The office of Municipal Administrator of the
Borough is hereby created in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A.
40A:9-136 et seq.
The Municipal Administrator shall be appointed
by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council. The term
of office of the Municipal Administrator shall be at the pleasure
of the Mayor and Council.
The Administrator may be removed at any time
by a two-thirds vote of the Council. The resolution of removal shall
become effective three months after its adoption. The Council may
provide that the resolution shall have immediate effect, provided
however, the Council shall cause to be paid to the Administrator forthwith
any unpaid balance of his salary and his salary for the next three
calendar months following the adoption of the resolution of removal.
In the event the Administrator shall commit an act in violation of
law, involving moral turpitude or the violation of any state laws
pertaining to the performance of his official duties, he may be removed
from office by a two-thirds vote of the Council and he shall not be
entitled to either the three months' notice nor the three months'
advance pay pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:9-138.
During the absence or disability of the duly
appointed Municipal Administrator, the Borough Council may, by resolution,
appoint an officer or regular employee of the municipality to perform
the duties of the Municipal Administrator. Such absence or disability
shall be limited to three months, after which time a vacancy shall
be deemed to exist in the office unless the Council, in its discretion,
finds that an extension of such time would be in the best interests
of the Borough and increases such period of time by a duly adopted
resolution.
Any vacancy in the office shall be filled by
appointment of the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council.
In the event that the Mayor fails to appoint or in the event his appointment
is not confirmed for a period of 30 days, then the Administrator shall
be appointed by a majority vote of the Council.
The Municipal Administrator shall receive such
compensation as shall be prescribed from time to time by the salary
ordinances of the Borough.
[Amended 7-19-1988 by Ord. No. 2047]
The Municipal Administrator shall be appointed
on the basis of his executive and administrative abilities and qualifications
with special regard to education, training and experience in governmental
affairs.
The Municipal Administrator shall be the chief
administrative officer of the Borough under the general policy supervision
of the Mayor and Council. He shall perform all of the following duties:
A. Supervise and direct the business activities of all
municipal departments. He shall recommend, develop, promulgate, and
implement, with the approval of the Mayor and Council, sound administrative,
personnel, and purchasing practices and procedures for all departments,
offices and agencies of the Borough.
B. Provide a liaison among the various municipal boards,
agencies and departments of the Borough and its professional advisors.
He shall be responsible for the coordination of interdepartmental
operations and shall have the authority and duty to discuss with department
chairmen and department heads such matters as he may deem necessary
to the interests of the operation of the Borough of Bergenfield municipal
government and to give such direction as he deems proper under the
circumstances, within statutory limitations.
C. Be the purchasing officer of the Borough. He shall
purchase, in accordance with the provisions of the governing statutes
and sound purchasing practices, all services, supplies and equipment
for the various agencies, boards, departments and other offices of
the Borough. Prior approval of the departmental chairman shall be
obtained for individual purchases exceeding $3,750. Purchases shall
be made in accord with applicable state statutes, rules and regulations
and shall require approval of the Mayor and Council. For purchases
made without prior approval of the department chairman or the Mayor
and Council, at least two quotations shall be solicited from manufacturers,
firms or dealers when the cost of the item purchased exceeds $3,750,
and the purchase shall be made from the lowest responsible vendor
when the kind and quality of the items are equal. He shall keep an
account of all purchases and shall from time to time or when directed
by the Mayor and Council make a full written report thereof. He shall
also issue rules and regulations governing the requisition and purchase
of all municipal supplies and equipment, consistent with the provisions
of this section, and in accordance with policies set down by the Mayor
and Council. He shall review and recommend all bills and vouchers
for payment prior to final approval by the Mayor and Council.
[Amended 12-6-2005 by Ord. No. 05-2363]
D. Annually, after appropriate consultation with department
heads and municipal agencies, collect all necessary data and prepare
a proposed capital and operating budget for consideration by the Mayor
and Council. The proposed budget shall be accompanied by the proper
supplemental detail in support of the proposed budget appropriation
with a comparison of prior year's expenditure and an analysis of the
proposed expenditures, with recommendations regarding the feasibility
thereof.
E. Upon adoption of the budget, be responsible for its
administration and for implementation of the work programs contained
therein. He shall maintain a continuing review and analysis of budget
operations, work programs and costs of municipal services and shall,
on a monthly basis or as directed so to do by the Mayor and Council,
submit said reviews and analyses to the Mayor and Council.
F. Serve as the chief personnel officer of the Borough.
As such, he shall, after prior approval of the department chairman,
hire and promote employees of the Borough subsequent to satisfactory
completion of the probationary period and shall advance said employees
or employee to the next step. When he deems it necessary or advisable
for the betterment of the Borough, he shall suspend employees, or,
after prior approval of the department chairman, discharge employees;
provided, however, that persons covered by the Civil Service provisions
of the state or other applicable statutes shall be promoted, hired,
suspended or discharged only in accordance with such provisions. The
Municipal Administrator shall report all actions taken under this
subsection at the next regular meeting of the Borough Council.
G. Attend all meetings of the Mayor and Council and other
committees as directed by the Mayor and Council, with a right to take
part in the discussions. He shall receive notice of all regular and
special meetings of the Mayor and Council and all advisory committees
and shall attend all such meetings whether within or without the Borough
as he may be assigned, from time to time, by the Mayor and Council.
H. Prepare the workshop agenda for each meeting of the
Mayor and Council and supply facts pertinent thereto and deliver same
to the Mayor and Council 48 hours in advance of the workshop.
I. Keep the Mayor and Council currently informed of all
matters assigned to him or otherwise within his jurisdiction, through
periodic reports, either in writing or orally, as directed by the
Mayor and Council.
J. Receive copies of all general and official correspondence
addressed to the Mayor and Council and shall refer same to the appropriate
officer or department for disposition and reply.
K. Report to the Mayor and Council annually, at such
time as the Council may require, on the coverage, expiration date
and premium of each surety bond and contract of insurance; the nature
and terms of outstanding leases, the rent reserved by each and their
respective expiration dates.
L. See that the provisions of all franchises, leases
and privileges granted by the Borough are complied with.
M. May recommend the employment of experts and consultants
to perform work and render advice in connection with the operation
of authorized work projects in the Borough subject to approval by
the Mayor and Council.
N. Expedite the letting of contracts and supervise the
performance and faithful execution of the same except insofar as such
duties are expressly imposed upon some other Borough officer or official
by statute.
O. See that all money owed the Borough is promptly paid,
and that proper proceedings are taken for the security and collection
of all the Borough claims.
P. Keep the Mayor and Council currently informed as to
Federal Aid projects and State Aid projects and any other aid programs
for which the Borough may qualify.
Q. Act as liaison between the Borough and the various
county, state and federal agencies, with respect to all applications
for funds or services needed or required by the Borough.
R. At the request of the Mayor and Council, investigate
the actions, duties and responsibilities of any elected or appointed
official and the operations of any department of the Borough, submitting
his report relating thereto to the Borough Council for such further
action as it may deem advisable.
S. Perform such other administrative and ministerial
duties and functions as may be assigned to him by the Mayor and Council.
T. Devote his full time to the duties of his office,
and he shall not become employed in any other enterprise without the
specific consent of the Mayor and Council.
U. The Municipal Administrator shall have all those powers
and duties specifically set forth herein, other than those required
by law to be exercised by the members of the Borough Council, or by
any other officer, board or body.
Department heads shall have the right to appeal
decisions of the Borough Administrator affecting their departments
to the department chairman or to request a meeting with the Mayor
and Council.