Borough of Oradell, NJ Administrator

Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art. IV, Borough Administrator, adopted 12-6-1988 by Ord. No. 836.

The basic function of the Administrator shall be to:

Direct and supervise the administration of all departments, offices and agencies of the Borough, except as otherwise provided by law.

Keep the Mayor and Council adequately informed of Borough activities.

Receive notice of all regular and special meetings of the governing body and all advisory committees, and to attend all meetings of the governing body with the right to take part in the discussion.

Supervise the preparation of and recommend annually to the Mayor and Council an operating budget, a capital budget and a five-year capital plan. The recommended operating budget shall include projections of revenues and expenses and a projected tax rate.

Prepare and submit to the Mayor and Council an annual report of Borough affairs, which shall include a report from each department head.

Serve as liaison between the Mayor and Council and the Borough's departments and agencies, ensuring that employees are informed of the Mayor and Council's activities and requirements, and that the Mayor and Council are informed of the programs, needs and achievements of the Borough.

Ensure that all laws and all acts of the governing body subject to enforcement by the Administrator or by officers and employees subject to the Administrator's direction and supervision are executed faithfully.

Receive and deal with requests for, and complaints about, Borough services that cannot be dealt with by the operating departments and agencies. The Administrator shall keep a record of all such requests and complaints, and their disposition, and shall report on them to the Mayor and Council from time to time.

Serve as the Borough's director of human resources, with responsibility to oversee the employment practices of the Borough's departments and agencies. The Administrator shall recommend a comprehensive program of policies and procedures for approval by the Mayor and Council and, once that program is adopted, shall review it annually and recommend any appropriate changes. In this role, the Administrator shall develop and oversee a comprehensive training program for Borough employees; develop a program to recognize Borough employees for exceptional skills and achievements; oversee Borough's labor relations activities and be included in all labor negotiations; advise department heads on the handling of grievances; and serve as hearing officer on all formal grievances that rise above the departmental level. To the extent that any labor agreement prescribes some other arrangement for a Borough hearing, the Administrator shall serve as an advisor to the prescribed individual or group.

Make appointments and promotions of subordinate Borough officers, which shall include full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal employees, except where the power to appoint rests with the Mayor and Council.

(1)

Appointments of department heads shall be approved by the Mayor and Council. The Administrator shall advise the Mayor and Council of any appointments no later than the next meeting of the governing body. Any action under this section shall be taken only after the Mayor and Council have declared a vacancy and authorized its being filled.

Take appropriate disciplinary action against Borough employees and recommend to the Mayor and/or Borough Council, when necessary, suspension or removal of department heads and any other employees. The Administrator may, for good cause, suspend a department head for up to five working days while recommending more serious disciplinary action to the Mayor and Council.

Negotiate contracts for the Borough, other than personnel or labor contracts or those required to be bid under N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq., as authorized and directed by and subject to the approval of the governing body, and ensure that all terms and conditions favorable to the Borough in any statute or contract are kept faithfully and performed and, upon knowledge of any violation, immediately make said violation known to the governing body.

Establish and oversee a proper purchasing system; approve all specifications for goods and services to be purchased by the Borough by the public bid or formal solicitation of proposals, except for the technical portions of the specifications prepared by any licensed professional; authorize and approve the purchase all materials, supplies, equipment and labor and services under contract required by any department, office or agency of the Borough; and approve all bills and vouchers submitted for payment prior to their submission to the Mayor and Council for approval.

Authorize any transfer of supplies, materials and equipment between departments and offices and, with the authorization of the governing body, sell surplus, obsolete, unused or waste supplies, materials and equipment.

Ensure that all terms and conditions imposed in favor of the Borough or its inhabitants, by any law or contract, are kept faithfully and performed. The Administrator may delegate this responsibility to another Borough employee with respect to any particular contract.

Review and supervise the Borough's insurance program and policies.

Advise the Mayor and Council of actions by other units of government of importance to the Borough.

Represent the Borough, as directed by the Mayor and Council.

Perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned or required by the Mayor and Council.

Examine or investigate the operations of Borough departments and officers and, to the extent permitted by law, direct corrective action of any shortcomings. The Administrator shall recommend any changes in policy or other corrections that require action by the Mayor and Council.

May designate a qualified department head of the Borough to perform his duties during his temporary absence.