Borough of Highland Park, NJ Article VII Borough Administrator

[Adopted by Ord. No. 1511 (§ 2-6 of the 1987 Code); amended in its entirety 10-16-2007 by Ord. No. 07-1729]

§ 3-31 Creation of position.

There shall be in the Borough of Highland Park the office of Borough Administrator, pursuant to and in accordance with Chapter 200, Laws of 1971 (N.J.S.A. 40A:9-136 et seq.), with an individual appointed to the position of Borough Administrator. The Administrator will be appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Borough Council.

§ 3-32 Qualifications and residence.

A. The Administrator shall be appointed on the basis of his/her executive and administrative qualifications. Previous responsible, successful management experience in local government shall be required and possession of a degree in public administration or municipal management shall be preferred.

B. The Administrator need not be a resident of the Borough or the state at the time of his/her appointment, and may also thereafter reside outside the Borough.

§ 3-33 Term of office; removal.

The term of office of the Borough Administrator shall be at the pleasure of the Mayor and Council, and he/she may be removed by resolution of the governing body, adopted by two-thirds vote. The resolution of removal shall become effective three months after its adoption by the governing body. The governing body may provide that a resolution for removal shall have immediate effect; provided, however, that the governing body shall cause to be paid to the Administrator forthwith any unpaid balance of his/her salary and his/her salary for the next three calendar months following the adoption of the resolution.

§ 3-34 Qualifications for appointment.

The Administrator shall be appointed on the basis of executive and administrative abilities and qualifications with special regard to education, training and experience in government affairs.

§ 3-35 General duties and responsibilities; combination with other positions.

The Administrator shall be the chief administrative officer of the Borough of Highland Park and shall be responsible to the Mayor and Council for the proper and efficient administration of Borough affairs.

§ 3-36 Powers and duties.

A. The Administrator shall be responsible for the operation of all departments and offices within the Borough, and all department heads and officers of the Borough shall report to the Administrator.

B. The Administrator shall be responsible for the preparation of the annual Borough capital and operating budgets and shall submit the same to the Council for approval. He/she shall be responsible to see that each department, office, board or other agency adheres to the budget approved by the Mayor and Council.

C. The Administrator shall be responsible for Borough purchasing procedures, administrative procedures and organizational structure, and shall make such recommendations for change to the Mayor and Council relating thereto as he shall deem necessary from time to time.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Original Subsection d, which designated the Administrator as the Appropriate Authority of the Police Department, which immediately followed this subsection, was deleted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

D. Except as provided in 2-6.6d., the Administrator shall maintain sound personnel practices and shall maintain appropriate records of all employees. He/she shall have the authority to recommend to the Mayor and Council the hiring and disciplining of all Borough employees.

E. The Administrator shall delegate to any department head or other Borough employee such of his/her powers as he/she may deem necessary for efficient administration.

F. The Administrator shall make studies and surveys of such municipal problems of the Borough of Highland Park as shall be assigned to him/her, from time to time, by the Mayor and Council and shall prepare and submit written reports of his/her findings and determinations to the Mayor and Council for their consideration and action.

G. The Administrator shall attend all meetings of the Borough Council with the right to participate in discussions but without the right to vote.

H. The Administrator shall implement and enforce the policy of the Borough Council with respect to the compiling and release of public information.

I. The Administrator shall investigate complaints concerning municipal operations, cause corrective action to be taken when indicated and keep records of complaints received and actions taken.

J. The Administrator shall perform such additional duties as may be assigned to him/her from time to time by the Mayor and Council.

§ 3-37 Authority established.

All Borough officers and employees shall accede to the requests, directives and policies made or issued by the Borough Administrator pursuant hereto unless and until the same may be formally altered or rescinded by the Mayor and Council.

§ 3-38 Compensation.

The Borough Administrator shall receive the compensation as fixed from time to time by ordinance of the Mayor and Council.

§ 3-39 Construal of provisions.

Nothing contained herein shall be construed to derogate from or authorize the Borough Administrator to exercise powers exclusively vested or undertake duties exclusively imposed by law upon the various elected and appointed officers, boards and commissions of the Borough of Highland Park.