A. 
Regular meetings. The Township Council shall meet annually for organization on the first day of January or during the first seven days of January in each year. The Township Council may also, at its option, combine the organization meeting with the first scheduled meeting in January. The Council shall meet at least once a month thereafter for a regular meeting on the dates and times selected and approved by the Council. The Mayor and Council may schedule additional regular meetings throughout the year as they deem appropriate after properly notifying the public of the same. By majority vote, the Mayor and Council may cancel any scheduled, or the scheduling of any, monthly regular meeting as they deem appropriate.
[Amended 1-15-1990; 1-15-1991; 12-17-1991; 1-1-1993; 1-4-1994; 2-22-1996; 4-16-2001 by Ord. No. 01-09; 3-4-2002 by Ord. No. 02-10; 2-10-2003 by Ord. No. 03-01; 3-24-2003 by Ord. No. 03-07; 12-12-2011 by Ord. No. 11-57; 12-9-2013 by Ord. No. 13-42; 2-10-2014 by Ord. No. 14-04; 2-22-2016 by Ord. No. 16-05]
B. 
Special meetings. The Mayor may, at any time, and upon written request of a majority of the Township Council as fully constituted, shall call a special meeting. The request and call for a special meeting shall specify the purpose of the meeting, and no business shall be transacted at any special meeting other than that specified. The Mayor's call for a special meeting shall be filed with the Township Clerk and served upon each Councilperson, as hereinafter provided, at least 48 hours prior to the time for which the meeting is called, provided that the Mayor may determine that an emergency exists affecting the health or safety of the people which requires consideration by the Council within a shorter time, and, upon such determination, which the Mayor shall set forth in the call, the call may be filed with the Township Clerk at any time not less than three hours prior to the time set for the meeting. Upon the filing of any call for a special meeting, the Township Clerk shall forthwith give notice thereof by telephone or electronic notice to each Councilperson at such place as they shall have previously designated for that purpose and shall also serve or cause to be served a written copy of the call upon each Councilperson by the delivery of a copy to them personally or by the leaving of a copy at their usual place of abode. The Police Department shall cooperate with the Township Clerk in effectuating such service of notice. Upon written waiver of notice executed by all of the members of the Council, a special meeting may be held without prior notice, notwithstanding the above provisions of this section.
[Amended 11-2-1987; 10-21-1996; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
[Amended 11-2-1987; 1-23-1995; 3-4-2002 by Ord. No. 02-10; 2-10-2003 by Ord. No. 03-01; 2-10-2014 by Ord. No. 14-03; 2-22-2016 by Ord. No. 16-04]
The Township Council shall meet at least once on the date and time selected and approved by the Council in formal conference for the consideration of any Township business or to meet with any officer or employee of the Township or any other person on Township business. The Mayor and Council may schedule additional conference meetings throughout the year as they deem appropriate after properly notifying the public of the same. The Mayor and Council may, by resolution passed by a majority vote, cancel the scheduling of, or any scheduled, monthly conference meeting as they deem appropriate.
[Amended 2-10-2003 by Ord. No. 03-02]
A. 
Regular and special meetings. All regular and special meetings of the Council shall be open to the public. The Township Administrator, Attorney, Clerk, Engineer and such other Township officers and employees as may be required by general or special order of the Council shall attend regular and special meetings of the Council. The business of the Council at regular meetings and, so far as applicable, at special meetings shall be taken up for consideration and disposed of in the following order:
(1) 
Quorum roll call.
(2) 
Approval of minutes of previous meeting.
(3) 
Opening and reading of bids.
(4) 
Administrative agenda presented by the Township Administrator.
(5) 
Reports of special Council committees, administrative officers and bodies.
(6) 
Communications, both written and oral (limited to five minutes per speaker); also, petitions and hearings, including improvement assessments, zoning and planning matters.
(7) 
Introduction of proposed ordinances.
(8) 
Hearing upon and adoption or amendment of proposed ordinances on second reading.
(9) 
Introduction and adoption of resolutions (including Consent Agenda).
[Amended 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. 11-4]
(10) 
Other unfinished business.
(11) 
New business.
(12) 
Miscellaneous.
(13) 
Adjournment.
B. 
Conferences. The business of the Council at informal conference meetings and, so far as applicable, shall be taken up for consideration and disposed of in the following order, unless adjusted at the discretion of the Mayor:
(1) 
Quorum roll call.
(2) 
Public comment (limited to five minutes per speaker).
(3) 
Township Administrator.
(4) 
Township Engineer.
(5) 
Township Attorney.
(6) 
Township Clerk.
(7) 
Township Council.
(8) 
Closed session.
(9) 
Adjournment.
A. 
The agenda of the Township Council shall consist of a list of all matters upon the order of business to come before each meeting of the Council. The agenda shall be prepared by the Township Clerk not later than 4:00 p.m. on the Thursday preceding each meeting of the Council. Except for emergency matters, which may be added to the agenda at any time with the approval of the Mayor, the agenda for each regular meeting of the Council shall include only such matters of Council business as have been presented or delivered to the Township Clerk not later than 12:00 noon on the Thursday preceding the meeting.
[Amended 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. 11-3]
B. 
The Clerk shall organize the agenda according to the same classification and order as prescribed by this chapter for the Council's order of business. Each agenda shall, in addition to the items thereon, contain two blank columns headed, respectively, "Reference" and "Completed." As soon as the agenda for each meeting has been prepared, the Clerk shall mail a copy to each Councilperson and deliver a copy to the Township Administrator and to each department head. The Clerk shall also promptly post a copy of the agenda in a conspicuous place near the entrance to the Municipal Building and distribute copies to the press and to interested citizens upon request for a prescribed fee.
[Amended 11-2-1987]
C. 
The Township Administrator shall prepare and submit to the Township Clerk, not later than 12:00 noon on Thursday preceding each regular meeting, an agenda of the items the Administrator desires to bring before the Council at such meeting. Each department head shall submit to the Administrator prior to 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon on the Wednesday preceding each regular meeting any matter they recommend for presentation to the Council. The Administrator shall include on the agenda such matters so recommended as they deem ready for such presentation. The Administrator's agenda shall be annexed to and become a part of the Council's agenda for each meeting.
[Amended 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. 11-3]
The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the Township Council at which they are present and shall assume the chair as soon as they are in attendance at any meeting which may have been called to order in their absence. In the absence of the Mayor, the Township Clerk shall call the Council to order, and it shall thereupon elect a temporary Chair for the time being. Upon the arrival of the Mayor, the temporary Chair shall immediately relinquish the chair upon the conclusion of the business immediately before the Council.
A majority of all the members elected to the Township Council shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting of the Council, but a lesser number than a quorum may adjourn any meeting. If no member of the Council is present 1/2 hour after the appointed time for any meeting, the Township Clerk shall adjourn the meeting.
The minutes of the previous meeting of the Township Council may be approved without reading if the Clerk has previously furnished each Councilperson with a copy thereof, but, upon request of any Councilperson, the minutes or any part thereof shall be read prior to approval.
A. 
Meetings of the Township Council shall, except as herein otherwise provided, be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order, as revised from time to time.
[Amended 11-2-1987]
B. 
Presiding officer may debate, vote, etc. The Mayor or such other member of the Council as may be presiding may move, second and debate from the chair and may vote on any question, subject only to such limitations of debate as are by these rules imposed on all members, and they shall not be deprived of any of the rights and privileges of a Councilperson by reason of their acting as the presiding officer.
C. 
Obtaining floor; avoidance of improper references. Every member desiring to speak shall address the chair and, upon recognition by the presiding officer, shall confine themselves to the question under debate, avoiding all personalities and indecorous language.
D. 
Interruptions. A member, once recognized, shall not be interrupted when speaking unless it shall be to call them to order or as herein otherwise provided. If a member, while speaking, is called to order, they shall cease speaking until the question of order is determined, and, if in order, they shall be permitted to proceed.
E. 
Privilege of closing debate. The Councilperson moving the adoption of an ordinance or resolution shall have the privilege of closing the debate.
F. 
Motion to reconsider. A motion to reconsider any action taken by the Council may be made only at the meeting at which such action was taken. It may be made either immediately during the same session or at a recessed or adjourned session of such meeting. Such motion may be made only by one of the prevailing side but may be seconded by any member and may be made at any time and have precedence over all other motions, and it shall be debatable. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent any member of the Council from making or remaking at a subsequent meeting of the Council any motion previously made or considered.
G. 
Remarks of Councilmen; entry of same in minutes. A Councilperson may request, through the presiding officer, the privilege of having an abstract, not exceeding 100 words, of their statement, on any subject under consideration by the Council, entered in the minutes. If the Council consents thereto, such statement shall be entered in the minutes.
H. 
Synopsis of debate; entry of same in minutes. The Clerk may be directed by the presiding officer, with consent of the Council, to enter in the minutes a synopsis of the discussion on any question coming regularly before the Council.
A. 
Any person desiring to address the Township Council shall first seek to be recognized by the presiding officer, and such person, upon recognition, shall confine their statement to the order of business prescribed by this chapter.
B. 
Written communications. Under the heading of "written communications," parties affected or their authorized representatives may address the Council in regard to matters then under discussion which are the subject of such communication.
C. 
Oral communications. Under the heading of "oral communications," taxpayers or residents of the Township, or their authorized legal representatives, and any other interested party may address the Council on any matter concerning the Township's business or any matter over which the Council has control; provided, however, that preference shall be given to those persons who may have notified the Township Clerk in advance of their desire to speak within the time prescribed by ordinance.
[Amended 5-6-1996]
D. 
Reading of protests, etc. Under the heading of "petitions and hearings" in the order of business, interested persons or their authorized representatives may address the Council in regard to matters then under consideration.
E. 
Addressing Council after motion made. After a motion is made by a Councilperson, no person shall address the Council except on request of the Council.
F. 
Manner of addressing Council; time limit. Each person addressing the Council shall step up to the front of the rail, shall give their name and address in an audible tone of voice for the record and, unless further time is granted by the Council, shall limit their statement to five minutes. All remarks shall be addressed to the Council as a body and not to any member thereof. No question shall be directed to any speaker by a Councilperson, except through and at the discretion of the presiding officer.
[Amended 5-6-1996]
A. 
Ordinances may be introduced and read on first and on second reading by reading the title only. Upon the adoption of any amendment following second reading, the amended ordinance shall take the course prescribed by law. Copies of each ordinance and resolution, in printed or typewritten form, bearing a notation by the Township Attorney as to their approval as to form and legality, shall be mailed by the Township Clerk to each Councilperson at least 48 hours prior to introduction, provided that the failure of the Township Clerk to make such mailing shall not invalidate any action taken by the Council.
[Amended 12-29-1980]
B. 
Ordinances and resolutions shall be drafted by the Township Attorney upon request of the Council. Any ordinance or resolution which affects the administration of any department of the Township government shall be submitted to the Township Administrator for their review and comment, including consideration by the department affected, prior to its introduction. There shall be appended to the introduced copy of such ordinance a statement of the approval or disapproval of the Township Administrator and of the department head affected and, in the event of the disapproval of either of them, the reasons for such disapproval.
C. 
Each ordinance shall be published by the Clerk, be considered and adopted by the Council and become effective according to the procedure prescribed by law.
[Amended 11-2-1987]
D. 
Resolutions, unless laid over by a majority vote of the Council, shall be acted upon at the same meeting at which they are introduced.
A. 
The vote of the Council upon every ordinance and resolution shall be taken by the Clerk by roll call, and they shall record in the journal the ayes, nays and not voting, as the case may be, on each question put to a vote.
B. 
Unless a member of the Council who is present states that they are not voting, the Clerk shall record them as voting in the affirmative.
[Amended 6-11-1970]
A. 
There is hereby created a Purchasing Committee of the Township, consisting of three persons, namely the Township Clerk, the Township Engineer and the Township Administrator.
B. 
The Purchasing Committee shall be authorized to receive such bids as may be presented and immediately proceed to unseal them and publicly announce the contents in the presence of the parties bidding or their representative or agents, if they choose to be then and there present, and shall also make proper records of the prices and terms upon the minutes of the Purchasing Committee.
C. 
The Purchasing Committee shall keep full, complete and accurate minutes of all bids received and shall comply with the application provisions of state law.
D. 
All advertisements for bids under N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4 et seq. shall designate the time and place of the meeting at which the Purchasing Committee shall receive the bids. Whenever possible, the advertisements for bids shall designate an hour for receiving bids between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. from Monday through Friday, and none shall be received thereafter.
[Amended 11-2-1987]
E. 
After the bids are received, read and recorded, they shall be turned over to the Township Administrator for tabulation and recommendation to the Township Council.
F. 
The Purchasing Committee herein established shall not be authorized to purchase materials and supplies pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-9 but shall exercise only those powers herein enumerated.
G. 
Upon contracts let by open competitive bidding, the Council shall, upon recommendation of the Township Administrator, let the contract in the manner prescribed by law. All such contracts shall be let in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, the Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq.), this Code and other ordinances of the Township.
[Amended 11-2-1987]
Whenever an ordinance or resolution shall take effect without the Mayor's signature or by reason of their failure to return and file it with the Clerk within 10 days after receiving it, the Clerk shall append to such ordinance or resolution, as engrossed, a certificate in substantially the following form:
I hereby certify that the above ordinance (or resolution) was adopted by the Council of the Township of Bloomfield on the _____ day of __________, was presented to the Mayor duly certified on the _____ day of __________ and, upon the Mayor's failure to sign it or return and file it with the Clerk within 10 days thereafter, said ordinance took effect in like manner as if the Mayor had signed it.
Dated:
Township Clerk
Whenever an ordinance or resolution has been vetoed by the Mayor and is passed by the Council notwithstanding such veto in the manner provided by the Charter, the Clerk shall append to such ordinance or resolution, as engrossed, a certificate in substantially the following form:
I hereby certify that the above ordinance (or resolution) adopted by the Council of the Township of Bloomfield on the _____ day of __________ was vetoed by the Mayor of the Township and was passed over said veto on the _____ day of _____
Dated:
Township Clerk
A. 
Role of the Mayor: The Mayor, as presiding officer, shall be responsible for ensuring all meetings are conducted in accordance with the requirements of these procedural rules, ensuring, at all times, the orderly conduct of the Township business that comes before the Council. The Mayor shall have the cooperation and support of Council Members in maintaining order and civility throughout Council meetings.
[Amended 4-24-2017 by Ord. No. 17-20]
B. 
Role of Council Members: All Council Members have a responsibility to adhere to the highest ideals of civility and decorum while participating in all meetings conducted on behalf of the community and shall, at all times, honor the public trust and dignity bestowed upon them as elected community leaders.
[Amended 4-24-2017 by Ord. No. 17-20]
C. 
Rules of decorum: The Mayor shall conduct Council Meetings in an orderly manner. No person shall engage in disorderly conduct, including any act that disturbs, disrupts, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of any Council Meeting or presentation of any speaker.
[Amended 4-24-2017 by Ord. No. 17-20]
(1) 
During the public comment portion of the Township Council Meetings, if any, all public comments are limited to five minutes per individual.
(2) 
The Mayor, after one warning, may rule any Council Member or individual addressing the Council out of order if the individual:
(a) 
Exceeds the five-minute limitation (for public comment);
(b) 
Makes personal attacks against others;
(c) 
Makes rude or slanderous remarks;
(d) 
Makes profane, abusive or personal remarks;
(e) 
Becomes threatening or boisterous;
(f) 
Engages in electioneering for candidate(s); or
(g) 
Otherwise interferes with orderly and dignified conduct of the meeting.
D. 
Persons authorized to be within rail. No person, except Township officials, shall be permitted within the rail in front of the Council Chamber without the express request of the Council.
E. 
Enforcement of the rules of decorum: The Mayor shall be responsible for maintaining the decorum at the public meeting and uniformly enforcing the rules of decorum.
[Added 11-2-1987; amended 5-5-2008 by Ord. No. 08-18; 4-24-2017 by Ord. No. 17-20]
(1) 
In the event that any person breaches the rules of decorum in a manner that disturbs, disrupts, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the meeting, the Mayor shall order that person to cease the offending conduct.
(2) 
If any person continues to breach the rules of decorum in a manner that disturbs, disrupts, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the meeting following an order from the Mayor to cease the offending conduct, the Mayor may order that person to leave the public meeting.
(3) 
If any person refuses to leave the public meeting following an order from the Mayor (or temporary presiding officer) to do so, the presiding officer may order any law enforcement officer on duty to remove that person from the public meeting.