There shall be a Municipal Ethics Board in and for the Borough, established in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.1 et seq. (Chapter
29 of the Laws of 1991).
The Municipal Ethics Board shall consist of six members who are residents
of the Borough of Shrewsbury, at least two of whom shall be public members.
The members of the Ethics Board shall be appointed by the governing body of
the municipality. The members shall be chosen by virtue of their known and
consistent reputation for integrity and their knowledge of local government
affairs. No more than three members of the Ethics Board shall be of the same
political party.
The members shall serve for terms of five years; except that of the
members initially appointed, two of the public members shall be appointed
to serve for terms of four years, and the remaining members shall be appointed
to serve for terms of three years. Each member shall serve until his successor
has been appointed and qualified. Any vacancy occurring in the membership
of the Ethics Board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment
for the unexpired term.
The members of the Municipal Ethics Board shall annually elect a Chairman
from among the membership.
A Municipal Ethics Board shall have the power to:
A. Initiate, receive, hear and review complaints and hold
hearings with regard to possible violations of the Municipal Code of Ethics
or financial disclosures requirement by local government officers or employees
serving the municipality.
B. Issue subpoenas for the reduction of documents and the
attendance of witnesses with respect to its investigation of any complaint
or to the holding of a hearing.
C. Forward to the County Prosecutor or the Attorney General
or other governmental body any information concerning violations of the Municipal
Code of Ethics or financial disclosure requirements by local government officers
or employees serving the municipality which may become the subject of criminal
prosecution or which may warrant the institution of other legal proceedings
by the Attorney General.
D. Render advisory opinions to local government officers
or employees serving the municipality as to whether a given set of facts and
circumstances would constitute a violation of any provision of the Municipal
Code of Ethics or financial disclosure requirements.
E. Enforce the provisions of the Municipal Code of Ethics
and financial disclosure requirements with regard to local government officers
or employees serving the municipality and to impose penalties for the violation
thereof as are authorized by this chapter.
F. Adopt rules and regulations and to do other things as
are necessary to implement the purposes of this chapter.
A local government officer or employee serving the municipality may
request and obtain from the Municipal Ethics Board an advisory opinion as
to whether any proposed activity or conduct would in its opinion constitute
a violation of the Municipal Code of Ethics or any financial disclosure requirements.
Advisory opinions of the Municipal Ethics Board shall not be made public,
except when the Ethics Board, by the vote of 2/3 of all of its members, directs
that the opinion be made public. Public advisory opinions shall not disclose
the name of the local government officer or employee unless the Ethics Board,
in directing that the opinion be made public, so determines.