Legislative Power
The legislative power of the Township shall be exercised by the Township Council, except as may be otherwise provided by general law.
Township Council
For most of its history, a Township Committee consisting of five committeemen elected by the voters governed Little Falls. A chairman (Mayor) and deputy-chair (Deputy Mayor) were selected annually by the Township Committee members. Starting January 1, 2005, the form of government was changed as the result of a public referendum. The current government is a Mayor/Council form authorized by the New Jersey Faulkner Act. Under the new government, the voters directly elect a Mayor to a four-year term. The Mayor is responsible for the administration of the Township. The Township Council members, who are elected to four-year staggered terms, perform the legislative duties of the Township.
General Powers
The Council, in addition to such other powers and duties as may be conferred upon it by the Charter, or otherwise by general law, may:
- Require any Township officer, in its discretion, to prepare and submit sworn statements regarding his/her official duties and the performance thereof, and otherwise to carry out a legislative inquiry or investigation into the conduct of any department, office or agency of the Township government.
- Remove any Township officer, other than the Mayor or a member of council, for cause, upon notice and an opportunity to be heard, by a two-thirds vote of the entire membership of the Council.
Membership; Term of Office
The Council shall consist of five members elected by the voters of the Township at the general election held on the second in November in the years in which municipal officers are to be elected. All members of Council shall be elected at-large by the voters. The terms of the members of the Council shall be four years, except that of those first elected, two shall serve for four-year terms and three for two-year terms.
Vacancies on the Council shall be filled in the manner prescribed by the Municipal Vacancy Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:16-1 et seq.
The Council shall, at its organizational meeting in January of each year, elect a President for one year and conduct such other business as may come before it.
Public Meetings
All meetings shall be public and held at times and places fixed by the Council, in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6. Exceptions, if any, shall be as authorized therein.
Regular and Work Session Meetings
Council shall hold its regular meeting and work sessions pursuant to a resolution to be adopted at each yearly reorganization meeting. The resolution may be amended or modified by subsequent resolution, duly adopted by the Council.
Special Meetings
As provided by the Charter, the Mayor may or, upon written request of a majority of its members, the Council may call a special meeting of the Council. In the call, the Mayor or the Council shall designate the purpose of the special meeting of the Council.
Rules For Meetings
Except as provided in the Chapter or in this chapter, the conduct of all meetings of the Council shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, as revised.
Quorum
A majority of all of the members elected to the Council shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting of the Council, but no ordinance shall be adopted by the Council without the affirmative vote of a majority of all the members of the Council.
Powers And Duties
The President of Council shall:
- Preside at all meetings of the Council and of the committee of the whole.
- State the question and announce the results of all matters upon which the Council may vote.
- Rule on all questions of order, subject to appeal to the Council.
- Sign all ordinances and resolutions adopted in his/her presence.
- Preserve order and decorum at all meetings of the Council.
- Have such other functions, powers and duties as the Council may from time to time prescribe.