[Ord. No. 16-96 § 1;
amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 519-23]
a.
The
inhabitants of Long Hill Township are hereby continued as a body politic
and corporate in law as heretofore constituted and established and
shall be known by the name of "the Township of Long Hill, in the County
of Morris," and the boundaries of the Township shall be and remain
as heretofore established by law.
b.
The
Township shall have full power to sue and be sued and have a corporate
seal.
[Ord. No. 16-96 § 1;
amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 519-23]
a.
The Township Committee shall hold an annual meeting during the first
seven days of January in any year.
b.
At their annual meeting, the Committee shall have the power and authority
to elect one of their number as Chair of the Committee, who shall
preside at all meetings of the Township Committee and who shall be
known as the Mayor of the Township. The Mayor shall have no additional
authority by virtue of such designation, except as otherwise provided
by law.
c.
A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business. A majority of all the members of the Committee shall
be required to vote in the affirmative to pass any ordinance.
d.
The Committee may, at its annual meeting, establish for their members
such subordinate committees as will assist them for the ensuing year.
[Ord. No. 16-96 § 1;
amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 519-23]
a.
The Mayor shall be the Chair of the Township Committee and head of
the municipal government.
b.
The Mayor shall have all those powers placed in the Mayor by general
law.
c.
The Mayor shall preside at meetings of the Committee and shall have
the right to debate and vote on all questions before the Committee.
d.
The Mayor shall serve as the Class I member of the Planning Board
and may appoint a designee to act in his or her absence.
e.
The Mayor
shall serve as a member of the Library Board of Trustees; however,
the Mayor may appoint an alternate to act in his or her place and
stead with authority to attend all meetings of the Board and, in his
or her absence. to vote on all questions before the Board.
[Ord. No. 16-96 § 1;
amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 519-23]
a.
The Committee shall be the legislative body of the municipality.
b.
The Committee may subject to general law and provisions of this act:
1.
Pass, adopt, amend and repeal any ordinance or, where permitted,
any resolution for any purpose required for the government of the
municipality or for the accomplishment of any public purpose for which
the municipality is authorized to act under general law;
2.
Control and regulate the finances of the municipality and raise money
by borrowing and taxation;
3.
Create such offices and positions as they deem necessary. The officers
appointed thereto shall perform the duties required by law and the
ordinances of the Committee. Other than the Township Attorney, Engineer,
Construction Official, the Clerk, the Chief Financial Officer, Auditor,
Tax Collector and Tax Assessor who shall serve for terms as provided
in Chapter 9 of Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes, these officers
shall serve at the pleasure of the Committee;
4.
Investigate any activity of the municipality; and
5.
Remove any officer of the municipality, other than those officers
excepted by law, for cause.
c.
The Committee shall have all the executive responsibilities of the
municipality not placed, by general law or this act, in the office
of the Mayor.
[Ord. No. 16-96 § 1;
amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 519-23; 2-14-2024 by Ord. No. 532-24]
a.
Appointments. At its annual reorganization meeting or as soon thereafter
as practicable, the Township Committee shall appoint members as liaisons,
as it deems appropriate, to Township boards, commissions, committees.
b.
Responsibilities and Duties. Each liaison will communicate on a frequent
basis with the board, commission, or committee, to which he or she
is assigned and will actively participate in the activities of such
boards, committees and commissions, to the extent appropriate. Each
liaison will report to the Township Committee monthly. Monthly reports
shall include the status of current projects or activities, significant
accomplishments or achievements, concerns, problems and recommendations.
Communication from the Township Committee shall be through the liaison
or the Township Administrator, as appropriate.
[Ord. No. 16-96 § 1;
amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 519-23]
a.
Department Heads and Employees. Except in connection with their duties
as liaisons or in the case of an emergency, members of the Township
Committee shall communicate with department heads and employees through
the Township Administrator or the appropriate Township Committee liaison.
b.
Public. When a member of the Township Committee receives a communication
from a member of the public, he or she shall direct that communication
to the Township Administrator. The Administrator shall forward the
matter to the appropriate department head for action. The Administrator
shall advise the Township Committee person of the action taken. Matters
involving significant issues shall be placed on an agenda for discussion
by the entire Township Committee. In addition, any member of the Township
Committee may request that a matter be placed on a meeting agenda
for discussion.
[Ord. No. 16-96 § 1;
amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 519-23]
The Township Committee shall hold at least one regular meeting
a month. The schedule of meetings for the year shall be adopted by
the Township Committee by resolution at the reorganization meeting.
The Clerk shall post the schedule of meetings and send copies to the
official Township newspapers, in accordance with the Open Public Meetings
Act.
[Ord. No. 16-96 § 1;
amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 519-23]
The Township Committee shall hold its annual organizational
meeting within the first seven days of each calendar year. At the
organization meeting, the Township Committee shall select a Mayor
and Deputy Mayor, appoint Township officers, appoint members of boards,
commissions and committees, designate dates and times of meetings
for the year, designate the official newspaper, designate official
bank depositories, adopt a temporary budget and take all other steps
necessary to organize the Township government for the year. The Clerk
shall chair the meeting until the election of a Mayor, which shall
be the first act of business, after the invocation, flag salute, swearing
in of new members and roll call have been completed.
a.
Nomination and Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
1.
Mayor.
(a)
The Clerk will call for the nomination of a Township Committee
member to be Chair of the Township Committee and Mayor for the year.
Nominations require a second. After a reasonable time, any member
may move to close nominations. The Clerk shall then inquire whether
there are any additional nominations and if there are none conduct
a voice vote on the motion to close nominations.
(b)
Once nominations are closed, the Clerk will conduct the election
by roll call vote. Three votes shall be required for election. If
no candidate garners the required three votes, a runoff will be conducted
between the top two vote getters.
(c)
The newly elected Mayor will then be presented by the Clerk
and shall be given the opportunity to speak to the assembly.
(d)
The Mayor then assumes the Chair.
2.
The next order of business shall be the election of a Deputy Mayor,
which shall be conducted in the same manner as the election for Mayor.
b.
Mayoral Appointments. The Mayor shall make the following appointments:
Class I, II, and IV Planning Board members
Environmental Commission (and chair)
Recreation Advisory Committee
Historic Preservation Advisory Committee
Shade Tree Commission
Emergency Management Coordinator and Council
Other appointments as provided by law.
c.
Mayoral Appointments with Consent of Township Committee. The Mayor
shall make the following appointments with the consent of the Township
Committee:
Township Administrator
Board of Health
Library Board of Trustees
Other appointments as provided by law.
d.
Township Committee Appointments. The Township Committee shall make
the following appointments:
Class III Planning Board member
Board of Adjustment
Communications Advisory Committee
Township Clerk
Township Attorney
Chief Financial Officer
Tax Collector
Tax Assessor
Township Engineer
Municipal Court Judge
Board of Health
All of the officers and employees of the Township whose appointments
are not vested by general law in the Mayor.
To the extent practicable, all appointments shall be made at
the organizational meeting.
e.
Educational Requirements for Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment.
No person shall not be seated as a first-term member or alternate
member of the Planning Board or the Zoning Board of Adjustment unless
the person agrees to take the basic course required to be offered
under N.J.S.A. 40:55D-23, which the person shall successfully complete
within 18 months of assuming board membership in order to retain board
membership. The Mayor or person designated to serve on the Planning
Board in the absence of the Mayor who serves as a Class I member and
the member of the Township Committee serving as a Class III member
shall be exempt from these educational requirements.
[Ord. No. 16-96 § 1; Ord. No. 389-2016 § 1; amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 519-23]
Regular meetings for the conduct of Township business shall
be held at least monthly. Agendas for the regular meetings shall ordinarily
be prepared by the Clerk and distributed to members of the Township
Committee, the Administrator and the Township Attorney on the Friday
preceding each meeting. Copies of the agenda shall also be posted
and sent to the official newspapers in accordance with the Open Public
Meetings Act. Any member of the Township Committee or the Administrator
may submit an item to the Clerk to be included in the agenda. Except
in extraordinary situations, items to be included in the agenda must
be submitted to the Clerk by noon of the preceding Thursday. The Mayor
shall make the final determination as to what items will be included
in the agenda. Where practicable, no item shall be included in the
agenda until it has first been discussed by the Township Committee.
Items may be added to the agenda at the meeting only by motion. Discussion
items will be drafted so as to focus discussion on the issue or question
to be considered.
If it is determined that a regular meeting will have to be cancelled
because of a lack of an in-person quorum, or if the Mayor determines
that a meeting should be held remotely, members of the governing body
may attend that meeting remotely under the following conditions:
a.
All requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act N.J.S.A. 4:10-8
et seq. are met.
b.
The member or members of the governing body attending the meeting
remotely can be heard by all other members of the governing body whether
they are attending the meeting in person or remotely as well as members
of the public attendance attending the meeting either in person or
remotely
c.
The member or members of the governing body attending the meeting
remotely are able to hear comments by other members of the governing
body as well as members of the public.
|
If technological problems prevent participation by any members
of the governing body who are not physically present at the meeting,
the meeting shall be held without them as long as there is still a
quorum present to conduct the meeting, or unless a majority of those
present in person and remotely vote to adjourn the meeting.
|
|
The Township Clerk will make every effort to broadcast Township
Committee meetings and to allow members of the public to attend meetings
remotely. Failure of the Clerk to provide a live broadcast of a meeting
or technological problems encountered during the course of the meeting
that affect remote viewing and/or public participation will not invalidate
the meeting or any action taken at that meeting, including, but not
limited to, the adoption of any ordinance, resolution or motion.
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[Ord. No. 16-96 § 1; Ord. No. 317-2013; Ord.
No. 389-2016 § 2; amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 519-23]
The Mayor or any two members of the Township Committee may call
special meetings, upon proper notice to all members of the Committee
and the public in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. No
item may be considered at a special meeting unless it was included
in the agenda. No vote or action of the Committee shall be rescinded
at any special meeting unless there be present at such meeting as
many Committee members as were present at the meeting when such vote
or action was taken.
In the case of special meetings which have been scheduled with
less than 10 days' notice or special meetings that are held entirely
remotely, members of the governing body may attend that special meeting
remotely under the following conditions:
a.
All requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act N.J.S.A. 4:10-8
et seq. are met.
b.
The member or members of the governing body attending the meeting
remotely can be heard by all other members of the governing body whether
they are attending the meeting in person or remotely as well as members
of the public attending the meeting.
c.
The member or members of the governing body attending the meeting
by speaker phone are able to hear comments by other members of the
governing body as well as members of the public.
|
If technological problems prevent participation by those members
of the governing body who are not physically present at the meeting,
the meeting shall be held without them as long as there is a quorum
present in person to conduct the meeting, or unless a majority of
those present in person and remotely vote to adjourn the meeting.
|
[Ord. No. 16-96 § 1;
amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 519-23]
The Clerk shall keep reasonably comprehensible minutes of all
Township Committee meetings showing the time and place, the members
present, the subjects considered, the actions taken, the vote of each
member, and any other information required to be shown in the minutes
by law, which shall be promptly available to the public to the extent
that making such matter public shall not be inconsistent with the
Open Public Meetings Act at N.J.S.A. 10:4-14. Minutes shall be adopted
by resolution of the Township Committee and shall not be released
to the public until so approved. Draft executive session minutes shall
be marked "confidential" and distributed to the Township Committee
for approval and determination as to when and the extent to which
those minutes should be released to the public in compliance with
the Open Public Meetings Act.
[Ord. No. 16-96 § 1;
amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 519-23]
a.
Ordinances. The term "ordinance" when used in this Code means and
includes any act or regulation of the governing body required to be
reduced to writing and read at more than one meeting and published.
1.
Introduction. Ordinances shall be introduced by motion of a member
of the Township Committee. Introduction of an ordinance shall require
a second. No public hearing will be held at the time of introduction.
An ordinance shall be passed upon first reading by a majority of those
present. A roll call vote shall be conducted. Every ordinance after
being introduced and having passed a first reading, which first reading
may be by title, shall be published in its entirety or by title at
least once in a newspaper published and circulated in the municipality,
if there be one, and if not, in a newspaper printed in the County
and circulating in the municipality, together with a notice of the
introduction thereof, the time and place when and where it will be
further considered for final passage, a clear and concise statement
prepared by the Clerk setting forth the purpose of the ordinance,
and the time and place when and where a copy of the ordinance can
be obtained without cost by any member of the general public who wants
a copy of the ordinance. If there be only one such publication the
same shall be at least one week prior to the time fixed for further
consideration for final passage. If there be more than one publication,
the first shall be at least one week prior to the time fixed for further
consideration for final passage.
2.
Public Hearing and Adoption. At the time and place so stated in such
publication, or at any time and place to which the meeting for the
further consideration of the ordinance shall from time to time be
adjourned, all persons interested shall be given an opportunity to
be heard concerning the ordinance. The opportunity to be heard shall
include the right to ask pertinent questions concerning the ordinance
by any resident of the municipality or any other person affected by
the ordinance.
Final passage thereof shall be at least 10 days after the first
reading. Upon the opening of the hearing, the ordinance shall be given
a second reading, which reading may be by title, and thereafter, it
may be passed with or without amendments, or rejected. Three affirmative
votes are required for passage of any ordinance, except for bond ordinances
other ordinances which require a 2/3 vote by law. Prior to the said
second reading, a copy of the ordinance shall be posted on the bulletin
board or other place upon which public notices are customarily posted
in the principal municipal building of the municipality, and copies
of the ordinance shall be made available to members of the general
public of the municipality who shall request such copies. If any amendment
be adopted, substantially altering the substance of the ordinance,
the ordinance as so amended shall not be finally adopted until at
least one week thereafter, and the ordinance as amended shall be read
at a meeting of the governing body, which reading may be by title,
and shall be published in its entirety or by title, together with
a notice of the introduction, the time and place when and where a
copy of the amended ordinance can be obtained without cost by any
member of the general public who desires a copy, a clear and concise
statement prepared by the Clerk setting forth the purpose of the ordinance,
and the time and place when and where the amended ordinance will be
further considered for final passage, at least two days prior to the
time so fixed. At the time and place so fixed, or at any other meeting
to which the further consideration of the amended ordinance may be
adjourned, the governing body may proceed to pass the ordinance, as
amended, or again amend it in the same manner.
Upon passage, every ordinance, or the title, together with a
notice of the date of passage or approval, or both, shall be published
at least once in a newspaper circulating in the municipality, if there
be one, and if not, in a newspaper printed in the County and circulating
in the municipality. No other notice or procedure with respect to
the introduction or passage of any ordinance shall be required.
Nothing herein shall be construed to affect the provisions of
N.J.S.A. 40:49-7 to 40:49-12 or 40:49-27.
b.
Resolutions. The term "resolution" when used in this Code means and
includes any act or regulation of the governing body of any municipality
required to be reduced to writing, but which may be finally passed
at the meeting at which it is introduced.
1.
Consent Agenda. Routine resolutions may be included in the consent
agenda which may be adopted only by unanimous consent of the Township
Committee. When any item in the consent agenda requires a roll call
vote, the consent agenda vote shall be taken by roll call. Any item
shall be removed from the consent agenda at the request of any member
of the Committee. An item on the consent agenda may be discussed by
the Committee prior to the vote.
2.
Other Resolutions. Resolutions not included in the consent agenda
shall be voted on separately by roll call or voice vote as appropriate.
c.
Motions. Motions are similar to resolutions except that they are
not in writing. Ordinarily, only procedural matters and minor substantive
actions should be handled by motion.
1.
Procedural Motions. A member of the Township Committee may make a
procedural motion in accordance with this Code as follows:
|
Motion
|
Needs Second
|
Debate Allowed
|
Amendments
|
Vote Required
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Introduce item for action
|
Main Motion
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Majority
|
|
Modify Motion (1)
|
Amend
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Once
|
Majority
|
|
Modify Motion (2)
|
Divide the Question
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Majority
|
|
Modify the Motion (3)
|
Refer to Committee
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Majority
|
|
Defer Action (1)
|
Postpone
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Majority
|
|
Defer Action (2)
|
Table
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
Majority
|
|
Defer Action (3)
|
Refer to Committee
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Majority
|
|
Prevent Action (1)
|
B/F Debate: Object to Consideration
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
2/3 Majority
|
|
Prevent Action (2)
|
After Debate: Postpone Indefinitely
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Majority
|
|
Reject the Question (1)
|
B/F Debate: Object to Consideration
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
2/3 Majority
|
|
Reject the Question (2)
|
Move Previous Question or Close Debate
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
2/3 Majority
|
|
Reject the Question (3)
|
After Debate: Postpone Indefinitely
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Majority
|
|
Consider Question a 2nd Time (1)
|
Take from the Table
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
Majority
|
|
Consider Question a 2nd Time (2)
|
Reconsider
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Majority
|
|
Consider Question a 2nd Time (3)
|
Rescind Previous Action (w/notice)
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
2/3 Majority
|
|
Consider Question a 2nd Time (4)
|
Rescind Previous Action (w/notice)
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Majority
|
|
Vote on the Question (1)
|
Call for a Vote
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Majority
|
|
Vote on the Question (2)
|
Move Previous Question or Close Debate
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
2/3 Majority
|
|
Reopen Main Question to Debate
|
Reconsider
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Majority
|
|
Correct Mistake in Proceedings
|
Point of Order
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
None
|
|
Propose Action Which Violates Procedural Rule
|
Suspend the Rules
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
2/3 Majority
|
|
Challenge Decision of Chair
|
Appeal
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
Majority
|
d.
Public Participation. All meetings of the Township Committee shall
be open to the public in accordance with the provisions of the Open
Public Meetings Act. Audience participation in Township Committee
discussions shall ordinarily be limited to the "meeting open to public"
portion of the agenda and to public hearings on ordinances, budget
resolutions and similar items.
1.
Public Session. Every regular meeting of the Township Committee shall
have at least one public session for public comment. During the public
session, a member of the public may discuss any item not on the agenda
or any item on the agenda which does not have its own public hearing
(e.g., second readings of ordinances). The Chair shall give members
of the public a reasonable opportunity to be heard during the public
session. The Chair in his or her discretion may limit the length of
discussion on any particular issue or may limit the time allotted
to individual members of the public to speak.
2.
Other Items of Business. The public shall be given the opportunity to be heard during the public hearings on second readings of ordinances and other matters such as the budget which require formal public hearings. Ordinarily public comment on other matters should be heard only during the public sessions held in accordance with Subsection 2-3.5d1 above. The Mayor in his or her discretion may permit public participation in the discussion of any matter.
