[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Westampton 3-11-2025 by Ord. No. 1-2025. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
There shall be an Office of the Clerk, the head of which shall be the Township Clerk. The Township Clerk shall be appointed by the Township Committee and shall, prior to such appointment, obtain and hold a registered municipal clerk certificate.
B. 
The Township Clerk shall serve for a term of three years. In the event of a vacancy, the Clerk's appointment shall be made for a new term and not for the unexpired term. A reappointment of an incumbent Clerk made within 60 days following the expiration of the prior term shall not be considered a new appointment, and the effective date of the reappointment will date back to the date of expiration of the initial term of appointment.
C. 
Within 90 days of a vacancy in the office of the Clerk by reason of the departure of a registered municipal clerk, the governing body may appoint a person who does not hold a registered municipal clerk certificate to serve as acting municipal clerk for a period not to exceed one year and commencing on the date of the vacancy. Any person so appointed may, with the approval of the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs, be reappointed as acting municipal clerk for a maximum of two subsequent one year terms following the termination of the temporary appointment. No local unit shall fill the position of acting municipal clerk for more than three consecutive years.
D. 
Compensation of the Clerk shall be provided in accordance with the Salary Ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 63, Salaries.
A. 
The Township Administrator, to the extent permitted by law, shall be responsible for overseeing the activities of the Township Clerk.
B. 
Nothing herein shall be construed to diminish, alter, or remove the duties and responsibilities lawfully assigned to the Township Administrator.
C. 
No duties or responsibilities of the Township Clerk shall be transferred to, or assumed by, the Township Administrator except as expressly permitted by applicable law.
The Clerk shall serve as secretary of the Township Committee. The Clerk shall attend all meetings of the Township Committee and shall keep the minutes of the proceedings of the Township Committee. The minutes of each meeting of the Township Committee shall be signed by the officer presiding at the meeting and by the Clerk.
A. 
The Clerk shall keep and maintain written records of all ordinances and resolutions. After the adoption of each ordinance, the Clerk shall engross and certify the proof of publication. Each ordinance and resolution shall be signed by the Mayor and the Clerk, who shall attest that it was duly adopted upon the date stated, and when so signed, the engrossed copy shall be deemed to be a public record of the ordinance or resolution.
B. 
At the close of each year, the Clerk, with the advice and assistance of the Township Attorney, shall bind, compile or codify all the ordinances and resolutions then in effect. The Clerk shall also properly index the record books, ordinances, and resolutions.
The Clerk shall serve as coordinator and records manager responsible for implementing local archives and records retention programs as mandated pursuant to Title 47 of the New Jersey Revised Statutes. Thus, the Clerk shall have custody of and shall safely keep all records, books and documents of the Township, except those committed by Charter or ordinance to any other office or which may be transferred thereto by the Administrator. As custodian of records, the Clerk shall handle all requests made under the Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., and all Vital Records, including copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates.
The Clerk shall be custodian of the municipal seal and cause the seal of the Township to be affixed to instruments and writings when authorized by ordinance or resolution of the Committee, when necessary to exemplify any document on record in the Clerk's office, or to certify any act or paper which from the records in the Clerk's office shall appear to have been a public act of the Township or a public document. The Clerk shall not affix the seal, or cause or permit it to be affixed, to any other instrument or writing or other paper, unless required by law or ordinance.
The Clerk shall:
A. 
Be the depository and custodian of all:
(1) 
Official surety bonds furnished by or on account of any officer or employee, except the Clerk's own bond which shall be placed in the custody of the Treasurer.
(2) 
Insurance policies upon, or with respect to, risks insured for the benefit of the Township or to protect the Township against any claim, demand or liability.
(3) 
Formal contracts for work, labor services, supplies, equipment and materials to which the Township may be a party.
(4) 
Performance bonds running to the Township as obligee, or any other form of security given by any contractor, subdivision developer or other persons on account of work done, or to be done, in or for the Township.
B. 
Have custody of all leases of property owned by the Township.
C. 
Report to the Administrator, at the Administrator's request, 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.
In addition to such other functions, powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Charter and ordinances, the Clerk shall:
A. 
Serve as the chief administrative officer in all elections held in the municipality and perform all of the functions required of municipal clerks by the General Election Law (Title 19 of the New Jersey Revised Statutes) and any other law or ordinance, including voter registration and mail-in ballots.
B. 
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 ordinance has delegated that responsibility to another municipal officer.
C. 
Have such other, different and additional functions, powers and duties as may be prescribed by law or ordinance or delegated by the Administrator.
There shall be the office of Deputy Clerk. The Deputy Clerk shall be appointed by the Township Committee. The Deputy Clerk shall serve for a term of one year which shall begin on the first day of the Deputy Clerk's appointment. During the absence or disability of the Clerk, the Deputy Clerk shall have all of the powers and shall perform all of the duties of the Township Clerk.