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.