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Duties of the Township Council

Denville Township is a Faulkner Act municipality, having an elected seven member governing body and an elected mayor who is not part of the governing body and has no vote. The statutory duties of the Township Council, prescribed by law under NJSA 40:69A et seq., are as follows:

NJ Statutes: 40:69A-36. Legislative Power

The legislative power of the municipality shall be exercised by the municipal council, subject to the procedures set forth in this plan of government. Legislative powers shall be exercised by ordinance, except for the exercise of those powers that, under this plan of government or general law, do not require action by the mayor as a condition of approval for the exercise thereof, and may, therefore, by exercised by resolution, including, but not limited to:

• The override of a veto of the mayor;
• The exercise of advice and consent to actions of the mayor;
• The conduct of a legislative inquiry or investigation;
• The expression of disapproval of the removal by the mayor of officers or employees;
• The removal of any municipal officer for cause;
• The adoption of rules for the council;
• The establishment of times and places for council meetings;
• The declaration of emergencies respecting the passage of ordinances;
• The election, appointment, setting of salaries and removal of officers and employees of the council, subject to any pertinent civil service requirements and any pertinent contractual obligations, and within the general limits of the municipal budget;
• Designation of official newspapers;
• Approval of contracts presented by the mayor;
• Actions specified as resolutions in the “Local Budget Law”(N.J.S. 40A:4-1 et seq.) and the “Local Fiscal Affairs Law” (N.J.S. 40A:5-1 et seq.); and
• The expression of council policies or opinions which require no formal action by the mayor.

40:69A-37. Investigative, removal powers

• (a) Require any municipal officer, in its discretion, to prepare and submit sworn statements regarding his official duties in the performance thereof, and otherwise to investigate the conduct of any department, office or agency of the municipal government;
  
  
• (b) Remove, by at least two-thirds vote of the whole number of the council, any municipal officer, other than the mayor or a member of council, for cause, upon notice, and an opportunity to be heard.