[Adopted as Sec. 2:5 of the 1975 General
Ordinances]
A.
The Charter Study Commission's Majority Report states:
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"The Members of your Charter Study Commission
conclude unanimously, therefore, that Burlington Township's form of
government should be changed to require a full-time professional executive
who would assist our elected officials in providing the citizens of
our growing municipality with responsive - efficient - economical
- and coordinated government."
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B.
Under the Mayor-Council Plan E, the Municipal Administrator
is this individual. In reviewing the charge given by the Charter Study
Commission, it is obvious that this position was and is intended to
provide the greatest change in the format and operation of this Township's
government. It is with this impetus that the choices and approaches
finally determined upon for this chapter were selected.
C.
The Municipal Administrator by Charter is the Director
of the Department of Administration. Under N.J.S.A. 40:69A-44, however,
it is apparent that discretionary authority is granted to the Council
to provide in this chapter general supervisory functions in the office
of Municipal Administrator for all Township departments. Bearing in
mind the limitations placed in N.J.S.A. 40:69A-44 on this authority,
Council has attempted to grant to the office the widest powers in
hope that this professional may bring about the stated objectives
of the Charter Study Commission. Further, under the specific dictates
of statute, the Administrator has wide powers to provide for proper
controls over purchasing and personnel. It is the intent of this chapter
to place the greatest responsibility for these governmental functions
in the hands of the Administrator, and any interpretation of this
chapter should attempt to reach that goal.
D.
With this purpose in mind, this chapter places the
Administrator's Office apart from any departmental analysis, recognizing
its unique position in this government.
The Municipal Administrator shall be appointed
by the Mayor with the advice and consent of Council.
The Municipal Administrator shall serve during
the term of office of the Mayor appointing him and until the appointment
and qualification of his successor.
The Municipal Administrator shall be a full-time
professional public administrator. The Municipal Administrator shall
possess such qualifications deemed necessary for the position by the
Mayor and Council in their respective appointment and confirmation
decision; however, he shall be chosen solely on the basis of his executive
and administrative qualifications with special reference to his actual
experience in, or his knowledge of, accepted practice in respect to
the duties of his office.
[Amended 3-10-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-OR-004]
The Municipal Administrator is not required
to be a resident of the Township. However, given the demands of the
position and the desire to have the Municipal Administrator recognized
as an important resource in the community, it is preferred, if feasible,
that the Municipal Administrator reside in the Township.
The Municipal Administrator shall be paid in
accordance with the Salary Schedule of the Township of Burlington.[1]
In the event that there is a vacancy in the position of Municipal Administrator or in the event the Municipal Administrator is absent, disabled or disqualified for whatever reason, the Mayor shall have the power to designate an Acting Administrator pursuant to § 20-13 of this chapter to act in place of the Municipal Administrator, and any action taken by this person shall be deemed the official action of the Municipal Administrator.
A.
Department head. The Municipal Administrator shall
act as the head of the Department of Administration and in this connection
he shall appoint subordinate officers and employees within this department
subject to any limitations imposed by the Charter or general law.
Further, the Administrator may, with the approval of the Mayor, remove
such officers and employees, subject to the provisions of the Civil
Service Law and contrary Charter or general law.
B.
Budget preparation. The Municipal Administrator shall assist the Mayor, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:69A-44 and § 20-11H of this chapter in the preparation of the budget.
C.
Purchasing system. The Municipal Administrator, with
the approval of the Mayor and Council, shall establish and administer
a centralized purchasing system for all departments and independent
boards or agencies operating within the Township of Burlington.
D.
Personnel system. The Municipal Administrator shall
be responsible for the development and administration of a sound personnel
system for the Township of Burlington and all of its departments and
independent boards and agencies. In this connection, the Municipal
Administrator shall act as certifying agent to the Department of Civil
Service within the State of New Jersey.
E.
Supervision. Subject to the prerogatives of the Mayor
and Council, the Administrator shall supervise the administration
of each of the departments of the Township. For this purpose, he shall
have the power to investigate the organization and operation of any
and all departments, to prescribe standards and rules of administrative
practice and procedure and consult with the heads of the departments
under his jurisdiction, provided that, with respect to the Department
of Law, Department of Criminal Justice, the Municipal Court, and the
Department of Finance, the authority of the Municipal Administrator
shall extend only to matters of budgeting, personnel and purchasing.
F.
Law enforcement. The Municipal Administrator, subject
to the approval of the Mayor, shall enforce or cause to be enforced
the ordinances, resolutions, Charter and applicable general law of
the Township of Burlington.
G.
Coordination. The Municipal Administrator shall, subject
to the approval of the Mayor, assign responsibility for departmental
action, coordinate interdepartmental operations and review the responses
given to any assigned duty.
H.
Township policies and practices. The Municipal Administrator
shall study the operation of Township government and the needs of
the community at large, recommend to and through the Mayor needed
programs, policies and practices to achieve proper conditions within
the community, and implement any and all policies, programs and practices
instituted by the Mayor and/or Council.
I.
Contract enforcement. The Municipal Administrator
shall enforce on behalf of the Township all of its contract rights.
J.
Information. Subject to the approval of the Mayor,
the Municipal Administrator shall establish procedures and policies
for the coordination, compiling, editing and prompt dissemination
and release of public information.
K.
Board coordination. Subject to the approval of the
Mayor, the Municipal Administrator shall coordinate the activities
of all independent boards and agencies of the Township with the rest
of the Township's government to ensure that proper information is
communicated and proper practices and procedures followed.
L.
Payment of claims. The Municipal Administrator pursuant to § 20-24 of this chapter shall establish and enforce approval claims procedures for the prompt receipt, audit and payment of claims against the Township; he, in addition shall perform the duties outlined in § 20-24 of this chapter to be performed by the Municipal Administrator.
M.
Written and oral reports. The Municipal Administrator
shall make studies and surveys of such municipal problems as shall
from time to time be assigned to him by the Mayor and/or Council and
prepare and submit written or oral reports of his findings, determinations
and recommendations to the appropriate requesting authority for its
consideration and action. He shall be responsible to see that any
complaints concerning the functions and obligations of the Township
of Burlington made by any of its residents, citizens or taxpayers
are promptly attended to and a record made of such complaints and
the action taken in response thereto.
N.
Public meetings; attendance. The Municipal Administrator
shall attend all public meetings of the Township Council and all executive
caucuses where requested by the President.
O.
Other duties. The Municipal Administrator shall perform
such additional duties as the Mayor by directive or the Council by
ordinance shall provide.
P.
Payments in lieu of taxes. The Municipal Administrator shall monitor
the status of payment in lieu of taxes ("PILOT") agreements to assure
that the Tax Assessor annually, on or before December 1, provides
the Tax Collector with the status of each PILOT and the amount to
be collected in the next calendar year. This will enable the Tax Collector
to send out the annual billing containing a statement as to the status
of each PILOT, which statement shall be in a form approved by the
Municipal Administrator and shall direct that payment be made to the
Chief Financial Officer. The Municipal Administrator shall direct
the Chief Financial Officer to compile a list of payments for review
by the Mayor and Township Council.
[Added 2-12-2019 by Ord.
No. 2019-OR-006]
The Municipal Administrator may be removed as
follows:
