Township of Boonton, NJ General Provisions

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:49-4, the ordinances of the Township of Boonton of a general and permanent nature adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Boonton, as revised, codified and consolidated into chapters and sections by General Code Publishers Corp., and consisting of Chapters 1 through 155, together with an Appendix, are hereby approved, adopted, ordained and enacted as the "Code of the Township of Boonton," hereinafter known and referred to as the "Code."

§ 1-2 Code supersedes prior ordinances.

This ordinance and the Code shall supersede all other general and permanent ordinances enacted prior to the enactment of this Code, except such ordinances as are hereinafter expressly saved from repeal or continued in force.

§ 1-3 When effective.

This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon passage and publication according to law.

§ 1-4 Copy of Code on file.

A copy of the Code in loose-leaf form has been filed in the office of the Township Clerk and shall remain there for use and examination by the public until final action is taken on this ordinance; and, if this ordinance shall be adopted, such copy shall be certified to by the Clerk of the Township of Boonton by impressing thereon the Seal of the Township, as provided by law, and such certified copy shall remain on file in the office of the Clerk of the Township, to be made available to persons desiring to examine the same during all times while said Code is in effect.

§ 1-5 Amendments to Code.

Any and all additions, amendments or supplements to the Code, when passed and adopted in such form as to indicate the intent of the governing body to make them a part thereof, shall be deemed to be incorporated into such Code so that reference to the "Code of the Township of Boonton" shall be understood and intended to include such additions and amendments. Whenever such additions, amendments or supplements to the Code shall be adopted, they shall thereafter be printed and, as provided hereunder, inserted in the loose-leaf book containing said Code, as amendments and supplements thereto.

§ 1-6 Publication; filing.

The Clerk of the Township of Boonton, pursuant to law, shall cause to be published, in the manner required, a copy of this Adopting Ordinance in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township. Sufficient copies of the Code shall be maintained in the office of the Clerk for inspection by the public at all times during regular office hours. The enactment and publication of this Adopting Ordinance, coupled with availability of copies of the Code for inspection by the public, shall be deemed, held and considered to be due and legal publication of all provisions of the Code for all purposes.

§ 1-7 Code book to be kept up-to-date.

It shall be the duty of the Clerk, or someone authorized and directed by the Clerk, to keep up-to-date the certified copy of the book containing the Code required to be filed in his office for the use of the public. All changes in said Code and all ordinances adopted subsequent to the effective date of this codification which shall be adopted specifically as part of the Code shall, when finally adopted, be included therein by reference until such changes or new ordinances are printed as supplements to said Code book, at which time such supplements shall be inserted therein.

§ 1-8 Sale of Code book.

Copies of the Code book containing the Code may be purchased from the Clerk upon the payment of a fee to be set by resolution of the Township Committee, which may also arrange, by resolution, for procedures for the periodic supplementation thereof.

§ 1-9 Altering or tampering with Code; penalties for violation.

[Amended 4-9-2007 by Ord. No. 739]

It shall be unlawful for anyone to improperly change or amend, by additions or deletions, any part or portion of the Code, or to alter or tamper with such Code in any manner whatsoever which will cause the law of the Township of Boonton to be misrepresented thereby. Anyone violating this section or part of this ordinance shall be subject, upon conviction, to the penalties provided in § 1-15 of this Code.

§ 1-10 Severability of Code provisions.

Each section of the Code and every part of each section is an independent section or part of a section, and the holding of any section or a part thereof to be unconstitutional, void or ineffective for any cause shall not be deemed to affect the validity or constitutionality of any other sections or parts thereof.

§ 1-11 Severability of ordinance provisions.

Each section of this ordinance is an independent section, and the holding of any section or part thereof to be unconstitutional, void or ineffective for any cause shall not be deemed to affect the validity or constitutionality of any other sections or parts thereof.

§ 1-12 Repealer.

All ordinances or parts of ordinances of a general and permanent nature adopted and in force on the date of the adoption of this ordinance and not contained in the Code are hereby repealed as of the effective date of this adopting ordinance, except as hereinafter provided.

§ 1-13 Ordinances saved from repeal.

The adoption of this Code and the repeal of ordinances provided for in § 1-12 of this ordinance shall not affect the following ordinances, rights and obligations, which are hereby expressly saved from repeal:

Any ordinance adopted subsequent to April 25, 1988.

Any right or liability established, accrued or incurred under any legislative provision prior to the effective date of this ordinance, or any action or proceeding brought for the enforcement of such right or liability.

Any offense or act committed or done before the effective date of this ordinance in violation of any legislative provision, or any penalty, punishment or forfeiture which may result therefrom.

Any prosecution, indictment, action, suit or other proceeding pending, or any judgment rendered, prior to the effective date of this ordinance, brought pursuant to any legislative provision.

Any franchise, license, right, easement or privilege heretofore granted or conferred.

Any ordinance providing for the laying out, opening, altering, widening, relocating, straightening, establishing of grade, changing of name, improvement, acceptance or vacation of any right-of-way, easement, street, road, highway, park or other public place, or any portion thereof.

Any ordinance or resolution appropriating money or transferring funds, promising or guaranteeing the payment of money or authorizing the issuance and delivery of any bond or other instruments or evidence of the Township's indebtedness and any annual budget appropriation ordinances or resolution.

Ordinances authorizing the purchase, sale, lease or transfer of property, or any lawful contract or obligation.

The levy or imposition of taxes, assessments or charges.

The dedication of property or approval of preliminary or final subdivision plats.

All currently effective ordinances pertaining to the rate and manner of payment of salaries and compensation of officers and employees.

The administrative ordinances or resolutions of the Committee not in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this Code.

Any ordinance or resolution of the Committee creating employments, positions or offices and fixing duties therefor which are not provided for in this Code and which are not in conflict or inconsistent therewith.

Concerning the Traffic Chapter, any other provision of this ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding, the repeal provided for in § 143-17 of this ordinance shall not become effective with respect to any ordinance regulating traffic or parking on the public streets or highways until the traffic and parking chapters of this Code are finally approved by the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and said chapters shall not take effect until finally approved by the Director as aforesaid.

§ 1-14 Changes in previously adopted ordinances.

In compiling and preparing the ordinances for adoption and revision as part of the Code pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:49-4, certain grammatical changes and other minor changes were made in one or more of said ordinances. It is the intention of the Township Committee that all such changes be adopted as part of the Code as if the ordinances so changed had been previously formally amended to read as such.

Whenever in the various pieces of Township legislation included in the Code the term "Magistrate" appears, it is hereby amended to read "Judge."

In addition, the following changes, amendments or revisions are made herewith, to become effective upon the effective date of this ordinance (chapter and section number references are to the ordinances as they have been renumbered and appear in the Code).[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Pursuant to § 1-14C, the following Code sections or chapters were amended or added: §§ 9-2B, 15-11, 33-3 and 76-1, Chs. 82 and 85, §§ 102-4A, 102-47, 102-101, 102-116A, 102-123B, 102-139, 102-161, 112-10 and 148-5. In addition, the following Code sections were deleted: Sec. 9:516 of Ord. No. 287; Sec. 18 of Ord. No. 70; and Sec. 7 of Ord. No. 73. In addition, Subsection C(7)(g) provided that, wherever the term "Environmental Commission" appears in Ch. 102, Land Use (Ord. No. 287), it shall be amended to read "Environmental Committee." The complete text of these changes is on file in the office of the Township Clerk.

Fees. The following sections are hereby amended to delete therefrom specific fees and to provide that such fees shall be as set forth in Chapter 82, Fees.[2]

[2]

Editor's Note: Pursuant to § 1-14D, the following Code sections were amended: §§ 49-9, 58-3B, 62-7A and C, 79-4, 88-9B, 88-10, 96-3, 102-10B(1)(c), 102-15A, 102-56M(3)(d), 102-89A, 112-4G(1), 121-3B(1) and (2), 121-7A, 121-10A, 121-11A, 127-7, 127-16B(3), 127-22, 148-5, 148-11 and 151-3A.

Penalties. The following sections are hereby added or amended to provide for a maximum fine of $1,000 and/or maximum imprisonment of 90 days.[3]

[3]

Editor's Note: Pursuant to § 1-14E, the following Code sections were amended or added: §§ 15-13, 44-6, 49-5, 49-17A, 58-5, 66-4, 71-6, 76-4A, 79-8, 93-2, 96-8, 102-140, 102-209A, 112-12, 116-7, 121-18, 127-5, 127-17, 127-24, 135-4, 140-4, 148-13 and 148-19. See now § 1-15.

Article II Penalty for Code Violations

[Added 4-9-2007 by Ord. No. 739]

§ 1-15 Violations and penalties; maximum fine; scope; construction.

Maximum penalty. Whenever, under this Code or any rule, regulation or order duly promulgated by an officer or agency of the Township by authority of this Code, any act is prohibited or declared to be unlawful, or the doing of any act is required and no specific penalty is provided with respect thereto, the violation of any such provision of the ordinance, rules, regulation or order shall be punishable by one or more of the following:

(1)

Imprisonment in the county jail or in any place provided by the Township for the detention of prisoners for any term not exceeding 90 days;

(2)

A period of community service not exceeding 90 days; or

(3)

A fine not exceeding $2,000.

Where a fine in an amount greater than $1,250 is imposed upon an owner for violations of housing or zoning codes, the owner shall be provided a thirty-day period in which the owner shall be afforded the opportunity to cure or abate the condition and shall also be afforded an opportunity for a hearing before a court of competent jurisdiction for an independent determination concerning the violation. Subsequent to the expiration of the thirty-day period, a fine greater than $1,250 may be imposed if a court has not determined otherwise or, upon reinspection of the property, it is determined that the abatement has not been substantially completed.

Separate violations. Except as otherwise provided, each and every day in which a violation of any such provision of the ordinance, rule or regulation exists shall constitute a separate violation.

Application. The maximum penalty stated in this section is not intended to state an appropriate penalty for each and every violation. Any lesser penalty, including a nominal penalty or no penalty at all, may be appropriate for a particular case or a particular violation. This section does not alter any stated minimum penalty.

Amendments. In case of any amendment of or addition to any section or chapter of this Code, the penalty provided for the violation of such section or chapter shall also relate to the amendment or addition, whether reenacted in the amendatory ordinance or not, unless such penalty is specifically repealed or amended therein.