Teaneck, New Jersey

Teaneck is a township located in Bergen County, New Jersey, and is a suburb of New York City. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 39,260.

Government

At its founding in 1895, Teaneck used the traditional Township form of government, led by a three-man Township Committee (later expanded to five seats) elected on a partisan basis. On September 16 1930, Teaneck residents voted to establish a nonpartisan Council-Manager form of government under the terms of the 1923 Municipal Manager Law, with five members elected concurrently on an at-large basis. In 1962, the Council was expanded to its current size of seven members and the position of Deputy Mayor was created. In 1987, a referendum to alter the form was approved as provided by the Faulkner Act, creating staggered terms for the Council. With this change, Council elections now take place every two years on the second Tuesday in May. Seven members serve staggered, four-year terms which expire in even numbered years as follows: four will expire in 2006, three will expire in 2008, etc. Members are elected to the Council at large.

Related Topics:
Township - September 16 - 1930 - 1923 Municipal Manager Law - 1987 - Faulkner Act

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Township Council

The Council so elected is Teaneck's governing body. It sets policies and standards and passes laws, known as ordinances. It adopts an annual budget and approves contracts and agreements for services. The Council appoints the Manager, Clerk, Auditor, Attorney, Magistrate and Assessor. The Council also appoints seven members of the Planning Board, the members of the Redevelopment Agency, Board of Adjustment, and all other statutory and advisory boards.

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• Mayor: Jacqueline B. Kates (term as Councilmember ends in 2008; term as Mayor ends 2006)
• Deputy Mayor: Deborah Veach (term as Councilmember ends in 2008; term as Deputy Mayor ends 2006)
• Michael A. Gallucci (term as Councilmember ends in 2006)
• Monica Honis (term as Councilmember ends in 2008)
• Elie Y. Katz (term as Councilmember ends in 2006)
• Paul S. Ostrow (term as Councilmember ends in 2006)
• Emil "Yitz" Stern (term as Councilmember ends in 2006)

Organizational Meeting

On July 1st following a municipal election, the Township Council holds an Organizational Meeting at which time those individuals elected (or re-elected) to serve on the Council are sworn in and begin their terms of office. The Municipal Clerk presides over the meeting until a Mayor is elected. Following the election of the Mayor, a Deputy Mayor is elected who presides in the absence of the Mayor.

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Mayor

The Mayor, elected from among the Council members themselves, serves for two years. The Mayor presides over all meetings and votes on every issue as a regular member. The Mayor is a member of the Planning Board and the Library Board. The Mayor appoints the members of the Library Board, and one member of the Planning Board. The Mayor executes bonds, notes, contracts and written obligations of the Township and is empowered by State Law to perform marriages.

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Municipal Manager

The Municipal Manager, appointed to the position by the Council, is the Township's full-time professional chief executive officer. The duties include implementation of Council policies, enforcing ordinances and coordination of the activities of all departments and employees. The Manager makes recommendations to the Council on relevant matters, appoints and removes Township employees and investigates and acts on complaints. The Manager also appoints the Municipal Courts Prosecutor and Public Defender, members of the Rent Board and one member of the Teaneck Economic Development Corporation, and one member of the Civilian Complaint Review Board.

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Municipal Clerk

The Municipal Clerk is appointed by and serves as secretary to the Council. Responsibilities include preparing the agenda, keeping minutes, retaining original copies of ordinances, resolutions, contracts and other official documents, acting as a liaison to the public and correspondent on behalf of the Council. The Clerk supervises voter registration and elections, issues licenses for liquor, amusement games, towing, movie theaters and, taxi cabs, compliance certificates for limousines, and commercial parking decals. Copies of the Township Code, Development Regulations, the One-Hundred Year Book, Historic Landmark Guide, Township Street Map and Zoning Map may also be purchased in the Clerk's Office.

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Federal, state and county representation

Teaneck is part of New Jersey's 37th Legislative District and is in the Ninth Congressional District.

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