[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Franklin as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Subdivision and site plan advisory committee — See Ch. 81.
Land development —  See Ch. 253.
[Adopted 1-23-1990 by Ord. No. O-18-89]
The purpose of this article is to create a Township of Franklin Department of Planning and Zoning which shall:
A. 
In cooperation with the Township of Franklin Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment, plan, coordinate and implement the land use policy of the Township of Franklin.
B. 
Prepare studies, maps, inventories and records and assemble data to periodically update and re-examine the Township of Franklin Master Plan of Development in accordance with the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 40:55D-1 et seq.
C. 
Draft proposed amendments to Chapter 253, Land Development, to implement the recommendations contained in the Master Plan or those recommendations made by the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment.
D. 
Assist the Planning Board and governing body in preparation of the capital improvement plan as defined in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-29, 55D-30 and 55D-31.
E. 
Assist the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment in the preparation of the budget.
F. 
Administer and enforce Chapter 253, Land Development.
G. 
Participate in the preparation and review of programs referred by the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment or the governing body.
H. 
Perform advisory duties as assigned by the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment or the governing body.
I. 
Promote the conservation of open space and natural resources to prevent the degradation of the environment through imprudent land uses.
J. 
Encourage coordination of the various public and private procedures and activities shaping land development with a view to lessening the cost of such development and to increasing the efficiency of land utilization.
K. 
Educate the public regarding the Township of Franklin policies, practices and procedures relating to the Master Plan and Chapter 253, Land Development.
L. 
Represent the Township on land use matters and act as liaison between the Township and regional, state and federal agencies exercising land use controls.
M. 
Perform any other assignments or delegations deemed necessary by the governing body, Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment.
The following words will have the meanings described wherever the same appear in this article, unless the context clearly denotes the contrary:
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Planning and Zoning of the Township of Franklin.
PLANNING AND ZONING ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
The employee of the Department of Planning and Zoning designated by the Mayor, with approval of the Township Committee, to exercise direct supervision of the Department.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Franklin in the County of Gloucester and State of New Jersey.
The Department shall consist of the following:
A. 
The Planning and Zoning Administrative Officer.
B. 
Other personnel as deemed to be needed by the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Administrative Officer and the Township Committee and as approved by the Township Committee.
A. 
All employees of the Department will be screened by the Department Planning and Zoning Administrative Officer and then interviewed by the Township Committee. Final appointment will be made by the Township Committee as appropriate.
B. 
Employees shall be governed by the official document entitled "Rules and Regulations for the Employees of the Township of Franklin," as covered by Resolution No. 80-84 and as amended by Resolution No. 32-85. This document is available from the Township Clerk's office.
C. 
Employees shall attend orientation and training sessions as scheduled by the Department. Employees shall also be provided job descriptions and fully participate in Township employee performance evaluation and improvement systems.
A. 
Termination of Department employees may occur for any of the following reasons:
(1) 
End of term of employment (seasonal and temporaries).
(2) 
Layoff because of declining work load or budget deficiencies.
(3) 
Malingering, drunkenness, substance abuse, theft, willful damage to Township property, excessive absenteeism, insubordination or any conduct deemed unbecoming to a Township employee.
(4) 
Failure to follow orders or to otherwise fail to perform tasks as would reasonably be expected.
B. 
The reasons for termination enumerated herein are not exclusive in nature but rather serve as examples and guidelines in evaluating employee performance. Employee evaluations shall be further governed by General Rules and Regulations of the Employees of the Township of Franklin, as noted in § 95-4B above.
[Adopted 3-13-1990 by Ord. No. O-4-90]
A. 
There is hereby created the position of Planning and Zoning Administrative Officer for the Township of Franklin. Said Township Planning and Zoning Administrative Officer shall be appointed by the Mayor of the Township of Franklin with the advice and consent of the Township Committee. The Township Planning and Zoning Administrative Officer shall be compensated in accordance with the annual Salary Ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 114, Salaries and Compensation.
B. 
The Planning and Zoning Administrative Officer shall be the head of the Planning and Zoning Department and as such shall be responsible to the governing body, Planning Board and Zoning Board. He/she will work in harmony with and take reasonable direction from the Chairmen of the Planning and Zoning Boards.
The Township Planning and Zoning Administrative Officer shall be chosen on the basis of his/her executive, technical and administrative qualifications, with special reference to his/her actual experience in or knowledge of accepted practice in respect to the duties of the office as hereinafter set forth. Specifically, the qualifications are as follows:
A. 
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in planning, engineering, environmental studies or in an environmentally related field with a minimum of three years of related experience in planning, zoning, environmental land use, construction code administration and enforcement, engineering or a closely related field. A master's degree may be substituted for one year of experience. Applicants who do not meet the educational requirements may substitute additional work experience as above described on the basis of three years of such experience for each 30 semester hours of credit they are lacking.
B. 
A working knowledge of state, county and local statutes, ordinances and codes relating to land use.
C. 
An understanding of construction techniques and practices.
D. 
The ability to enforce regulations, codes, ordinances, statutes and rules with firmness, tact and impartiality.
E. 
The ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, including statistical and other reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
F. 
The ability to read site, subdivision and building plans and to understand their content.
G. 
A driver's license valid in New Jersey.
The Township Planning and Zoning Administrative officer shall, after a six-month probationary period, hold office for an indefinite term and may be removed by a 2/3 vote of the governing body. The resolution of removal shall be 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 him forthwith any unpaid balance of his salary and his salary for the next three months following adoption of the resolution.
From time to time, the Mayor and Committee of the Township of Franklin may, by resolution, designate a Planning and Zoning Administrative Officer of the Township to perform the duties of the Planning and Zoning Administrative Officer during a vacancy, temporary absence or disability.
The Township Planning and Zoning Administrative Officer shall:
A. 
Be head of the Planning and Zoning Department of the Township.
B. 
Be supervisor of and responsible for the Planning and Zoning Department activities, unless designated by ordinance or job description to other department personnel.
C. 
Administer and enforce Chapter 253, Land Development, and collateral enforcement duties assigned by ordinance.
D. 
Represent the Township of Franklin in land use matters to county, regional, state or federal agencies.
E. 
Be responsible for analyzing and reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the land use control ordinance and Master Plan of Development of the Township and the preparation of and recommendation for amendments as appropriate.
F. 
Enforce the ordinances as set forth in the Code of the Township of Franklin, including but not limited to the following:
[Added 4-27-2010 by Ord. No. O-10-2010]
(1) 
Chapter 147, Amusement Devices.
(2) 
Chapter 151, Article II, Domestic Animals at Large.
(3) 
Chapter 162, Brush, Grass and Weeds.
(4) 
Chapter 202, Dangerous Substances.
(5) 
Chapter 151, Article I, Dogs and Kennels; Article III, Animals and Fowl; and Article IV, Regulation of Vicious Dogs.
(6) 
Chapter 210, Dump Site.
(7) 
Chapter 49, Environmental Commission.
(8) 
Chapter 230, Games of Chance.
(9) 
Chapter 329, Article I, Recycling.
(10) 
Chapter 235, Hawkers, Peddlers and Itinerant Vendors.
(11) 
Chapter 247, Junk and Junk Dealers.
(12) 
Chapter 253, Land Development.
(13) 
Chapter 265, Littering.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Chapter 265, Littering, adopted 12-18-1967 as Ch. 37 of the 1967 Code was repealed 12-27-2001 by Ord. No. O-22-2001.
(14) 
Chapter 377, Vehicles, Unlicensed.
(15) 
Chapter 272, Noise.
(16) 
Chapter 287, Pinelands Protection Area.
(17) 
Chapter 295, Property Maintenance.
(18) 
Chapter 299, Public Exhibitions, Recreations and Dancing.
(19) 
Chapter 302, Public Health.
(20) 
Chapter 400, Retail Food Establishments.
(21) 
Chapter 310, Road Damage.
(22) 
Chapter 314, Roadside Stands.
(23) 
Chapter 404, Rooming Houses and Tenement Houses.
(24) 
Chapter 319, Sales and Auctions, Private.
(25) 
Chapter 337, Street Openings and Excavations.
(26) 
Chapter 341, Swimming, Boating and Fishing: Prohibited Areas.
(27) 
Chapter 408, Swine Code.
(28) 
Chapter 350, Taxicabs.
(29) 
Chapter 360, Trailer Courts and Coaches.
(30) 
Chapter 169, Buildings, Unfit.
(31) 
Chapter 368, Used Merchandise Sales.
(32) 
Chapter 386, Water Pollution.
G. 
Although the Planning and Zoning Administrative Officer's responsibility shall be the enforcement of the above enumerated ordinances, other municipal employees and officials may also enforce said ordinances, and the delegation of this enforcement duty to the Planning and Zoning Administrative Officer shall not preclude others from enforcing said ordinances.
[Added 4-27-2010 by Ord. No. O-10-2010]
H. 
The Planning and Zoning Administrative Officer shall make investigations, serve violations notices, make and process complaints for Code violations and make court appearances, both municipal and otherwise, as necessary in connection therewith.
[Added 4-27-2010 by Ord. No. O-10-2010]
I. 
The Planning and Zoning Administrative Officer shall attend all meetings of the Planning Board, Board of Adjustment and other meetings as may be necessary and/or requested by the Township Committee.
[Added 4-27-2010 by Ord. No. O-10-2010]
J. 
The Planning and Zoning Officer shall render a written report monthly or as requested to the Township Administrator and to the Mayor and Township Committee of his or her findings and actions taken in the performance of duties.
[Added 4-27-2010 by Ord. No. O-10-2010]
The Township Planning and Zoning Administrative officer in his/ her discretion may allocate, assign or delegate functions or powers to a department employee for more efficient administration of the Township government, provided that any such delegation, allocation or assignment shall not relieve the Township Planning and Zoning Administrative Officer of any of his/her responsibility under the Code, nor shall it be inconsistent with any express requirement of the Code. Any such delegation shall be in writing which shall be filed with the Clerk and reported to the Committee, the Planning Board and Zoning Board.