Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
Borough of Bloomsbury, NJ
Hunterdon County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (0) Index
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Bloomsbury 12-11-1990 by Ord. No. 207-90. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby created a Joint Municipal Court consisting of the following members: the Township of Bethlehem and the Borough of Bloomsbury, both located in Hunterdon County (the "members" herein).
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
The name of the Joint Municipal Court shall be the "Municipal Court of Bethlehem and Bloomsbury" (the "Municipal Court" herein).
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
The jurisdiction of the Municipal Court shall be coextensive with the territory of the Township of Bethlehem and the Borough of Bloomsbury. Upon the effective date, all municipal courts heretofore existing in Bloomsbury and Bethlehem are hereby abolished and their functions, powers and duties, records, property and pending cases shall be transferred to the Municipal Court, which shall exercise all the powers, duties and jurisdiction conferred by law upon a municipal court.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
A. 
There shall be a Municipal Judge appointed as provided by law in the case of a joint municipal court. The Municipal Judge shall serve for a term of three years from the date of appointment and until a successor shall be appointed and qualified.
B. 
The Municipal Judge shall have and possess the qualifications and exercise all the functions, duties, powers and jurisdiction conferred by law or ordinance. He shall be an attorney at law of the State of New Jersey. Whenever the Municipal Judge is unable to sit as such, he may designate any other judge of any municipal court to sit for him temporarily and hold the Municipal Court. Any such designation shall be in writing and filed with the Court, and any person so designated, while sitting temporarily, shall possess all of the powers of the Municipal Judge.
C. 
The Municipal Judge shall faithfully carry out all of the duties and responsibilities of a municipal judge and shall abide by all rules and regulations established for municipal courts and judges by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
D. 
The Judge of the Bethlehem and Bloomsbury Municipal Court shall be the Acting Judge of this Municipal Court until the expiration of his present term, when the Judge shall be appointed in accordance with Subsection A of this section.
A. 
There shall be a Municipal Prosecutor of the Municipal Court who shall prosecute cases in the Municipal Court, except that each member, at its discretion, may appoint a prosecutor for all or particular zoning matters. The Municipal Prosecutor shall be appointed by Bethlehem Township.
B. 
The Municipal Prosecutor shall be an attorney at law in good standing who shall act as prosecutor, under the supervision of the Attorney General or County Prosecutor, who may represent the state, county or municipality in any matter within the jurisdiction of the Joint Municipal Court or any other municipal court.
[Added 2-11-1997 by Ord. No. 902-97]
There shall be an Administrator of the Municipal Court who shall perform the functions and duties prescribed for the Administrator by law, by the rules applicable to municipal courts and by the Municipal Judge. The Administrator shall be certified as required by N.J.S.A. 2B:12-11 and shall be appointed by Bethlehem Township. The Administrator's duties shall include but not be limited to:
A. 
Carrying out the rules, regulations, policies and procedures relating to the operation of the Court.
B. 
Interviewing and speaking to persons wishing to file criminal complaints or wishing information in this regard, receiving complaints and dispensing information relating to Court matters.
C. 
Maintaining the financial records of the Court.
D. 
Attending Court; recording pleas, judgments and dispositions; arranging trial calendars; signing Court documents; and preparing and issuing warrants and commitments and other Court-related documents.
E. 
Taking and preparing bail bonds, recognizances and security in lieu thereof; making inquiry concerning their sufficiency and equity; and receiving and accounting for fines and costs.
F. 
Maintaining and classifying records and files of the Court.
G. 
Maintaining, forwarding, receiving and reporting such records, reports and files as required by the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles.
H. 
Carrying out such additional duties as may be required in order to fulfill the duties of Court Administrator.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
There may be one or more Deputy Administrators of the Municipal Court who shall be appointed by Bethlehem Township. Deputy Municipal Court Administrators shall perform the functions assigned to them by the Municipal Judge and the Municipal Court Administrator.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
There may be appointed clerical and other assistance for the Municipal Court as recommended by the Municipal Judge and approved by Bethlehem Township.
Bethlehem Township shall appoint an auditor for the Municipal Court who shall be a registered municipal accountant. The auditor shall perform a yearly audit of the Municipal Court, which audit shall be prepared generally in accordance with the requirements of the Local Fiscal Affairs Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:5-1 et seq., and shall be completed no later than May 31 of each year. A copy of the completed audit shall be supplied to each participating municipality by June 30 of each year.
Any member of the Municipal Court may withdraw effective at the end of any calendar year during the Court's operation; provided, however, that the member has given the Municipal Court and each member thereof three months' written notice of its intention to withdraw.
The Municipal Judge shall prepare or have prepared a budget for the Municipal Court which shall be submitted to the governing body of each member by October 1 of each year. The budget shall set forth an estimate of all expenses and revenues for the upcoming calendar year and shall be in a form that is consistent with municipal budgets. By January 1 of each year, each member shall adopt a resolution approving the budget. If the budget is not unanimously approved by that date by each member, then a meeting or meetings shall be held between the members or a committee appointed by the members and the Municipal Judge, and a budget agreeable to all members and the Municipal Judge shall be developed and submitted to each member for approval on or before January 15 of each year. No personnel or staff may be appointed or expenditure authorized for the Court unless provided for in the Court budget, or by emergency appropriation by all members, or by budget changes of all members adopted in compliance with state law.
Insurance coverage and/or bonds shall be obtained that protect the Municipal Court and its personnel from claims against it arising out of or in the nature of workers' compensation, bodily injury, property damage, personal injury, civil rights, violations, defalcations by Court personnel and such other coverages as may be necessary. The coverage may be provided either through policies issued to the member or through separate policies issued to the Municipal Court. Each member shall add the Court to its policies as an additional named insured.
The governing bodies of the Township of Bethlehem and the Borough of Bloomsbury are hereby authorized to enter into contract with each other pursuant to the Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act (N.J.S.A. 40A:65-1 et seq.), in accordance with the terms of that Act.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
This chapter shall be effective upon passage and publication in accordance with law by all members, and the Municipal Court shall commence operation on January 1, 1991.