State Exam Review Guide Flashcards
the Authority by which a new municipality can be formed
the State Government may create or abolish
5 types of municipalities
borough, city, town, township, village
method used to change the form of municipal government
petition by voters, election of a charter study commission, ordinance by governing body
the optional 4 forms of municipal government
special charter,
commission walsh act
3.municipal manager
4. Optional municipal charterfaulkner act which is mayor council plan - strong mayor, council-manager , small municipalities, Mayor-Council Administrator
5 types of school districts/differences in types
A. Type 1 appointed by mayor, school tax levy determined by boe, approved by boe: (mayor, 2 members of boe and 2 members of governing body, and school debt is municipalities
Type 2. members of boe elected by voers, school tax levy submitted to the voters for approval. it budget defeated goes to governing body, school debt is the schools
3. Regional -School district is the same as municipality or can encompass 2 or more municipalities. create a consolidatd or regional school district (toms river). The sources of revenue is property taxes, federal aid and state aid
4. Special Districts - fire, garbage, street lighting. funded and administered 2 ways: 1. election of special district governing body an approval of tax levy. 2 tax levy determined by municipal governing body
define type 1 and type 2 school districts
A. Type 1 appointed by mayor, school tax levy determined by boe, approved by boe: (mayor, 2 members of boe and 2 members of governing body, and school debt is municipalities
Type 2. members of boe elected by voers, school tax levy submitted to the voters for approval. it budget defeated goes to governing body, school debt is the schools
explain Charter Study Commission
a. members- 5
b. time line - must organized within 15 days following election
c. how placed on ballot - either through Ordinance or Petition
d. report - must file Report of Findings and recommendations in 9 months
define county classifications
21 counties
First Class - over 550,000 w/ density over 3000 people per square mile
Second Class - over 200,000 not bordering on Atlantic Ocean
Third Class - not less than 50,000 nor more than 200,000, not bordering on Atlantic Ocean
Fourth Class - less than 50,000 not bordering Atlantic Ocean
FIFTH CLASS - over 125,000 bordering on Atlantic Ocean
SIXTH CLASS - 125,000 or less bordering on Atlantic Ocean
Term of freeholders
3 year term with staggered and overlapping terms, serves as policymakers and individual adminstrators of county departments. Optional County Charter Law - 4 plans
Optional County Charter Law - 4 plans
- county executive plan
- county manager plan
- county supervisor plan
- board president plan
freeholders consist of how many members
5,7 or 9 members, concurrent or overlapping (3yr term), at large from districts or combination of districts and at large.
Money and Finance- 1.property tax, 2 misc revenue, 3. state aid, 4. institutional revenue
9 sources of Government Revnue
- property taxes
- misc rev
- public utility
- surplus appropriations
- state aid
how many municipalities in new jersey
566
Municipal Clerk
3 year term, begins at appointment, reappointed with 60 days of expiration of prior term, must be RMC after january 2002, tenure acquired with second appointment and 1 day
who appoints municipal clerk
governing body
requirements for appointment
must be US Citizen, 21 + yrs olf, good moral character, high school grad or equivalent, minimum 2 years duty or 2 years of college
the basic functions of the municipal clerk/core duties
secretary to the corporation secretary to the governing body cheif administrator of all elections registrar of voters chief administrative officer records manager and coordinator of the municipality
municipal clerk as registrar of vital statistics
with municipalities of less than 5000 people and term runs with clerk
statute pertaining to appointment of municipal clerk
NJSA 40A:9-133
Acting Clerk
has the same authority as Municipal clerk, appointment limited to 3 one year terms, must have RMC cert for an future appointment
removal of municipal clerk
criminal conviction , knowingly commits error, may be removed if CEU requirement is not met
recertification
2 CEUs in each of the following areas: elections, finance, records, professional development, licensing, and 10 additional in any of the above or any combination : IT, ethics
legal sources
- definitions of titles, chapters, sections (this is the form that was adopted to organize the statutes concerning the same subject together (59 titles)f
- titles 40 and 40A, 19 and 26
40 & 40A Municipal Law
19- Elections
26 Vital Statistics - NJSA - statutes annotated
59 titles
titles, chapter, section
NJSA 19: 12-6
published commercially and has pocket part supplements - Pocket Parts
new and updates to statutes found in the back of the book are pocket part - teh Abbreviation N.J.A.C a
administrative code “how to” book - rules regulations by state agencies
sources of basic law
chapter law-session law
case law
NJSA
NJAC
rules to governing parliamentary procedure
roberts rules, cushing’s or demeters
Right to Know Law statutes
NJSA title 47/ OPen public meetings act NJSA 10:6-7
charges for copies
if not set by ordinance then as per statue .75 for 1-10, .50 for 11-20 and .25 for 25+
Vital statistics, how they may be available and to whom
through the office of the registrar, and to the public 10 of the month local regisrar is required to transmit to the State Registrar all birth, death , and marriage certificats. large municpalites send the 10 and the 25th
Open Public Meetings Act
a. notice/annual notice - within 7 days following reorganization, post and distribute the meeting schedule for the coming year containing time, date, and place for each meetings.
B.Emergency meetings - limited to emergency issues for health, safety and welfare and protection of public. 48 hour notice or as soon as possible either befor or after meeting takes place.
c. agenda for emergency meeting - nature of emergency , importance of meeting, nature of substantial public harm, limit discussion to matter of emergency, time, date, place and manner of notice of meeting provided.
D. Exceptions/conditions to enter into executive session - public body must adopt a resolution stating reason for closed session, reasons stated may only be discussed, no formal action may take place in closed session.
what is qualifies for a Closed Session and what must be included in the minutes?
A. minutes containing date, time and place, members present and subject considered
B. discussion limited to federal, state or rule of court that is rendered confidential; any matter which release of information would impair a right to receive federal funds; collective bargaining; possible purchase of property; public safety; pending, anticipated or possible litigation; and matters involving employment
define annual notice and changes
means at least once a year within 7 days following reorganization, the public body shall adopt, post and distribute a schedule of its regular meeting for the coming year. In addition it shall be mailed, telephoned, telegraphed or hand delivered to at least 2 newspapers which shall be designated by the public body to receive such notices.
Any revisions to this schedule by the public body shall post, mail, submit revisions as per conditions pertaining to annual notice within 7 days of revision.
define reorganization meeting
12 noon on Jan 1 or within the first week in January - nonpartisan must be on July 1st of each year
definition of resolution
an act or regulation of the Governing Body reduced to writing and acted upon only once. takes effect at the meeting it was acted upon. has legal effect the same as an Ordinance
definition of an Ordinance
An act or regulation of the Governing Body reduced to writing and is read at more than one meeting and published
What type of ordinance requires 10 days notice prior to hearing?
land, assessment, bonds
what ordinance requires 7 day notice to hearing?
capital improvement
Zoning Ordinance filing
notify all property owners within 200 feet of zone an adjoining municipalities. Within 30 days file with county planning board
Oaths of Office
administers and records the oaths of office for members of Governing Body and municipal appointments
Contents of minutes
- date, time and place of meeting
- members present
- subjects considered
- action taken if any
- vote of each member
- any information required by law
tape recording of meetings
optional, designed to provide complete and accurate documentation of public proceedings
Rules of Order
roberts rules, cushing’s manual, Demeter’s manual
types of motions, and what is debatable
- Table a motion - needs a second - not debatable
2. Motion to reconsider - can only be made by person of prevailing side
Vote required to limit discussion
needs a second and 2/3 vote
Result of a tie vote
in case of appointment, position is vacant; and in all others reverts to status prior to vote
what is abstain?
considered a Non Vote but vote must be recorded in minutes
when is discussion on a motion allowed?
before Roll Call
Motions that don’t need a second
Points of Order
Quorum definition
majority of full membership
definition of records management
to make records serve the purpose for which they were created as efficiently and economical as possible
Outgoing officials have to return ____ within ___ days
code book , 5 days
procedure for disposal of records
must receive written authorization from DARM
- request and authorization form
- list records and corresponding retention
- records series
- inclusive dates
- retention period
- volume
- list department or town
- signatures of Clerk as records manager, Dept. Head signs and if Fiscal Auditor
- Mail to DARM for approval
Types of filing systems
alphabetical, numerical, alpha/numerical/chronological, color coded
differences between records storage and archives
A. STORAGE - to provide for low cost maintencance and protection of semi-current records in a place other than office’s active file
B. ARCHIVE - to secure the transfer of inactive records which have a permanent value and to provide for their preservation in an environmentally controlled facility that permits reference access.
C. Archive Locations: Clerk, municipal library, municipal historical society
Right to Know statute and OPen Public Records Act
NJSA 47:1A-1
all records which are required by law to be made, maintained or kept on file are deemed to be public records. These records are referrred to as Statutory Right-To-Know records
Definition of Common Law Record
a document created by not required by statute in the performance of ones duties
Definition of Statutory Record
a document required to be created, maintained and kept on file
definition of public record
any form of evidence of the actions of an agent or organization which receives a substantial contribution of tax dollars to conduct its activities regardless of the medium
Microfilming - types of camera
step and repeat, planetary, rotary
Microfilming - types of film
roll, unitized, silver halide, copy diazo, besicular, direct image
definition of a vital record
a record necessary for the operation of the municipality, irreplaceable record that offers direct evidence of legal status
definition of record series
a group of identical records or related records that are normally filed together
role of state in local records management
- records and form analysis
- record storage
- archives
- microfilm services
composition of State Records Committee
- stae attorney general
- state terasurer
- state auditor
- director DLGS
- Director of DARM
Procedure of disposal of a recording
80 days after teh approval of the minutes created from these tapes and written authorization from DARM allows for the destruction of pages
definition of accessioning
the transfer into physical and legal custody of the archives and becomes the permanent and legal responsibility of the archives
file audit or inventory
the complete listing of records by record series together with description and support of information
definition of FORM
a preprinted instrument, usually paper, which contains blank space for the insertion of information
records retention schedule
a listing of the records series given offices or units
4 types of records
Vital - irreplaceable, essential , for continuity of service
Important-replaceable but can only replaces at considerable expense
Useful - loss does not present any real obstacle to daily business
Nonessential- loss present no obstacle to daily business
Record Appraisal
Archival- legal permanent value
Intrinsic- their characteristics, as in age, make them valuable
When are elections changed and by whom?
after 10 year census and by county election board
The numbers votes cast to change an election district
whenever in consecutive general election more than 750 or less than 250 votes are cast
standards for election districts
contiguous area, compact, clear defined boundaries
wards are changes and by whom
municipality adopts ward system - board must hold initial meeting to adopt charter or amend charter to require wards within 5 days after Governor promulgation of Federal decennial census within 3 months by Board of Ward Commissioners
standards for Wards
contiguous, compact, and population of largest may not be more than 10% larger
what is the report of map and word description?
not within 75 days of Primary or General Election at which Municipal Officers are elected
Requirements for voter registration
a. us citizen
b. 18 years old
c. lived in county at least 30 days prior to election
d. registration must be no later than the 21st day prior to the election
procedures for a mail-in ballot
request from county clerk, municipal clerk, party leaders etc. aplication received by county clerk 7 days prior to election or in person by 3:00 day before election
ballot for civilian or military
emergency voting form
how to change political parties
file party affilation card 55 days before election
petitions deadline for municipal office
filed 64 days prior to primary electin by 4pm
what is a non-binding referendum
Governing Body desires to ascertain the sentiment of the legal voters of the municipality
definition of Recall
the voters of a jurisdiction are to decide whether an elected official shall be recalled from office
definition of Initiative
the power of voters to propose and enact legislation
definition of Referendum
the power of voters to approve or reject at the polls any ordinance submitted to them by the Governing Body
Municipal Vacancy Law
in the last year after Sept 1 appointed by Governing Body
- any other time stays vacant until next general election
- tie vote creates a vacancy, mayor or governing body member dies, fails to attend 8 consecutive meetings, unexcused meetings
the result of a tie vote
creates a vacancy
the result of a spoiled ballot
where paper ballots are used only one replacement ballot may be issued because the first is not usable
definition of an irregular ballot
Write-in
date of Primary
first tuesday after the first monday in june
date of genergal election
first tuesday after the first monday in novenber
date of non-partisan
second tuesday in may
date of school board election
3rd tuesday in april and if board approves moved to General First tueday after first monday in november
reasons for holding special election
vacancy in office, initiative or referendum, recall election, create fire districts exceed budget caps
what is the duty of the Election Law Enforcement Commission?
monitor Campaign spendin by candidates, PACs and vendors
what is the date and who selects the place of polling locations?
the Municipal Clerk seledtes places by April 1t and County board of Elections selects th epolling place
registration requirement for a voter who moves within the county
faile safe voter - may vote in new district using a provisional ballot
registration requirement for a voter who moved within the district
Fail safe voter - votes privisionally
name two types of voter registration
evening and mail-in registration
primary election
certification of candidates to County Clerk,
responsibiities for petitions
procedures to assist handicapped voters
- a person of their own choice may aid, not employer, agent of employer or official ora agent of voters union
- Two (2) Board workers one from each political party
- Board records voter name and address and persons assisting on disability certificate
Electioneering law
no person shall during an election shall suggest, solicit display any support for any candidatr or question within 100 feet of the entrance of the poolling place
Elections costs
non-partisan costs funded by town,
partisan costs funded by county
requirements for foreign speaking district workers
10% or more Hispanic in district must have 2 additional workers who speak spanish
date for appointment of district boards
by county board of elections by April 1st
requirements for the American flag
american flag shall be displayed at the outside entrance to each polling place, furnished by either the municipal clerk or the county clerk
apppointment and duties of challengers
county party chairman, candidate for office, proponents and opponents may appoint 2 challengers each
challenger rights
challenge the right to vote of any person,
may ask question to determine right to vote,
may challenge the county of votes,
School elections Type 2 district opening and guidelines
3rd tuesday in april, minimum hours polls open/close at 9pm. minimum of 4 hours . may be open longer and earlier hour is 7am
temporary budget must not exceed ___ of the _____ of year’s budget. This provides for period between the beginning of the ___ year and the adoption of the _____. It is adopted within the first ___ days of budget year and is amended by ____ up to and includeding the 30th day of the month. The vote is by ____ membership
26.25%, preceding, fiscal, budget. 30 days, resolution, majority vote
where to unexpended appropriation balances go?
into the general fund as surplus
unexpended appropriations are cancelled by
resolution
the unexpended appropriations are automatically cancelled after ___ years
2
budget introduction and adoption
- By resolution, 2 readings and need majority of full membership vote.
- 1st ready by 2/10 or 8/10 at public meeting (can be read by title only)
- Time and place of hearing fixed by Governing Body
- within 3 days, 3 certified copies of approved budget are submitted to DLGS
- DLGS must certify approval before adoption, no later than 3/20 and 9/20
- 10 and 28 rul - publish in full or approved synopsis within 10 days of 2nd reading, at least 28days between introduction and adoption
- within 3 days of adoption send certified copies to DLGS with Manual signatures and votes
budget published in official newspaper at least ___ days before the date of public hearing and after adoption
10 days
the budget can be advertised in ___ or by ___, must include ___, ___, and ___ of hearing and not less than ___ days after introduction of budger
full, summary, date, time and place 28
NOTES:amendments can be made after introduced or required by DLGS
- director of DLGS can amend prior to the public hearing witout advertisement
- Governign Body may make amendments only during or after the public hearing of the approved budget
- need public hearing if adds new item in excess of 1% of total appropriations
- increase or decreas of any item of appropriation more than 10%
public hearings of budgets are done __ days between introduction and the public meeting
28days
a public hearing must be held when a new appropriation item exceeds ___% of total appropriation of introduced budget. Or when amount to be raised by taxation increases by more than ___. Or when an amendment increases or decreases appropriations by more than ___ %
1%, 5%, 10%
hearings can not be held less than __ days after introduction approval of budget
28 days
the budget must be read in full unless
one week prior a complete copy of budget is made available to public at public library
budget resolution is passed by
majority of full membership , allowing to be ready by Title only
budget posting timeline
posted 1 week prior to hearing , copies made available for public inspection in free local or county libraries
legal depositorie is dsignated by ___, must be ____, and depostied within ___
Resolution, interest bearing, 48 hours
petty cash is established with approval of ___
DLGS
when can unexpended balances be cancelled and by whom?
may cancel prior to end of fiscal year, by resolution of governing body
if an unexpended balances are not cancelled by by end of year, what happens?
automatically cancelled at the end of the next succeeding fiscal year, and funds go into surplus
Raising the municipal cap can not exceed ___
2%
before increasing the municipal cap, what must be done
referendum can be conducted by municipality requesting approval to increase more than 2%, and a resolution authorization is required
what exceptions may be subtracted from buget amount when calculating rate of increase
pension, debt service, increase in health insurance, emergency appropriations
what is a True and Faithful Performance Bond
Contractor’s proved surety bong guarantee for faithful performance of contract
what is a Blanket Faithful performance Bond
waives necessity for individual applications and can be provided in lieu of individual bonds except for Treasurers and Tax Collectors
What is the process for Emergency Appropriation
- made after adoption of budget for unforeseen purpose for health, safety, welfare of public
- Vote 2/3 of full membership and CFO statement
- File with DLGS
- Regular - sewer, roads, natural disaster
- Special - by ordinance: Revaluation, codification, Master Plan, Tax Maps, pay back in 5 years
- must be put into the next year’s budget
process and votes for Appropriation Transfers
done during the last 2 months of the current fiscal year, or the first 3 months of the new fiscal year, and by a 2/3 vote by full membership. Votes are transferred from one line item to another
process for Appropriation reserve transfers
done during the first 3 months of budget year (jan feb march of calendar year), with 2/3 vote of full membership
Notes on appropriation reserve
do not send to DLGS, but still require 2/3 of full membership. no transfers from an appropriation outsid ethe CAP
What is an index rate ordinance
annual % increase in implicit price deflator for purchase of goods and services for year preceding current year. Director determines rates by Oct 1st
Bidding Requirements fall under what law?
Local Public Contracts Law