40:69A-44. Department of administration; director; qualifications; powers and duties

The department of administration shall be headed by a director who shall be known and designated as business administrator. He shall be chosen solely on the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications with special reference to his actual experience in, or his knowledge of, accepted practice in respect to the duties of his office as hereinafter set forth. At the time of his appointment, he need not be a resident of the municipality or State, but during his tenure of office he may reside outside the municipality only with the approval of council. He shall have, exercise and discharge the functions, powers and duties of the department. The department, under the direction and supervision of the mayor shall:

(a) Assist in the preparation of the budget;

(b) Administer a centralized purchasing system;

(c) Be responsible for the development and administration of a sound personnel system; and

(d) Perform such other duties as council may prescribe.

(e) The governing body of the municipality may provide, by ordinance, that the business administrator also shall, subject to the direction of the mayor, supervise the administration of each of the departments established by ordinance. For this purpose, he shall have power to investigate the organization and operation of any and all departments, to prescribe standards and rules of administrative practice and procedure, and to consult with the heads of the departments under his jurisdiction; provided that with respect to any department of law or department of audit, accounts or control, the authority of the business administrator under this subsection shall extend only to matters of budgeting, personnel and purchasing.

L.1950, c. 210, p. 476, s. 3-14. Amended by L.1954, c. 68, p. 422, s. 2; L.1981, c. 462, s. 40; L.1981, c. 465, s. 19, eff. Jan. 9, 1982.