The director of the Department of Administration
shall be the Municipal Administrator. The Municipal Administrator
shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Township Committee to
hold office at the pleasure of the Township Committee. Any vacancy
shall be filled by appointment of the Township Committee.
During the absence or disability of the Municipal
Administrator, the Township Committee may appoint an officer or regular
employee of the Township to perform his or her duties. Absence or
disability shall be limited to six months, after which time the absence
or disability may be deemed a vacancy.
[Amended 5-12-1986 by Ord. No. 0-86-7; 7-13-1987 by Ord. No.
0-87-13; 10-8-2003 by Ord. No. 0-03-17]
After his or her initial appointment, the Administrator
shall serve for a six-month probationary period, during which time
the Administrator may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Township
Committee. After the initial six-month probationary period, the Municipal
Administrator may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Township
Committee. The resolution of removal shall become effective three
months after its adoption by the Township Committee. The Township
Committee may provide that the resolution shall have immediate effect;
provided, however, that the Township Committee 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 adoption of
the resolution.
The Municipal Administrator shall be appointed
on the basis of his or her executive and administrative abilities
and qualifications with special regard to education, training and
experience in governmental affairs.
The Municipal Administrator shall:
A. Be the chief administrative officer of the Township
and shall be responsible to the Township Committee as a whole for
the proper and efficient administration of the business affairs of
the Township. His or her duties and responsibilities shall relate
to the general management of all Township business, except those duties
and responsibilities conferred upon other Township officials by state
statute, other applicable laws, rules and regulations promulgated
by state and county agencies, judicial authority or ordinances of
the Township. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the Township Committee
and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely
through the Municipal Administrator.
B. Supervise and direct the business activities of all
departments and the employment and replacement of personnel, except
department heads, as may be required in all departments.
[Amended 10-10-2001 by Ord. No. 0-01-16]
C. Personnel officer.
(1) Serve as the personnel officer of the Township and,
as such, hire and promote employees of the Township, except department
heads, subsequent to satisfactory completion of the probationary period
and advance employees to the next step and, when he or she deems it
necessary or advisable for the betterment of the Township, suspend
or discharge employees, provided that persons covered by statute shall
be promoted, hired, suspended or discharged only in accordance with
such provisions. The Municipal Administrator shall report at the next
regular meeting of the Township Committee any action taken by authority
of this subsection.
(2) All department heads shall be hired, suspended or
discharged by the Township Committee after recommendation by the Administrator.
D. Prepare and submit to the Township Committee before
the close of the fiscal year, or at such time as the Township Committee
shall determine, a proposed budget for the next fiscal year and an
explanatory budget message. In preparing the proposed budget, the
Municipal Administrator, or an officer designated by him or her, shall
obtain from the head of each department, agency, board or officer
estimates of revenues and expenditures and other supporting data as
he or she requests. The Municipal Administrator shall review the estimates
and may revise them before submitting the proposed budget to the Township
Committee.
E. Be responsible for the administration of the budget
after its adoption by the Township Committee and the implementation
of the work programs contained in the budget.
F. Execute and enforce the laws of the state and ordinances
and resolutions of the Township as the Township Committee may prescribe.
G. Attend all meetings of the Township Committee and
other committees as directed by the Township Committee, with a right
to take part in the discussion, and receive notice of all regular
and special meetings of the Township Committee and all advisory committees.
H. Prepare, in consultation with the Township Clerk,
all Township Committee agenda and supply facts pertinent thereto and
deliver the same to the Township Committee at least one day before
the scheduled meeting.
I. Keep the Township Committee informed as to the conduct
of Township affairs, submit periodic reports, either in writing or
orally, on the condition of the Township finances and such other reports,
either in writing or orally, as the Township Committee shall request
and make such recommendations to the Township Committee as he or she
deems necessary and advisable for the welfare of the Township.
J. Submit to the Township Committee, as soon as possible
after the close of the fiscal year, a complete written report on the
administrative activities of the Township for the preceding year.
K. See that the provisions of all franchises, leases,
permits and privileges granted by the Township are complied with.
L. Recommend the employment of experts and consultants
to perform work and render advice in connection with the operation
of the dedicated utilities or work projects in the Township subject
to approval by the Township Committee.
M. Attend to the letting of contracts, in due form of
law, and supervise the performance and faithful execution of the same
except insofar as such duties are expressly imposed upon some other
Township officer or official by statute.
N. See that all money owed the Township is promptly paid
and that proper proceedings are taken for the security and collection
of all Township claims.
O. Review and recommend all bills and vouchers for payment
prior to final approval by the Township Committee.
P. Receive copies of all general and official correspondence
addressed to the Township and refer the same to the appropriate officer
or department for disposition and reply.
Q. Receive all complaints regarding services or personnel
of the Township. He or she or an officer designated by him or her
shall investigate and dispose of the complaints, and the Municipal
Administrator shall keep a written record of each complaint and when
and what action was taken in response thereto and provide the Township
Committee with a copy when requested to do so.
R. Maintain a continuing review and analysis of budget
operations, work programs and costs of municipal services.
S. At the request of the Township Committee, study and
analyze the duties and responsibilities of any elected or appointed
official and department of the Township, submitting his or her report
relating thereto to the Township Committee for such further action
as the Township Committee may deem advisable.
T. Keep the Township Committee informed as to federal
aid projects and state aid projects and any other aid programs for
which the Township may qualify.
[Added 5-12-1986 by Ord. No. 0-86-7]
The Township Administrator shall report directly
to the Township Committee.
[Added 5-12-1986 by Ord. No. 0-86-7]
The Township Committee shall annually designate
one of its members to be liaison to the Department of Administration.
Subject to administrative control and practice, the liaison shall
become knowledgeable about the general functioning of the Department;
serve on any and all boards, bureaus or committees of the Department;
and act as a contact between the Department and the Township Committee.