Introduced: April 12, 2021
Public Hearing: April 26, 2021
Status: Adopted
Ordinance of the Township of Vernon, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, Amending and Supplementing Chapter 5 Entitled “Administration of Government” to Update the Structure of the Departments with the Township
Note: Strikeouts are deletions. Underlines are added material.
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:69A-43 the Township of Vernon (“Township”) can have a maximum of nine departments; and
WHEREAS, a determination has been made that there is a need to update the structure of the Township’s Departments to ensure maximum efficiency and to ensure clear lines of authority.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Township of Vernon, County of Sussex, and State of New Jersey, that the municipal code is amended and supplemented as follows:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 5, Section 5-12 (G) shall be amended as follows:
G. Departments and offices established within the Township are as follows:
- Department of Administration;
- Office of the Clerk Department of Building;
- Department of Finance and Tax Collection;
- Department of Public Works;
- Department of Planning/Land Use and Zoning and Development;
- Department of Public Safety/OEM; and
- Department of Recreation, and Community Development, and Senior Services;
- Department of Fire Prevention.
SECTION 2.
Article IX shall be amended as follows:
Article IX Department of Finance and Tax Collections
§ 5-46. Establishment; Director as head; qualifications.
A. There is hereby established a Department of Finance and Tax Collections, the head of which shall be the Chief Financial Officer.
§ 5-48. Division of Treasury.
A. Within the Department of Finance and Tax Collections, there is hereby established a Division of Treasury, the head of which shall be the Treasurer.
§ 5-49. Duties of Treasurer.
A. Maintain the central books of account of the Township according to such forms, standards and procedures as shall be prescribed or approved by the Director of Finance. Any and all Township officials shall, upon request of the Treasurer, place at the Treasurer’s disposal all records, books, warrants, documents, bonds, reports and papers in their custody belonging to the Township, which the Treasurer may deem necessary, to aid in keeping such accounts;
§ 5-51. Division of Tax Collections.
A. Within the Department of Finance and Tax Collections there is hereby established a Division of Tax Collections, the head of which shall be the Tax Collector.
C. The Tax Collector’s duties shall include:
- Administer the work of the Division;
- Receive and collect all current and delinquent real and personal property taxes, charge and receive penalties and interest pursuant to law, and account for all collections in such form and manner, and at such times, as may be prescribed or approved by the Director of Finance;
- Receive and safely keep and disburse all moneys raised and received for the public schools and keep separate accounts thereof; provided that no money shall be paid out of the public school funds by the Collector except on warrant signed by the President and Secretary of the Board of Education pursuant to an order or resolution passed at a stated meeting of the Board of Education and entered in its minutes;
- Keep a full and systematic account of all cash receipts and disbursements by the Division of Tax Collections in proper books approved by the Director of Finance; and shall, at least once every month, and more often if the Council requires, furnish the Council, through the Mayor, with a statement of all moneys received and expended by the Collector, including school moneys, subsequent to the Mayor’s last report; and
- Annually, during the month of January, make a full report to the Council of the Collector’s receipts and expenditures during the preceding calendar year, and shall, whenever required, lay before the Council for examination and audit all books and papers pertaining to the Collector’s office.
- Make or cause to be made, and certify, searches for tax and other liens on real property in the Township as may be authorized by law, and charge and collect for the use of the Township the fee required pursuant to law for any such search;
- Perform the functions of a collector of taxes under general law, including, without limitation thereto, the preparation and mailing of tax bills, and the maintenance of tax accounting records in such manner as may be prescribed or approved by the Director of Finance; and assist the Assessor in preparation of the annual tax list and duplicate.
SECTION 3.
Article XI shall be amended as follows:
Article XI Department of Planning/Land Use and Zoning and Development
§ 5-63. Establishment.
There is hereby established the Department of Planning/Land Use and Zoning and Development, the head of which shall be the Land Use/Planning Official.
§ 5-64. Organization of Department.
Within the Department of Planning/Land Use and Zoning and Development there shall be the following divisions:
A. Division of Planning/Land Use and Zoning.
B. Division of Zoning Building.
§ 5-65. Division of Planning and Zoning.
A. Within the Department of Planning/Land Use and Zoning and Development, there shall be a Zoning Officer, as provided for Chapter 330, Land Development.
B. The Office of the Zoning Officer shall be under the direction of the Zoning Officer who shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor
§ 5-66. Division of Building.
Within the Department of Planning and Development, there shall be a Division of Building which shall consist of a State Uniform Construction Code Enforcing Agency.
SECTION 4.
A new Article XIA shall be established as follows:
Article XIA Department of Building
§ 5-66. Establishment.
A. There is hereby established the Department of Building, the head of which shall be the Construction Official.
B. The Department of Building shall consist of a State Uniform Construction Code Enforcing Agency.
SECTION 5.
Article XII shall be amended as follows:
Article XII Department of Public Safety/OEM
§ 5-67. Establishment; Mayor as head.
There is hereby established a Department of Public Safety/OEM, the head of which shall be the Mayor who shall serve without any additional compensation.
§ 5-68. Organization of Department.
Within the Department of Public Safety/OEM there shall be the following divisions and agencies:
A. Division of Police.
B. Office of Emergency Management.
§ 5-69. Division of Police; Chief of Police as head.
Within the Department of Public Safety/OEM, there shall be a Division of Police, also known as the “Police Department,” the head of which shall be the Chief of Police. The police force as heretofore established is hereby continued as the Division of Police and is subject to all laws and ordinances relating to a municipal police department.
§ 5-70. Office of Emergency Management.
The Office of Emergency Management as heretofore established pursuant to law is continued within the Department of Public Safety/OEM. The members shall be appointed by the Mayor. It shall have such functions, powers and duties as may be prescribed by general law, executive order, ordinance or resolution.
SECTION 6.
Article XIII shall be amended as follows:
Article XIII Department of Recreation, and Community Development, and Senior Services
§ 5-72. Establishment; Director as head.
There is hereby established a Department of Recreation, and Community Development, and Senior Services, the head of which shall be the Director of Recreation, and Community Development, and Senior Services.
§ 5-73. Duties of Director of Recreation, and Community Development, and Senior Services.
The Director of Recreation, and Community Development, and Senior Services shall be responsible, among other responsibilities which may be assigned from time to time, for:
SECTION 7.
Each section of this ordinance is an independent section, and the holding of any section or part thereof to be unconstitutional, void or ineffective for any cause shall not be deemed to affect the validity of constitutionality of any other sections or parts thereof.
SECTION 8.
Any ordinances or parts thereof in conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed as to their inconsistencies only.
SECTION 9.
This Ordinance shall take effect immediately as provided by law.
Note: Strikeouts are deletions. Underlines are added material.
