[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Willingboro 5-4-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-3. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Administration of government — See Ch. 3.
Boards, committees, commissions and authorities — See Ch. 12.
Officers and employees — See Ch. 54.
Planning and Zoning Boards — See Ch. 60.
The purpose of this chapter is to foster the openness of government and provide citizens with information concerning the various appointed municipal positions which exist within the Township of Willingboro, New Jersey. This chapter further provides for a procedure whereby a citizen can indicate his or her desire to serve in a particular appointed position. Finally, this chapter provides for a notification process so that those who have indicated a desire to hold a position will be notified regarding the action taken.
The following terms, as used in this chapter, shall have the meanings set forth below, unless the context within which the term is used clearly provides for a different meaning:
APPOINTED MUNICIPAL POSITION
Any appointed position within the Township that is created by statute, ordinance or resolution. Examples of such positions are members of any board, commission, agency, council, or committee of the Township.
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
The official or body which, by virtue of statute, ordinance or resolution, is given the authority to appoint a person to hold a particular appointed municipal position.
The Township Clerk shall compile and maintain a directory of all local authorities, boards and commissions. Such directory shall be made available upon request from the Township Clerk, posted on the Township website and the Township bulletin board for official notices at the Municipal Building. The directory shall provide a list of all of the authorities, boards, and commissions. Citizens shall be advised that the information listed below is available at the Township Clerk's office:
A. 
The name of the authority, board or commission and a description of the functions of the authority, board, or commission, pursuant to the Code of the Township of Willingboro;
B. 
The number of members or positions;
C. 
A list of currently appointed members, along with their terms of office;
D. 
Vacancies;
E. 
General frequency of meetings; and
F. 
The appointing authority and enabling ordinances that describe the authority, board or commission and the responsibilities of the members.
The Township Clerk shall maintain a current updated listing of all existing vacancies for each appointed municipal position within the Township. Such list shall be made available free of charge at the Municipal Clerk's office and shall, in addition, be posted by the Municipal Clerk on a bulletin board maintained for public announcements in the Municipal Building.
A. 
Vacancies are deemed to occur upon resignation, incapacity, death, residence, absence, removal or the need for filling an unexpired term, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:9-12.1.
Unless essential for the proper functioning and/or carrying on of business of the local agency upon which the vacancy has occurred, a vacancy shall not be filled for a period of 21 days from its posting in order to allow interested persons time to submit applications as provided in § 16-6 below and be interviewed, where necessary.
The Township Clerk shall maintain an application form, as well as post the application on the Township website. Said application must be completed by any person interested in serving in an appointed municipal position. The application shall, at a minimum, contain the following information:
A. 
Name.
B. 
Address of residence.
C. 
Telephone number.
D. 
E-mail address (if applicable).
E. 
Appointed municipal position(s) sought.
F. 
Statement of interest, including reasons for interest in position.
G. 
Education, prior volunteer or work-related experience or other civic involvement which could be of use to the authorities, boards, or commissions.
H. 
Signature.
I. 
Date of application.
Any person interested in serving in an appointed municipal position shall file an application for each such position with the Township Clerk. Such application(s) may be filed at any time, whether or not the appointed municipal position sought is vacant. A person may withdraw his or her application at any time.
The Township Clerk shall maintain all filed applications in a file or binder, separately for each board or commission, and shall retain applications on file for a period of one year from the date of the application.
Prior to filling any appointed municipal position, the Township Council or appropriate appointing authority, according to ordinance, shall review each application filed for that position. Each person having submitted an application for an appointed municipal position under consideration to be filled shall be notified of said vacancy. The appointing authority or Township Council shall conduct such review, investigation and/or interviews as the appointing authority deems necessary or advisable, in its discretion.