The governor has signed into law A2784 which provides revisions to NJSA 40A:9.12. This statute concerns citizen service on municipal authorities, boards, and commissions of municipalities including the conditions under which a trustee may be removed by the mayor from the board, and who may administer the oath of office to newly appointed and reappointed trustees. The prior law only allowed removal after a trustee had missed 4 consecutive regular meetings (not due to legitimate illness). This revision will allow municipalities to lower the standard to 2 or 3 consecutive meetings. The prior law only allowed new appointees to be sworn in by officers of the court. The new law allows the board president to administer the oath also. The full text may be found at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A3000/2784_I1.HTM. The summary follows:

STATEMENT

 This bill is intended to permit municipalities to establish strict absentee policies for members of authorities, boards and commissions established by the municipality in order to better maintain full functionality of these entities.  Under the provisions of this bill, every municipality would be required to create and maintain a public directory of positions and vacancies on its authorities, boards and commissions in order to provide information for citizens interested in serving their municipality.  The bill also establishes a universal, one-page standard application form for persons wishing to perform public service as a member of a municipal authority, board or commission.  A municipality would have the option to supplement the application form if it requires the disclosure of additional information by an applicant.
 Under the bill, newly appointed members to a municipal authority, board, or commission would be sworn in by an elected official, the chairperson of the respective entity, or any other person authorized to administer oaths.

Victoria Rosch, Deputy Director Library Development Bureau New Jersey State Library vrosch@PROTECTED
609.278.2640 ext.157

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