[Adopted 4-17-1990 by Ord. No. 2081]
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 44:8-107 et seq., there
is hereby established a local assistance board to be known as the
"Department of Social Services." The Board of the Department of Social
Services shall consist of five members, all of whom shall be appointed
by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Borough Council. The
Board shall consist of at least one woman, and one member of the Borough
Council, both of whom may, but need not, be the same person. The term
of the member of the Board who shall represent the Borough Council
shall be for one year. The terms of the other four members of the
Board shall be for four years, except that the initial terms of these
four remaining Board members shall be for four years, three years,
two years, and one year respectively so that only one of the four-year
terms shall expire in any subsequent year. The term of each member
of the Board shall begin on January 1 of the year of appointment and
each member shall continue in office until his successor is duly appointed
and qualified. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term only.
Members of the Board shall serve without compensation but shall be
allowed their necessary and actual expenses.
The Department of Social Services shall organize
and select a Chairman and a secretary, and shall appoint a Director
of Welfare who shall be called the Director of Social Services. This
person shall be the first executive and administrative officer of
the Board. The Director shall hold office for a term of five years
from the date of appointment and shall be paid a salary fixed by a
majority of the Board, subject to the approval of the Borough Council.
Any vacancy arising in the office of Director of Social Services shall
be filled by a temporary or acting Director to be appointed by a majority
of the remaining members of the Board. The temporary or acting Director
shall serve a term not to exceed 90 days from the date of such appointment
as temporary or acting Director. The Department of Social Services
and the Board therein shall have the powers and perform the duties
prescribed by applicable federal, state and municipal laws. All employees
of the Department of Social Services shall be appointed in the same
manner as other employees of the municipality. However, no such employee
whose compensation is paid from funds received or appropriated for
public assistance or the administration thereof in any manner shall
hold any office in any political party.
The Director of Social Services, also known
as the Director of Welfare, shall:
A.
Supervise by periodic investigation every person receiving
public assistance, such investigation to be made by visitation at
least once a month;
B.
Reconsider from month to month the amount and nature
of public assistance given and alter, amend or suspend the same when
the circumstances so require;
C.
Devise ways and means for bringing persons unable
to maintain themselves to self-support or to support by any person
or agency able and willing so to do;
D.
Keep full and complete records of such investigation,
supervision, assistance and rehabilitation, and of all certifications
of persons for employment or benefits and cancellations thereof, in
such manner and form as required by the Commissioner of the New Jersey
Department of Human Services; and
E.
Bring about appropriate action for commitment to any
state or county institution when the best interests of the needy persons
would be so served.
