[Adopted 2-7-1989 by Ord. No. 1178 as
§§ 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 and 2-5 of the 1987 Code]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "Administrative Code of the Borough of Highland Park" and is
sometimes referred to as the "code."
A.
Organization of Borough Council. The Council shall
consist of the Mayor and six Councilmen elected at large in the Borough,
all of whom shall be elected and take office in the manner provided
by law. The terms of office of the Mayor and Councilmen shall commence
on January 1 next following their election.
B.
Rules of Council. The Borough Council shall by ordinance
adopt rules of procedure not inconsistent with this Code. The rules
shall provide for standing committees of the Council.
C.
Ordinances and resolutions. Council shall take appropriate
action to insure that ordinances and resolutions of the preceding
year are compiled or codified.
D.
Vacancies. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the membership
of the Borough Council for any reason other than the expiration of
term of office, the vacancy shall be filled in the following manner:
(1)
If the vacancy occurs subsequent to September 1 preceding
the general election which will occur in the next-to-the-last year
of the term of the member whose office has become vacant, the office
shall be filled for its unexpired term by appointment by a majority
vote of the whole membership of the Borough Council.
(2)
If the vacancy occurs prior to September 1 preceding
the general election in any year other than the last year of the term
of the member whose office has become vacant, the vacancy shall be
filled for the unexpired term at the next ensuing general election.
The Borough Council by a vote of the majority of its whole membership
may fill the vacancy temporarily by appointment until the election
and qualification of a successor.
(3)
Whenever a vacancy to be filled for the unexpired
term by the Borough Council is not filled within 30 days of the occurrence
of the vacancy, the Borough Clerk shall forthwith call a special election
to be held as soon as practicable to fill the vacancy. No appointment
shall be made by the Borough Council to fill the vacancy after a special
election has been called. If the vacancy occurs within six months
prior to the end of the term of office, the provisions of this subsection
shall not apply and the Borough Council shall continue to have the
power to fill the vacancy.
(4)
Whenever the office of all or a majority of the members
shall become vacant for any reason, the fact of the vacancies shall
be immediately certified to the Governor by any remaining member of
the Borough Council or by the Borough Clerk. The Governor, upon receipt
of such certifications, shall forthwith fill the vacancies temporarily
by appointment until their successors are elected for the unexpired
terms at the next general election or next regularly scheduled municipal
election occurring not less than 60 days subsequent to the appointment.
E.
Qualifications. Every person appointed by the Borough
Council or by the governor to fill a vacancy, either for the unexpired
term or temporarily, shall have the qualifications required by statute
to permit the appointee to qualify for election to the office, and
if the previous incumbent had been elected to office as the nominee
of a political party, the person so appointed shall be of the same
political party.
A.
The Borough
Council shall meet for organization on the first day of January following
each general election unless that day be Sunday, in which case it
shall meet on the next succeeding day. Thereafter, the Borough Council
shall meet regularly within the Borough at such times and places as
provided by resolution. The Mayor shall, when necessary, call special
meetings of the Council. In case of his neglect or refusal, any four
members of the Council may call such meetings at such time and place
in the Borough as they may designate and, in all cases of special
meetings, notice shall be given to all members of the Council or left
at their places of residence. Notice of all meetings shall be given
in accordance with the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Law,
c. 231, P.L. 1975.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.
B.
In accordance with Article IV of the Rules of Order, during the Borough Council meeting a period of 15 minutes shall be allocated for public discussion following the delivery at said meeting of reports by the Council, Mayor and other Borough professionals. There shall be an additional public discussion period provided before the adoption of any executive session resolution, if required, or before adjournment to the Council's conference meeting.
[Added 12-5-2017 by Ord.
No. 17-1953]
A.
The Mayor shall preside over all meetings of the Council
but shall not vote except to give the deciding vote in case of a tie.
Except as otherwise provided by the statute or specific ordinance,
the Mayor shall nominate and, with the advice and consent of the Council,
appoint all officers in the Borough, and the chairman and members
of all standing committees. No appointments requiring Council confirmation
shall be made except by a majority vote of the Council members present
at the meeting, provided that at least three affirmative votes shall
be required for such purpose, the Mayor to have no vote thereon except
in the case of a tie. Vacancies in appointive officers shall be filled
by appointment in the same manner for the unexpired term only. The
Mayor shall make such nomination to fill a vacancy within 30 days
after the appointive office becomes vacant. If the Mayor fails to
nominate within 30 days or the Council fails to confirm any nomination
made by the Mayor, then, after the expiration of 30 days, the Council
shall appoint the officer.
B.
The Mayor shall see that the laws of the state and
the ordinances of the Borough are faithfully executed, and shall recommend
to the Council such measures as he may deem necessary or expedient
for the welfare of the Borough. He shall maintain peace and good order
and have the power to suppress all riots and tumultuous assemblies
in the Borough.
C.
The Mayor shall supervise the conduct and acts of
all officers in the Borough and shall execute all contracts made on
behalf of the Borough.
At the annual meeting, the Borough Council,
by a majority vote of all members present, shall elect from their
number a President of the Council who shall preside at all of its
meetings when the Mayor does not preside. The President of the Council
shall hold office for one year and until the next annual meeting.
He shall have the right to debate and vote on all questions before
the Council. If the Council at its annual meetings fails to elect
a President, the Mayor shall appoint the President from the Council
and in that case, no confirmation by the Council shall be necessary.
If the Mayor is absent from the Borough for a period of three days
or for any reason is unable to act, the President of the Council shall
perform all the duties of the Mayor during his absence or inability.
The Mayor, in case of his intended absence from the Borough for more
than three days at any one time, shall notify the President in writing
of his intended absence, whereupon the President shall be and become
acting mayor from the receipt of notice and continue to act until
the Mayor's return.
