[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the Borough of Bergenfield 12-16-1975 by Ord. No. 1046 as Secs.
2-4 and 2-5 of the Revised General Ordinances. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
A.
The Mayor shall preside over all meetings of the Borough
Council but shall not vote except to give the deciding vote in case
of a tie.
B.
The Mayor shall see that the laws of the state and
the ordinances of the Borough are faithfully executed, and shall recommend
to the Council such measures as he may deem necessary or expedient
for the welfare of the Borough. He shall maintain peace and good order
and have the power to suppress all riots and tumultuous assemblies
in the Borough. The Mayor shall have all the powers granted by the
laws of the state and the ordinances of the Borough.
A.
Composition. The Mayor and Councilmen of the Borough
shall constitute the Borough Council.
B.
Meetings. The Council shall hold an annual meeting
on January 1, at 12:00 noon, or during the first seven days of January
in any year, and such other meetings or adjourned meetings at such
time and place as they may by resolution direct, but all regular meetings
shall be held within the Borough. The Mayor shall, when necessary,
call special meetings of the Council; in case of his neglect or refusal,
any four members of the Council may call such meeting at such time
and place in the Borough as they may designate, and in all cases of
special meetings 48 hours written notice shall be given to all the
members of the Council left at their places of residence, or by actual
contact with the members by telephone or otherwise. Waiver of notice
may be made by unanimous consent, and all Councilmen shall sign waiver
of notice of any special meeting.
C.
Quorum. Three Councilmen and the Mayor or, in the
absence of the Mayor, four Councilmen, shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business.
D.
President. The Council at its annual meeting shall,
by the vote of a majority of the Council, elect from their number
a President of the Council, who shall preside at all its meetings
when the Mayor does not preside. He shall hold office for one year
and until the next annual meeting. He shall have the right to debate
and vote on all questions before the Council. If the Council at its
annual meeting fails to elect a president, the Mayor shall appoint
the president from the Council, and in that case no confirmation by
the Council shall be necessary.
E.
Acting Mayor. If the Mayor is absent from the Borough
for a period of three days or for any reason is unable to act, the
President of the Council shall perform all the duties of the Mayor
during such absence or inability. In case of his intended absence
from the Borough for more than three days at any one time, the Mayor
shall notify the President in writing of the intended absence, whereupon
the President shall be and become acting Mayor from the receipt of
the notice and continue to act until the Mayor's return. In case of
the temporary inability of the President of Council to so act, the
member of Council having the longest term of service may act temporarily
for the President of Council.
F.
Powers. The Council shall possess all the powers granted
by or permissible under the laws of the State of New Jersey.
G.
Rules of procedure or bylaws. The Council shall provide
rules of procedure or bylaws by resolution. These rules shall not
be inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter. Except where
the Council provides otherwise by resolution, the proceedings at all
meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order,
revised. The Borough Attorney shall be ex officio parliamentarian
and shall be prepared, at the request of any member of the Council,
to give his opinion on any question of procedure.
H.
Attendance at meetings. All regular and special meetings
of the Council shall be open to the public. The Borough Attorney,
the Clerk, and any other Borough officer or employee whose presence
is required by resolution of the Council shall attend such meetings.
I.
Conference meetings. The Council may convene at any
time in informal conference for the study of municipal business or
to plan for the agendas of its future meetings.
