Optional County Charter Law

New Jersey · Municipalities and Counties · §§ 40:41A-1 to 40:41A-99 · 147 sections

Overview

Optional County Charter Law provides a procedure by which a county may change its form of government, putting a charter study question to the voters, establishing a study commission with its own rules of procedure and compensation, and submitting the resulting optional plan to the electorate for approval. It then supplies the operating framework for a county governed under such a plan: the enactment, recording, and publication of ordinances, resolutions, and regulations; a power of initiative and referendum exercisable by petition, with signature thresholds tied to registered voters, petition and affidavit requirements, certification, suspension of the challenged ordinance, and a referendum election with rules for ballots and conflicting measures; and, where a district-based representation system is chosen, the division of the county into districts, certification and publication of boundaries, limits on population difference between them, and readjustment after each census. The act also governs the transition itself, addressing the schedule for installing the adopted plan, adoption and effective date of an administrative code, the continuing force of existing enactments and pending proceedings, appointments and the status of classified and unclassified employees including county administration of civil service, and the fiscal year and budget process.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.

In the courts

Sections of this act have been cited in 1 court decision.

Most-cited authority: 555 F. Supp. 750 - Salerno v. O'ROURKE

Sections covered

N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-1Submission of charter study question
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-10Expenses and compensation of the commission
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-100Rules of procedure; quorum; resolutions; compensation
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-101Ordinances
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-102Recording of ordinances and resolutions
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-103Rules and regulations; filing; publication
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-104Petition; percentage of registered voters required
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-105Power of referendum; time for filing petition
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-106Petition papers; affidavits
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-107Filing of petition papers; examination; certification of result
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-108Amendment of initiative or referendum petition
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-109Suspension of ordinance
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-11Dissemination of information
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-110Submission to board of freeholders
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-111Submission of ordinance to voters; withdrawal of petition
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-112Referendum election
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-113Number of proposed ordinances voted upon; time between special elections
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-114Publication of ordinance
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-115Ballots
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-116Results of election; conflicting measures
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-117Division of county adopting a district representation system under section 40:41A-14c into districts
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-118District commissioners; certification of boundaries
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-119Meeting of district commissioners; division into districts
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-12Report and publication of findings
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-120Boundaries of districts; population difference
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-121Report, certificate, ESRI Shapefile
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-122Notice of district boundaries; publication
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-123Adjustments in district boundaries following census
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-124Schedule of installation of optional plan adopted
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-125Adoption of the administrative code
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-126Effective date of administrative code
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-127Existing resolutions remain in force where not inconsistent
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-128Appointments between election and time of taking office under optional plan; pending actions and proceedings
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-129Employees in the classified service
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-129.1Counties of first class; appointment of aides; unclassified service
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-13Recommendations
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-130County administration of civil service
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-131Procedures for establishment of county department of civil service
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-132Fiscal year
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-133Preparation and submission of budget; budgetary process
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-134Scope of budget and message
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-138Appropriation requests; allotments
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-14Additional recommendations
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-142Person charged; newspapers; qualifications
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-143Partial invalidity
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-144Short title
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-145.1Election to fill vacancy on board of chosen freeholders; exception
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-145.2Interim successor selected by appropriate political party
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-145.3Selection from floor by county committee
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-146Vacancy of all or majority of offices of members of board; certification to and appointments to temporarily fill by Governor
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-147Appointees; qualifications
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-148Voters empowered to change term of office
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-149First election of board under adopted proposition
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-15Date of charter referendum
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-16Form of the referendum question
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-17Petition for special charter
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-18Discharge of commission
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-19Adoption of optional plan
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-2Election of charter study commission
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-20Petition; contents; filing; election; ballot
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-21Election; time; ballot
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-22Moratorium on other petitions
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-23After adoption or rejection, no vote on change for 3 years
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-24Incorporation
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-25Government of county after adoption of optional plan
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-26General law
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-27County powers generally
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-28Municipal powers
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-29Municipal or regional advisory councils
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-3Nominating petitions
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-30Grant of powers to county
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-31Form; designation
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-32Elected officers; governing body defined; exercise of administrative or executive functions by county executive
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-33Qualifications, election, term
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-34Salary
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-35County executive, filling of vacancy in office; procedure
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-35.1Filling of vacancy, interim selection pending election of successor
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-36Duties
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-37Powers of county executive
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-38Legislative power; exercise by ordinance; exceptions; exercise by resolution
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-39Chairman and vice-chairman; selection
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-4Canvass of returns
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-40County executive at meetings
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-41Board powers
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-42Appointment
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-43Qualifications
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-44Duties
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-45Form; designation
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-46Officers
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-47Qualifications, appointment, term
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-48Salary
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-49Vacancies
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-5Organization meeting of commission
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-50Duties
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-51Powers
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-52Legislative power; exercise by ordinance; exceptions; exercise by resolution
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-53Chairman and vice-chairman; election; duties
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-54County manager; rights at meetings
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-55Board powers
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-56Appointment
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-57Qualifications
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-58Duties
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-59Form; designation
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-6Vacancies
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-60Elected officers; governing body; definition; exercise of administrative or executive functions by county supervisor
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-61Qualifications, election, term
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-62Salary
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-63Vacancies
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-64Duties
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-65Powers
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-66Legislative power; exercise by ordinance; exceptions; exercise by resolution
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-67Board powers
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-68Appointment
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-69Qualifications
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-7Duties of commission
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-70Duties
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-71Powers
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-72Form; designation
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-73Elected officers
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-74Qualifications, election, term
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-75Salary
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-76Vacancies
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-77Duties
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-78Powers
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-79Legislative power; exercise by ordinance; exceptions; exercise by resolution1 cite
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-8Advisors to the charter study commission
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-80President and vice-president; election
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-81Board powers
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-82Appointment
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-83Qualification
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-84Duties
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-85Powers
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-86Separation of powers
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-87Appointments and dismissal; suspension procedure
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-88Elective officers; removal by recall petition and vote
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-89Recall petition
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-9State participation in charter studies
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-90Signatures to recall petition
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-91Notice to officer; recall election; notice of filing of petition
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-92Ballots
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-93Removal of more than one officer
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-94Election of successor; use of recall ballot
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-95Laws governing recall elections; selection of candidate for successor of recalled incumbent
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-96Publication of notices of arrangements for recall elections; conduct
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-97Results of elections
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-98Successor where incumbent resigns or is recalled
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:41A-99Meetings of board; journal

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