Township Clerk's Office

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This information has been prepared to provide you with the duties and services of the Municipal Clerk’s office.

Our goal is to provide a friendly, helpful and courteous atmosphere for all citizens and members of the public as well as providing any necessary information to the Governing Body, Mayor, Township Administrator and all Municipal Departments.

In New Jersey, the Municipal Clerk occupies one of the most important and exacting positions in municipal government.  In many instances it is the heart of the municipal operation.  The Clerk, by virtue of her/his position, serves as liaison officer between the governing officials and the taxpayers.  The Municipal Clerk is an important public relations figure as she/he is expected to know everything about the operations of the Municipality and how to accomplish what needs to be done.

Township Clerk Katherine T. Pusterla

The broad range of services provided by this Office is accomplished by the dedicated employees who make up the department.

The Municipal Clerk is charged with the following statutory duties:

Secretary to the Governing Body:

• Be present at all the meetings of the governing body and records Official Minutes

• Handles municipal correspondence

• Prepares meeting agendas

• Processes, records, files and advertises Ordinances, Resolutions (when required by law), the Municipal Budget, bids for equipment and supplies, etc.

• Acts as liaison between the public and governing body

• Administers and records Oaths of Office

• Maintains custody of all official records that are not specifically handled by other departments

Secretary to the Municipal Corporation:

• Signs majority of official documents, attests signature of municipal officers and officials

• Maintains custody of the Municipal seal

• Maintains legal documents

Election Official:

• Registers Voters

• Certifies vacancies existing on the local level

• Maintains receipt of nominating petitions and certification to the County Clerk of local candidates nominated by petition

• Exercises quasi-judicial authority in determining the validity of petitions

• Conducts drawing for position of candidates on the local ballot

• Furnishes material for local elections

• Suggests polling places to Election Board

• Maintains receipt of election results

• Certifies to County Clerk persons elected to partisan County Committee offices in each election district

• Tallies the votes and certifies election results for local School Board election, Primary and General elections

Administrative Official:

• Issues licenses (ABC liquor, bingo, raffles, peddlers, limousine, restaurant, landscapers, towing, amusement games, trailer park, etc.)

• Handles complaints of all types

• Furnishes data to public information media

• Purchases supplies and equipment when required

• Directs correspondence and inquiries to various departments for action

• Serves as coordinator and records manager responsible for implementing local archives and records retention programs

• Custodian of Government Records  (OPRA)

• Conducts business with other municipal departments as needed and as directed by the governing body

Other services include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinate special projects

• Resident/public inquiries

• Provide copies of Ordinances/Resolutions and other information as requested by public and personnel

• Landlord Rental Registration

• Sign final development maps before filed with County

• Provide street/road maps

• Provide copies of Zoning and Planning & Development Ordinances

FOR INFORMATION ON ANY OF THESE SERVICES, OR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING OUR TOWNSHIP, PLEASE CALL THE MUNICIPAL CLERK’S OFFICE AT 973-694-1800 EXT. 3208 OR 3207 OR BY EMAILING TOWNSHIP CLERK KATHERINE T. PUSTERLA.

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