52:27BBB-7 Appointment of chief operating officer; term.

7. a. Upon receiving notification by the Commissioner of Community Affairs pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-4), the Governor shall appoint the chief operating officer in consultation with the mayor and the governing body. The chief operating officer shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The chief operating officer shall be qualified by training and experience for the position and shall have at least 10 years of experience in the management or supervision of government activities, three years of which may be substituted by an advanced degree in business, law, or public administration.

b. Pending the appointment of a chief operating officer or, in the event of the death, resignation, removal or inability of the chief operating officer to discharge the duties of that office, the functions, powers and duties of the chief operating officer shall devolve upon the director, for the time being, until a chief operating officer is appointed or is able to discharge the duties of that office. In the event that the chief operating officer does not serve out the chief operating officer's term of office for any reason, a successor shall be chosen by the Governor.

c. (1) The term of the chief operating officer shall terminate five years following the assumption of duties on the part of the initial chief operating officer first appointed pursuant to P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), or 10 years thereafter, except as provided under paragraph (2) of this subsection, if the fourth-year report required by section 8 of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-8) recommends an extension of that term, provided that the extension is approved by the Commissioner of Community Affairs. The chief operating officer may be hired as a State employee in the unclassified service of Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes or may be hired under contract, as provided hereunder. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person so appointed shall acquire tenure.

If the chief operating officer is hired under contract, the person hired shall meet the qualifications set forth herein, and it shall be clear from the contract that the position is full-time and that the job site shall be at the principal offices of the municipality. If, for any reason, a person engaged under contract is unable to fulfill the job responsibilities of chief operating officer, the selection process shall be recommenced in accordance with the provisions of this section.

If the chief operating officer is hired under contract, the contract shall be available for public inspection in the office of the municipal clerk.

(2) An extended term of the office of chief operating officer shall terminate early upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of Community Affairs to end the rehabilitation term for a qualified municipality and to commence the economic recovery term.

d. Subject to the approval of the State Treasurer, the salary, benefits and costs of the chief operating officer shall be fixed by the board and adjusted from time to time as the board deems appropriate. The salary level and benefits shall be comparable to that of the director of any public authority or agency with jurisdiction in the qualified municipality. The salary, benefits, and costs of the chief operating officer shall be an expense of the State and paid through the Department of the Treasury.

L.2002, c.43, s.7; amended 2002, c.108, s.6; 2007, c.176, s.3; 2009, c.337, s.3.