1923 Municipal Manager Law

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New Jersey Municipal Government Flag of New Jersey
Traditional forms
Borough Township
City Town Village
Modern Forms
Walsh Act/Commission
1923 Municipal Manager
Faulkner Act Forms
Mayor-Council Council-Manager
Small Municipality
Mayor-Council-Administrator
Nonstandard Forms
Special Charter
Changing Form of Municipal Government
Charter Study Commission

The 1923 Municipal Manager Law was the last type of reformed municipal government the State of New Jersey introduced in the progressive era. The law introduced to New Jersey the council-manager form of government first developed in Sumter, South Carolina.

The council is nonpartisan and elected at-large for four-year terms. The terms may be either concurrent or staggered, and there is an option for run-off elections. Presently, only Lodi Borough uses run-offs and staggered terms, with half of the council being elected for four-year terms every two years.

The mayor, elected by the council from its own numbers, is very weak and has no executive responsibility beyond appointing representatives of commissions and boards, and presiding over council meetings. The mayor is elected for a four-year term in municipalities with concurrent terms or serves for a two-year term in Lodi Borough which has staggered terms.

The members of the council are subject to recall elections.

Municipality County Terms Council Seats
Asbury Park City Monmouth Concurrent 5
Clifton City Passaic Concurrent 7
Garfield City Bergen Concurrent 5
Hackensack City Bergen Concurrent 5
Lodi Borough Bergen Staggered 7
Medford Lakes Borough Burlington Concurrent 3
Teterboro Borough Bergen Concurrent 5

[edit] See also