Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:63-6, there is hereby
created the position of Township Administrator.
[Amended 7-9-1998]
The Township Administrator shall be appointed
by the Township Committee and shall serve in such office at the discretion
of the Township Committee. The person holding the position may be
removed at any time by a 2/3 vote of the full membership of the Township
Committee. The compensation of the Administrator shall be fixed by
the Township Committee in the annual Salary Ordinance. The position of Township Administrator shall be a full-time
job or part-time job in the discretion of the Township Committee,
and the person holding that position shall devote his or her full-time
working day to the interests of the Township. It shall be the express
policy of the Township that the determination to appoint, reappoint,
discharge or terminate a person to or from the position of Township
Administrator shall be without regard to partisan political affiliation
or considerations.
The Township Administrator shall have the following
duties and responsibilities:
A. General. The Township Administrator shall be the chief
administrative officer of the Township directly accountable to the
Township Committee and shall administer, direct, coordinate and supervise
the proper operations of the Township, its various departments and
its employees, professionals, contractors and vendors. The Administrator
shall supervise the administration of all departments, boards and
offices in consultation with the Township Committee and oversee the
supervision and maintenance of Township buildings, equipment, properties
and grounds in conjunction with the various Township departments to
ensure the safe and efficient operation of such properties. The Administrator
shall act as liaison between the Township Committee, employees, department
heads, citizens of the Township, Solicitor, Auditor, contractors,
architects, engineers, other professionals and persons doing business
with or having dealings with the Township. The Administrator shall
perform all duties, assignments and roles directed by the Township
Committee. The general duty of the Administrator shall be to oversee,
supervise and direct the day-to-day business of the Township.
B. Specific responsibilities. Subject to consultation
and authorization from the Township Committee, the Administrator shall
have the following specific duties and responsibilities:
(1) Budget responsibilities. The Administrator shall assist
in the preparation of the annual municipal budget. The Administrator
shall establish a format for the budget preparation process by prescribing
and installing a uniform method and procedure for budget preparation
by all departments and setting standards for departmental input and
reporting requirements; maintain a continuing review and analysis
of budget operations, work progress and cost of municipal services;
meet with the Auditor to coordinate preparation of the budget; assist
departments and department heads in the formulation of the annual
budget; conduct initial departmental budget hearings and submit the
proposed budget for departments to the Township Committee for its
review and consideration; attend all budget meetings with the Township
Committee; follow and take the required procedures for adoption of
the budget; review the budget and provide input and coordination to
make sure the budget is in complete compliance with state guidelines
and the local budget laws.
(2) Aid and grant responsibilities. The Administrator
shall be responsible to find and pursue aid and grant monetary resources
from the county, state and federal governments or other entities which
may serve as a resource to provide funding for Township business affairs
and coordinate applications to such agencies and entities, including
the community development block grants program and transportation
aid grants. The Administrator shall take the steps necessary to pursue
any other eligible grants for which the Township may be eligible.
(3) Collective bargaining contract negotiation responsibilities.
The Administrator shall participate in the negotiation of all contracts
with various collective bargaining units representing Township employees,
including but not limited to the Police Benevolent Association, the
Police Dispatchers and with Streets and Roads. The Administrator shall
take the steps necessary to effectuate the terms of such agreements
once they are entered into by the applicable parties and to supervise
performance thereunder by all sides to assure compliance. The Administrator
shall provide an interpretation of the contracts when required and
shall participate in the grievance process by conducting the necessary
hearings and issuing written opinions as to matters which arise in
such proceedings.
(4) Finance responsibilities. The Administrator shall
oversee, in conjunction with the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer,
Auditor and Township Committee, the investment and short- and long-term
debt policies of the Township; analyze the cash needs of the Township
and recommend to the Township Committee the prudent investment of
such funds as temporarily may be in excess of the amount needed to
meet Township obligations; supervise the disbursement of all Township
funds and approve all vouchers and bills before submitting the same
to the Township Committee for final approval; deal with banks and
other financial institutions transacting business with the Township;
supervise and put into effect cash management procedures, implementation
of audit recommendations, revenue collection procedures and expenditure
encumbrances systems; supervise and consult with the Tax Assessor,
Tax Collector, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to make sure
the financial departments of the Township adhere to state accounting,
contract and budget requirements.
(5) Personnel. The Administrator shall be responsible
for the development and administration of a sound personnel system.
The Administrator shall be charged with the duty to supervise the
administration of all Township municipal personnel and personnel programs,
including the updating of job classifications and descriptions, review
of compensation and benefits, input into manpower needs and manpower
allocation; have the authority to recommend to the Township Committee
and the various departments of the Township the initial hiring, disciplining
and discharge of Township employees; ensure that job performance appraisals
and reviews are conducted of each employee by the respective department
head of the department in which the employee is engaged; be responsible
to the Township Committee to recommend any improvements in the Township
personnel policy and systems which are deemed necessary; assist every
municipal department in all personnel actions and to report all findings
to the appropriate department head and to the relevant subcommittee
of the Township Committee; receive and oversee to conclusion all complaints
concerning municipal services provided by Township employees and the
behavior of employees and direct such complaints to the appropriate
department or agency for disposition, with follow-up required.
(6) Administrative coordination of services. The Administrator
shall be responsible to coordinate the interrelating functions of
all department heads, appointed Township professionals, Township employees
and the various boards and agencies of the Township. The Administrator
shall act as liaison with officials of the Township and regional school
district and the Township Municipal Utilities Authority. The Administrator
shall either handle directly or see to the handling of complaints,
concerns, comments and requests for information regarding the Township
expressed from any source. The Administrator shall work closely with
the Township Committee in establishing, updating and executing administrative
policies and procedures; review Township policies, procedures, rules
and regulations; appraise the adequacy or efficiency of operating
systems, make recommendations for improvements to such systems where
necessary, and recommend outside professional assistance as may be
required; research, organize, develop and make recommendations for
necessary changes, deletions, modifications or additions to Township
policies, rules and regulations; review municipal programs and activities
and evaluate the administration, objectives, efficiency, effectiveness
and suitability to current conditions, cost and accomplishments of
such programs and activities; and carry out administrative decisions
formulated by the Township Committee and oversee compliance with these
decisions. The Administrator shall represent the Township in its relations
to the federal, state, county and other municipal governments and
report such dealings to the Township Committee on a regular basis.
Subject to the Township Committee's authority to make or not make
appointments, hire and discharge, the Administrator shall be responsible
to coordinate, make recommendations for and help in the proper appointment
and removal of municipal employees and members to boards and agencies
of the Township to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Personnel
Ordinance and the applicable state and local laws.
(7) Purchasing responsibilities. The Administrator shall
coordinate purchasing of supplies, services, materials and equipment,
oversee the certification of receipt of the same and supervise the
proper submission of vouchers for payment and review of all disbursements
in connection therewith and administer a centralized purchasing system.
The Administrator shall act as purchasing agent and as a final check
on all requisitions that have been approved by department heads for
services and materials. The Administrator shall monitor compliance
with state contract laws, state bidding requirements, adherence to
the encumbrance system, state purchasing guidelines and conformity
with generally accepted purchasing practices.
(8) Contracts. The Administrator shall participate in
and conduct negotiations for contracts with vendors and contractors
for municipal programs and requirements; make recommendations concerning
the nature and location of Township improvements and take the steps
necessary to put into effect the Township improvements as determined
by the Township Committee; oversee the completion of all contracts
and compliance by all parties to the terms of such agreements; review
and oversee compliance with the State Public Contracts and Bidding
Laws (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq.), laws against discrimination and
take steps necessary to ensure that all required bonds, guaranties,
insurance, contracts and necessary documents are in place for each
project and contract for the Township.
(9) Insurance responsibilities. The Administrator shall
be charged with the responsibility to oversee all insurance programs
of the Township; make sure premiums are paid on a current basis; provide
for sufficient coverage and make recommendations to the Township Committee
regarding needed coverage; deal with the Township's insurance companies,
agents and brokers, including the Joint Insurance Fund representatives;
process all claims made against the Township for which insurance is
provided made to the appropriate insurance carrier and see to the
proper resolution of such claims, including follow-up on representation
by attorneys, input into settlement and strategy of the case and communication
to the Township Committee on the status of such claims.
(10) Development of Township lands. Coordinate with the
appropriate personnel, professionals and boards and agencies of the
Township the planning and zoning activities of the Township, the administration
of effective land use controls, preparation of plans for redevelopment
and improvement of the community for consideration by the Township,
the provision of staff for the boards of the Township and the review
and maintenance of all required performance and maintenance guaranties
on development projects in the Township. The Township Administrator
may, at the discretion of the Township Committee, be a member of the
Township Planning Board and shall participate in the Development Review
Subcommittee of the Township Planning Board.
(11) Meetings. The Administrator shall attend regular public
meetings and regular workshop meetings of the Township Committee as
required. When so requested, the Administrator shall attend special
meetings with the Township Committee or meetings with other public
bodies or with interested citizens of the Township.
(12) Reporting, public relations and implementation. The
Administrator shall keep the Township Committee informed of all pending
municipal projects, complaints from any source, issues related to
the Township and other Township business. The Administrator shall
act in conjunction with the Township Committee as a public information
provider to the media, the public and to other governmental entities.
The Administrator shall also be responsible to implement and enforce
the policies of the Township Committee and assist the Committee in
gathering, compiling and releasing public information.
During the absence or disability of the appointed
Administrator, the Township Committee may appoint an Acting Administrator
to perform all of the duties of the office as set forth herein. On
the removal or resignation of the Administrator, the Township Committee
may appoint an Acting Administrator to serve until a new Administrator
can be appointed.