N.J. Stat. tit. 40, ch. 82

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 40:82-1 Municipal manager; appointment; salary

The municipal council shall as soon as possible after its organization appoint, by a vote of a majority of all its members, a municipal manager at such salary and under such conditions as the municipal council by a majority vote may decide.

N.J. Stat. § 40:82-2 Qualifications

The municipal manager shall be a person, other than a member of the municipal council, fully qualified to exercise the powers and perform the duties hereinafter set forth. He need not be a resident of the municipality at the time of his appointment but shall become a resident thereof within 3 months after appointment and continue a resident throughout his period of service; provided, however, the municipal manager may reside outside of the municipality with the approval of the municipal council. Amended by L.1947, c. 218, p. 879, s. 1, eff. July 4, 1947; L.1982, c. 69, s. 1, eff. July 13, 1982.

N.J. Stat. § 40:82-3 Term of office; removal

a. The municipal manager shall hold office as long as he shall perform the duties of his office to the satisfaction of the municipal council. During the first 3 consecutive calendar years of his employment he may be removed for or without cause and after said 3-year period of employment he may be removed only for cause, after hearing, by a resolution signed by one more than a majority of all the members of the municipal council setting forth the reasons for such removal. b. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section, any municipal manager appointed on or after the effective date of this act shall hold office for an indefinite term and may be removed by a majority vote of the council as hereinafter provided. To effect the removal of a municipal manager a preliminary resolution stating the reasons for its removal action shall be adopted by a majority vote of the council members. The manager may reply in writing to the resolution and may request a public hearing on the matter of his removal, which shall be held not earlier than 20 days and not later than 30 days after the filing of the request. After the public hearing, if one be requested, and after full consideration, but not later than 60 days after the adoption of the preliminary resolution of removal, the council by a majority vote of its members may adopt a final resolution of removal, and that removal shall take effect immediately. Upon the adoption of a preliminary resolution of removal, the council may suspend a manager from duty, and shall pay the manager his full salary during his suspension and, if a final resolution of removal is adopted, for the next 3 calendar months following the adoption of the preliminary resolution of removal, unless the removal is for good cause. For the purposes of this section "good cause" shall mean conviction of a crime or offense involving moral turpitude, the violation of the provisions of section 40:83-2, 40:83-3 or 40:83-4 of the Revised Statutes, or the violation of any code of ethics in effect within the municipality. Amended by L.1948, c. 202, p. 1001, s. 1, eff. July 2, 1948; L.1981, c. 466, s. 1, eff. Jan. 9, 1982.

N.J. Stat. § 40:82-4 Duties of municipal manager

The municipal manager shall: a. Be the chief executive and administrative official of the municipality; b. Compile and submit to the municipal council the tentative annual budget which, in municipalities that operate on a calendar fiscal year, shall be submitted to the municipal council on or before February 28; c. Execute all laws and ordinances of the municipality; d. Appoint and remove all department heads and all other officers, subordinates, and assistants for whose selection or removal no other method is provided in this subtitle, supervise and control his appointees, and report all appointments or removals at the next meeting thereafter of the municipal council; e. Negotiate contracts for the municipality subject to the approval of the municipal council, make recommendations concerning the nature and location of municipal improvements, and execute municipal improvements as determined by the municipal council; f. See that all terms and conditions imposed in favor of the municipality or its inhabitants in any statute, public utility franchise, or other contract are faithfully kept and performed and, upon knowledge of any violation, call the same to the attention of the municipal council; g. Attend all meetings of the municipal council with the right to take part in the discussions, but without the right to vote; h. Recommend to the municipal council for adoption such measures as he may deem necessary or expedient, make reports to the council as requested by it, and, at least once a year, make an annual report of his work for the benefit of the council and the public; i. Investigate at any time the affairs of any officer or department of the municipality; j. Perform such other duties as may be required of the municipal manager by ordinance or resolution of the municipal council. The municipal manager shall in all matters act under the direction and supervision and subject to the approval of the municipal council. Amended 2025, c.185, s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 40:82-5 Power of appointment

In any act or ordinance a provision conferring the power of appointment or other power upon the mayor or other executive head of the municipality shall be construed as meaning the municipal manager in a municipality governed under this subtitle, and the appointments or the power exercised by the municipal manager in accordance with such provision shall be classified and given the same force and effect as if executed by the official named therein, except that members of the board of education and of the trustees of the public library, whenever required to be appointed by any such provision by any board or official of the municipality, shall be appointed under this subtitle by the mayor.

N.J. Stat. § 40:82-6 Council to appoint person to act during manager's absence

During the absence or disability of the municipal manager a properly qualified person shall be appointed by the municipal council to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the office.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026