There shall be a Department of Health, the head of which shall be the Health Officer, to be known also as the "Director," to be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council. He shall possess a valid health officer license issued by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services or the Department of Environmental Protection, whichever shall be the licensing agency, and shall possess such qualifications as are outlined by civil service. He shall administer the work of the Department of Health under the direction of the Administrator in accordance with the policies established or approved by the Township Council and recommendations of the Advisory Board of Health and shall be in charge of all divisions of the Department. He shall have the power to decide all variance requests as permitted by code or statute. He shall render a decision not later than 45 days after a request for a variance. Failure to render a decision within such forty-five-day period or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant shall constitute an approval of such variance request.
Within the Department of Health there shall be a Division of Health, the head of which shall be the Health Officer. Under the supervision of the Director, the Division shall:
A. 
Have all the functions, powers and duties of a local board of health under Title 26 of the Revised Statutes, except that, as required by the charter, the Council shall have and exercise all local legislative powers under that Title.
B. 
Plan and administer a comprehensive public health program, including, without limitation thereto, environmental sanitation, communicable disease control, child and adult health, and health education, laboratory services, public health nursing, and such other services as may be authorized by general law, charter or local ordinances.
C. 
Administer and enforce the local health ordinances and any and all other ordinances heretofore adopted.
Within the Department of Health and under the direction of the Health Officer there shall be a Division of Environmental Health, which shall include sanitary inspectors and such civil service titles as may be appropriate, and who shall receive such compensation as shall be provided by ordinance. They shall enforce the various sewer and water codes of the Township, as well as general law, public health codes, and rules and regulations of the State Department of Health and Senior Services in connection with sewer and water installations. This Division shall keep in close contact with the West Milford Township Municipal Utilities Authority in connection with sewer and water programs in and for the Township, including regional programs, and particularly as to sewer and water programs in all subdivisions.
Within the office of the Mayor there shall be a Division of Vital Statistics, the head of which shall be a person serving as the Registrar of Vital Statistics. He shall be appointed by the Mayor and shall receive such compensation as shall be provided by ordinance. This Division shall maintain and administer matters concerning vital statistics, including births, deaths and marriages in accordance with state law, and receive applications for and issue marriage licenses pursuant to law.
Within the Department of Health, there shall be a Division of Animal Control, the head of which shall be the Animal Control Officer, who shall be appointed by the Council, for a term of one year, commencing with July 1 of the year in which such appointment is to be effective, and until his successor is appointed and qualified. He shall receive such compensation as shall be provided by ordinance. This Division shall perform all the duties and have such powers as provided by general law, charter and code for animal control officers. The Animal Control Officer shall act as the dog warden of the Township. This Division in conjunction with the Division of Health shall cooperate in any program which relates to animals, dogs and cats in accordance with general law, ordinances, code and state regulations.