by statute,
regulation or by municipal ordinance or regulation.
[Ord. No. 2014-8]
The municipal clerk shall receive such compensation as shall
be fixed by council in the annual salary ordinance.
[Ord. No. 2014-8]
The office of deputy clerk of the municipality is hereby created.
[Ord. No. 2014-8]
The deputy clerk shall be appointed by the council for a term
of one year, calculated from the first day of January of the year
in which the deputy clerk is appointed, and shall serve after the
expiration of such term until a successor shall be appointed and shall
qualify. Any vacancy in said office occurring other than by expiration
of term shall be filled in like manner, but for the unexpired term
only.
[Ord. No. 2014-8]
The deputy clerk shall have all of the powers and duties of
the clerk during absence or disability of the latter and shall also
have such other powers and duties as shall be prescribed from time
to time by the clerk or by the council.
[Ord. No. 2014-8]
The deputy clerk shall receive such compensation as shall be
fixed by the council in the annual salary ordinance.
[Ord. No. 2014-8]
The administrator may appoint an Assistant to the Municipal
Clerk, who shall receive such compensation as shall be fixed by the
council in the annual salary ordinance. Said assistant shall be certified
to perform the duties of the municipal clerk pursuant to N.J.S.A.
40A:9-133.2. and may simultaneously hold another position with Princeton.
[Ord. No. 2014-8]
Princeton shall provide the clerk, deputy clerk and assistant
to the clerk (if one is appointed) with defense and indemnification
of any action or legal proceeding arising out of and directly related
to the clerk's, deputy clerk's or assistant to the clerk's lawful
exercise of authority in furtherance of their official duties pursuant
to this Code and in accordance with the requirements and procedures
set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:9-134.1.
[Ord. No. 2014-8]
During the absence or disability of both the clerk and the deputy
clerk, the assistant to the clerk shall be appointed by the council
or the clerk, as appropriate, in which case the assistant shall have
all of the powers and duties of the clerk. In the absence or disability
of all three, a temporary designee may be appointed by the council
or the clerk, as appropriate, which designee shall have all of the
powers and duties of the clerk, provided that said designee is certified
to perform said duties pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:9-133.2.
