You are viewing an archived copy from the New Jersey State Library THE CHANGING STRUCTURE OF NEW JERSEY MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT .~ . ""'0oW " 1 ~~ STATE OF NEW JERSEY County and Municipal Government Study Commission A Legislative Agency You are viewing an archived copy from the New Jersey State Library Reports of the County and Municipal Government Study Commission Creative Localism-A Prospectus, 1968 (Out of Print) County Government-Challenge and Change, 1969 (Out of Print) "Joint Services-A Local Response to Area-Wide Problems, 1970 -A Practical Guide to Reaching Joint Services Agreements, 1971 (In cooperation with the N.J. Department of Community Affairs) "Beyond Local Resources: Federal/State Aid & the Local Fiscal Crisis, 1971 "Consolidation: Prospects and Problems, 1972 A Public Personnel Information System for New Jersey, 1972 (Out of Print) (In cooperation with the Bureau of Government Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey) "Solid Waste: A Coordinated Approach, 1972 "Water Quality Management: New Jersey's Vanishing Options, 1973 "Housing and Suburbs: Fiscal and Social Impact of Multifamily Development, 1974 "Community Health Services: Existing Patterns-Emerging Trends, 1974 "Water Supply Management in New Jersey: Summary of Findings, 1975 "Aspects of Law Enforcement in New Jersey, 1976 "Bus Transportation: State-Local Roles and Responsibilities, May 1977 "Flood Control Management: An Overview of Issues and Responses, November 1977 Computer Utilization by Local Government, November 1977 (Out of Print) "Local Highway and Road Programs: The Capacity of Federal and State Aid Programs to Meet Increasing Needs, September 1978 Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey, January 1979 (Out of Print) (In cooperation with the Bureau of Government Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey) The Organization and Dynamics of Social Services in New Jersey, June 1979 (Out of Print) "The Development of Libraries and Networks, June 1980 Issues for the '80s; The Impact of Mandates; Municipal Caps, January 1981 (Out of Print) The Impact of Mandates on Counties, June 1981 (Out of Print) "The Outlook for Historic Preservation in New Jersey, July 1981 "Computer Use: A Guide for Local Officials in New Jersey, September 1981 (In cooperation with N.J. State League of Municipalities and N.J. Depart­ ment of Community Affairs) "Optional Municipal Charter Law (Faulkner Act), As Amended, June 1983 "Green Acres in the '80s: Meeting New Jersey/s Needs for Open Space and Recreation, June 1983 "The New Jersey Water Supply Handbook, December 1983 "New Jersey/s Local Infrastructure: An Assessment of Needs, September 1984 "County Mandates: The State Judicial System and Human Services, October 1984 "The Changing Structure of New Jersey Municipal Government, March 1985 (In cooperation with the Bureau of Government Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey) "Available upon request. You are viewing an archived copy from the New Jersey State Library @ltnte of New alersey COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT STUDY COMMISSION The Changing Structure of New Jersey Municipal Government Prepared for the Commission by Ernest C. Reock, Jr., and Raymond D. Bodnar Bureau of Government Research and Department of Government Services Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey April 1985 THESTAfEUNMRSlTVOfNEW..ERSEY RUTGERS Compus of NeY.t Btunrwick You are viewing an archived copy from the New Jersey State Library County and Municipal Government Study Commission Senate Municipal Carmen A. Orechio Fred G. Stickel, III Chairman Vice Chairman Garrett W. Hagedorn Catherine B. Frank John A. Lynch, Jr. John E. Trafford Assembly County John O. Bennett Stephen Capestro Garabed "Chuck" Haytaian Guy E. Millard Robert P. Hollenbeck Peter Shapiro At-Large Robert F. Casey Benjamin R. Fitzgerald Amy Piro Commission Staff David C. Mattek Executive Director Frances L. Prestianni Stanley C. Slachetka, Jr. Research Associate Research Assistant Arlene K. Wilkinson Secretary Bureau of Government Research Ernest C. Reock, Jr. Director Raymond D. Bodnar Extension Specialist You are viewing an archived copy from the New Jersey State Library &tutt of Ntw 3JtflltY COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT STUDY COMMISSION 11!5 WEST STATE STREET TRENTON. NEW JERSEY 0862!5 AREA CODE 808 292·8228: 292·8288 DAVID C. MATTEK SENATOR CARMEN A. ORECHIO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHAIRMAN To His Excellency Governor Thomas H. Kean and Honorable Members of the Senate and General Assembly: The County and Municipal Government Study Commission is pleased to sub­ mit its thirtieth report, The Changing Structure of New Jersey Municipal Government. In discussions with Commission members and staff, local officials and inter­ ested citizens have continuously emphasized the need for up-to-date informa­ tiori on the structure of municipal government and the options that they may have in organizing their local governments most effectively. This report, which was prepared for the Commission by the Bureau of Government Research at Rutgers University, is intended to answer this important need by providing a comprehensive reference source on the structure and the forms of municipal government in New Jersey. In addition, the report is designed to provide charter study commissions and the general public with information on the process and procedures for chang­ ing the form of government in a municipality. The report also includes a dis­ cussion of the concept of home rule, a description of the current forms of municipal government in New Jersey, and an overview of the trends and pat­ terns of municipal government organization in the state. As the complexity of the tasks facing New Jersey's municipal governments increases, it is essential that each municipality have the form of local adminis­ tration most appropriate to meet its needs. The Commission is confident that this report will provide public officials and the general public with the informa­ tion that they require as they confront the task of providing efficient and effec­ tive local government services to the citizens of New Jersey. Respectfully submitted by the members of the County and Municipal Gov­ ernment Study Commission: /s/ Carmen A. Orechio, Chairman /s/ Peter Shapiro /s/ Garrett W. Hagedorn /s/ Catherine B. Frank /s/ John A. Lynch, Jr. /s/ Fred G. Stickel, III /s/ John O. Bennett /s/ John E. Trafford /s/ Garabed "Chuck" Haytaian /s/ Robert F. Casey /s/ Robert P. Hollenbeck /s/ Benjamin R. Fitzgerald /s/ Stephen Capestro /s/ Amy Piro /s/ Guy E. Millard iii You are viewing an archived copy from the New Jersey State Library Acknowledgements In the varied field of municipal government structure, the authors of any publi­ cation such as this must rely upon numerous other persons for assistance in identifying and describing the multiple patterns of local organization authorized by law and implemented in 567 different jurisdictions. Certainly high on this list are the municipal clerks in each community, who have responded promptly and willingly to periodic surveys as well as to special inquiries about their own municipalities. In particular, we have benefitted from the advice and assistance of the fol­ lowing individuals: John E. Trafford, executive director of the New Jersey State League of Munici­ palities, and Robert F. Casey, manager of the Township of Roxbury, both members of the County and Municipal Government Study Commission, who participated in reviewing early drafts of the report during its preparation. David C. Mattek, executive director of the Commission, and Stanley C. Slachetka, Jr., and Frances L. Prestianni, Commission staff members, who assisted throughout the project. Former Commission staff members Eugene Schneider, who first suggested the report and helped define its format and contents, and Kevin J. Kellenber­ ger, who provided research materials and analyses. Finally, several persons who gave freely of their time and knowledge of New Jersey municipal government: Frank W. Haines, executive director of the New Jersey Taxpayers Association; Michael Pane, attorney at law; and William H. Struwe, administrator of the Administrative Assistance Unit in the Bureau of Local Management Services, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. In conclusion, we should like to thank all of the members of the County and Municipal Government Study Commission for making this project possible and for their support in the publication of its results. Ernest C. Reock, Jr. Raymond D. Bodnar IV You are viewing an archived copy from the New Jersey State Library Contents Letter of TransmittaL.............................................................................. iii Acknowledgements iv Contents v List of Tables and Maps......................................................................... vii Chapter I Introduction 1 Chapter II The New Jersey Municipality 3 Historical Background.............................................................................. 3 Home Rule 6 Home Rule Concepts A Constitutional Blending Home Rule in New Jersey Municipal Functions................................................................................ 9 Financing New Jersey Municipalities....................................................... 10 Chapter III Municipal Government Organization in New Jersey 13 General Patterns of Municipal Organizations............................................ 15 Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey 20 City Form Town Form Borough Form Township Form Village Form Commission Form Municipal Manager Form (1923) Optional