a. The governing body of any municipality, by ordinance, may create the office of deputy municipal clerk and provide for appointments thereto, his compensation, term thereof and the powers, duties and functions of such office. During the absence or disability of the municipal clerk, the deputy municipal clerk shall have all the powers of the municipal clerk and shall perform the functions and duties of such office.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section, the governing body of a city of the first class having a population of not less than 240,000 persons or more than 250,000 persons according to the 2000 federal decennial census, may appoint two persons to serve as deputy municipal clerks and provide for appointments thereto, the compensation, term thereof and the powers, duties and functions of those offices. These appointees shall serve in the unclassified service as provided for in N.J.S.11A:3-5 (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The governing body of the municipality shall appoint one of the deputy municipal clerks to serve as acting municipal clerk during the absence or disability of the municipal clerk, and that person shall have all the powers of the municipal clerk and shall perform the functions and duties of that office.