The office of Borough Administrator is hereby
created in and for the Borough of Hopatcong pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:9-136
et seq. and in accordance with the provisions of this article.
The Administrator shall be the chief administrative
officer of the Borough of Hopatcong and shall be responsible to the
governing body as a whole for the proper and efficient administration
of the business affairs of the Borough. The Administrator's duties
and responsibilities shall relate to the management of all Borough
business, excepting therefrom those duties and responsibilities conferred
upon the Borough officials by state statute, other applicable laws,
rules and regulations promulgated by state and county agencies or
such as the governing body may reserve to itself through this article.
The members of the governing body shall not give orders or directions
to any Borough employee except through the Administrator.
The Administrator shall supervise all personnel
of the Borough through the respective department heads and direct
the business activities of all Borough departments, including the
direction of central purchasing and the employment and replacement
of personnel, as may be required in said departments within the limits
prescribed by the budget and as hereinafter provided. The Administrator
shall:
A. Have all complaints regarding services or personnel
of the Borough referred to the office of the Administrator. The Administrator,
or an officer designated by the Administrator, shall investigate and
dispose of such complaints, and the Administrator shall keep a written
record of such complaints and of when and what action was taken in
response thereto and provide the governing body a copy thereof when
requested so to do.
B. Study, recommend, implement and enforce the financial
procedures and policy of the Borough and its departments, after consultation
with department heads and approval of the governing body.
C. Establish and maintain sound working, personnel and
administrative rules, regulations and practices and appropriate records
and reports, subject to such policies as may be established from time
to time by employee contracts.
D. Require the various departments of the Borough to
furnish annually an adequate inventory of all equipment, materials
and supplies in stock and recommend the sale of any surplus or obsolete
equipment, materials and supplies.
E. Ensure that there is an up-to-date and coordinated
filing system for all Borough departments, offices, boards and agencies.
F. Negotiate contracts for the Borough upon request of
the governing body and subject to the approval of the governing body.
G. See that all terms and conditions imposed in favor
of the Borough or its inhabitants in any statute or contract are faithfully
kept and performed and, upon knowledge of any violation, call the
same to the attention of the governing body.
H. Make any recommendations which may increase the efficiency
of the operation of the Borough.
I. Continually review and supervise the Borough's insurance
program.
J. Be responsible for the overall supervision and maintenance
of real property owned by the Borough, except as modified through
delegation by the governing body or ordinance to autonomous boards
or commissions.
K. Be responsible for the conduct of a sound investment
program, subject to governing body policy, and report such actions
and results to the governing body semiannually or more frequently
when directed.
L. Assign office space, furniture and facilities among
and within departments.
Nothing in this article shall derogate from,
or authorize the Borough Administrator to exercise, the powers and
duties of the elected and appointed officials of the Borough.
The Borough Administrator shall furnish a surety
bond to be approved by the governing body, said bond to be conditioned
upon the faithful performance of his duties. The premium of said bond
shall be paid by the Borough.
[Added 4-2-1981 by Ord. No. 16-81]
It shall be the intent of this article to promote
a more responsive government and to indicate that the governing body
and the office of Administrator are integral to that end. It shall
be understood that while this article defines and enumerates the duties
and conditions of the office of Administrator, it also affirms the
conviction by the governing body to allow for implementation of the
duties within its scope and that the governing body and Administrator
must refrain from any practices inconsistent with that end.