[Added 6-4-1986 by Ord. No. 1986-4[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This article also superseded
former Art. IX, Department of Welfare.
Pursuant to the General Public Assistance Law
(N.J.S.A. 44:8-107 et seq.), there is hereby created a Local Welfare
Assistance Board in the Township of Deerfield. Said Local Welfare
Assistance Board shall be composed of three persons, and at least
one of them shall be a woman, and they shall be appointed by the Mayor
of the Township, upon the approval of the Township Committee, and
shall serve without compensation but shall be allowed their necessary
and actual expenses.
The term of one member of the Local Welfare
Assistance Board shall be for one year, and such member only may be
appointed from among the members of the Township Committee of the
Township of Deerfield and the terms of the other members thereof shall
be as follows:
A.
The terms of the other members shall be for two years
each, except that the terms of the initial members shall be one year
for one member and two years for the other member, in order that their
terms may expire in alternate years. Thereafter, the term of each
member shall be for two years.
B.
The term of each member of the Local Welfare Assistance
Board shall begin on the first day of January, and each member shall
continue in office until his successor shall be appointed and shall
qualify.
The Local Welfare Assistance Board shall organize
and select a Chairman and Secretary and appoint a Director of Welfare
who shall be the first executive and administrative officer of the
Board. The Director of Welfare shall hold office for a term of five
years from the date of his or her appointment and shall be paid such
salary as may be fixed by such Board, subject to the approval of the
Township Committee. If a vacancy occurs in the office of the Director
of Welfare, a temporary Acting Director may be appointed to serve
for not more than 90 days.
The Director shall have the following duties:
A.
To supervise, by periodic investigation, every person
receiving public assistance, such investigation to be made by visitation
at least once a month.
B.
To reconsider, from month to month, the amount and
nature of public assistance given and alter, amend or suspend the
same when the circumstances so require.
C.
To devise ways and means for bringing persons unable
to maintain themselves to self-support or to the support of any other
person or agency able and willing to do so.
D.
To keep full and complete records of such investigation,
supervision, assistance and rehabilitation and of all certifications
of persons for employment or benefits and cancellations thereof, in
such manner and form as required by the Commissioner of the Department
of Human Services.
E.
To bring appropriate action for commitment to any
state or county institution when the best interest of the needy persons
would be so deserved.
F.
To render immediate public assistance to any needy
person found in the Township, subject to determination and adjustment
of responsibility as provided by law.
G.
To inquire into the facts, conditions and circumstances
of a person applying for public assistance, including legal residence,
family connections, living conditions, resources and income; the direct
and indirect causes of the person's need; and such other matters as
may be required by law, making a written record thereof.
H.
By written order, to render such aid and material
assistance as he may, in his discretion, after reasonable inquiry,
deem necessary, to the end that a person shall not suffer unnecessarily
from cold, hunger or sickness or be deprived of shelter pending further
certification of the case; and determine, after completing his investigation,
whether continued assistance is necessary, making such order as in
his judgment is warranted, having due regard to the circumstances
disclosed by the investigation.
I.
To revoke any continued order for assistance whenever
it appears that the person receiving it is no longer needy or will
otherwise be provided for.
The Local Welfare Assistance Board shall have
the powers and perform the duties prescribed by general law and ordinance
and shall appoint a Director of Welfare pursuant to the state law.
