52:27-29.1. Certificate of tax sale or tax title; real estate; sale, exchange, lease or other disposition

The governing body of any municipality in which the commission is or may be functioning may, upon the express consent in writing of the commission, sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of any certificate of tax sale or tax title, standing in the name of the municipality, or sell, exchange, lease or otherwise dispose of any real estate or rights or interests therein owned by the municipality and determined by the governing body to be not needed for public use. Any such sale, exchange, lease or other disposition may be authorized by resolution of the governing body and, subject to the consent of the commission as aforesaid, may be at public or private sale, through a broker, agent or otherwise, for cash or upon credit, for such consideration, and subject to such conditions and commissions, as the governing body in its discretion may determine. All moneys received by the municipality from any such sale, exchange, lease or other disposition shall, if the commission so provide, be paid only to the account of the reserve fund referred to in section 52:27-25 of this Title.

The governing body of any municipality in which the commission is or may be functioning may, upon the express consent in writing of the commission, adopt an ordinance providing for the establishment of a board in the municipality to manage and effect the liquidation of assets theretofore acquired by the municipality (and accruals thereto) consisting of real estate or rights or interests therein acquired by virtue of the enforcement of taxes or special assessments and certificates of tax sale or tax titles standing in the name of the municipality. The function of said board shall be to exercise its powers and perform its duties in such fashion as to liquidate such assets as soon as reasonably possible by the realization of reasonable amounts thereon in cash. Without limitation of the foregoing, the powers and duties of said board to manage and effect such liquidation may include power to require the sale or other disposition of such assets or the compromise of sums due to the municipality in respect thereto, subject to such restrictions as such ordinance may provide. The ordinance shall set forth in particularity the powers and duties of said board and shall determine the size of the membership of the board, and shall fix the terms of office of the members of the board and their qualifications and compensation and the method of computing and paying their compensation and the expenses of the board. The ordinance may provide that the compensation of the members of the board shall be determined, in whole or in part, by the assignment judge of the Superior of the county in which the municipality is located, and it shall be the duty of said judge from time to time to make such determination in accordance with the terms of the ordinance. The members of said board may or may not be residents of the municipality and their terms of office may extend for such period as the ordinance may provide. The ordinance may provide that for all the purposes of the local budget law (R.S. 40:2-1 et seq.) said board shall constitute and be governed as a publicly-owned or operated utility or enterprise, or may provide that the compensation of the members of the board and the expenses of the board may be paid out of the proceeds of such liquidation without further budget or other appropriation or tax levy therefor. Upon the adoption of the ordinance, the clerk of the municipality shall file a certified copy thereof with the assignment judge of the Superior Court of the county in which the municipality is located, and it shall thereupon and thereafter be the duty of said judge to appoint the members of said board, and their successors from time to time, in accordance with the terms of the ordinance. It shall be the duty of the governing body and all other officers of the municipality to do and perform all such acts and things as may be required by said board in order for said board to fulfill its function in accordance with the terms of the ordinance and of this section except when, with respect to any particular such act or thing, the governing body shall adopt a resolution questioning the necessity or advisability thereof in order for said board to fulfill its function in accordance with the terms of the ordinance and of this section. Such resolution shall become of no further force and effect ten days after the adoption thereof unless the clerk of the municipality shall have filed a certified copy thereof with the assignment judge of the Superior Court of the county in which the municipality is located. Upon such filing it shall be the duty of said judge, upon such notice to the board and other interested parties as he may direct, to make a summary investigation into the facts and for that purpose he shall have the power to subpoena witnesses and call before him any officers or employees of the municipality or of the board. Said judge shall determine whether said particular act or thing required by the board is necessary or advisable in order for the board to fulfill its function in accordance with the terms of the ordinance and of this section. He shall embody his determination in an order and file the same, together with the said resolution, in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court. Upon the filing of such order embodying an affirmative determination, the said resolution of the governing body shall be of no further force and effect, and the governing body and other officers of the municipality shall proceed to do and perform such act or thing. If his determination is in the negative the requirement of the board shall be without force or effect and neither the governing body nor any officer of the municipality shall be under any duty to do and perform such act or thing.

Amended by L.1938, c. 202, p. 481, s. 2; L.1953, c. 49, p. 868, s. 33.