A township in the context of New Jersey local government, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government. It is a political entity as any typical town or city, collecting property taxes and providing services such as maintaining roads, garbage collection, water, sewer, schools, police and fire protection. Historically, a variety of legislation has been passed by the state legislature that has defined and refined the township form of municipal government:
The Township Act of 1798 was the first state legislation to incorporate municipalities. The government defined was similar to the New England town meeting in which five freeholders were elected to one-year terms on the Township Committee. The purpose of the committee was to oversee the expenditure of revenue.
The Township Act of 1899 abolished the town meeting and strengthened the role of the Township Committee, which was initially set at three and amended to allow for expansion to five members. Members were elected for staggered terms.
The Home Rule Act of 1917 legally defined the term "municipality" and recognized five types of government: Borough, Township, City , Town , and Village . This granted each equal legal standing.
The Township Act of 1989 simplified the much-amended Act of 1899. It retains a three or five member township committee serving staggered terms, members are generally elected at-large. The committee elects a mayor from its members to serve a one-year term. Partisian elections are allowed under this law.
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Last updated: 08-03-2005 03:07:00
