[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Franklin 2-28-1983 as Ord. No. 83-2. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby created a Local Assistance Board in the Township of Franklin, County of Warren, pursuant to the General Public Assistance Law, P.L. 1947, c. 156, as amended (N.J.S.A. 44:8-107 et seq.). Said Board shall consist of three members, at least one of whom shall be a woman, and one member thereof may be appointed from the members of the Township Committee, and they shall be appointed by the Mayor of the Township upon the approval of the governing body.
The term of one member of the Local Assistance Board shall be for one year, and if one member is appointed from the Township Committee, he or she shall be the member for the one-year term. The terms of the other members thereof shall be as follows:
A. 
The terms of the other members shall be for the term of two years each, except that the term of the initial members herein referred to shall be one year for one member and two years for the other member in order that their terms may expire in alternate years. Thereafter, the term of each member of this class shall be for two years.
B. 
The term of each member of the Local Assistance Board shall begin on the first day of January, and each member shall continue in office until his successor shall be appointed and shall qualify. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired terms only by appointment of the Mayor and upon approval by the Township Committee.
The members of the Local Assistance Board shall serve without compensation but shall be allowed their necessary and actual expenses.
A. 
The Local Assistance Board shall organize and select a Chairman and Secretary and appoint a Director of Welfare, who shall be the first executive and administrative officer of the Board. The Director of Welfare shall hold office for a term of five years from the date of his or her appointment and shall be paid such salary as may be fixed by such Board, subject to approval by the Township Committee.
B. 
The Local Assistance Board shall reorganize in January of each year hereafter, at which time it shall again select a Chairman and Secretary and appoint or reappoint a Director of Welfare if the term of the Director of Welfare has expired.
C. 
If a vacancy occurs in the office of the Director of Welfare, a Temporary or Acting Director may be appointed to serve for not more than 90 days.
Other employees, including assistants, clerks, investigators and nurses in such numbers as may be necessary to properly administer public assistance, shall be appointed in the same manner as other employees of the municipality; provided, however, that no employee of any Welfare Department of a municipality whose compensation is paid from funds received or appropriated for public assistance or the administration thereof in any manner shall hold any office in any political party.
The Director of Welfare shall have the following duties:
A. 
To supervise, by periodic investigation, every person receiving public assistance, such investigation to be made by visitation at least once a month.
B. 
To reconsider from month to month the amount and nature of public assistance given and alter, amend or suspend the same when the circumstances so require.
C. 
To devise ways and means for bringing persons unable to maintain themselves to self-support or to the support of any other person or agency able and willing so to do.
D. 
To keep full and complete records of such investigation, supervision, assistance and rehabilitation and of all certifications of persons for employment or benefits and cancellations thereof in such manner and form as required by the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services.
E. 
To bring about appropriate action for commitment to any state or County institution when the best interest of the needy persons would be so deserved.
The Local Assistance Board shall have the powers and duties as prescribed by the General Public Assistance Law, P.L. 1947, c. 156, (N.J.S.A. 44:8-107 et seq.), as amended, in accordance with the rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the Commissioner, by the Department of Human Services and by this chapter and amendments thereto.