INTRO TO MUNICIPAL CLERK EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Forms of Municipalities - ANSWER--Special Charters
-Commission
-Municipal Manager
-Optional Municipal Charter (Faulkner Act)
What are form of government do most Municipalities use? - ANSWER-Optional
Municipal Charter (Faulkner Act)
4 parts to the Faulkner Act - ANSWER--Mayor Council
-Council-Manager Plan
-Small Municipalities Plan
-Mayor-Council-Administrator Plan
Mayor-Council - ANSWER-"strong Mayor" form on government. Rather than
appointed, unelected individual, this form of government has its Chief Executive
directly elected, separate and apart from the governing body
Council-Manager Plan - ANSWER-Council is elected policymaker and appoints the
Manager who acts a Chief Executive and Admin officer for Municipality. Manager
serves at the pleasure of governing body, While other municipal officials have
statutory responsibilities and obligations. Manager serves as the decision maker with
respect to day-to-day operations of the Municipality
Small Municipalities Plan - ANSWER-Only available to municipalities with a pop of
less that 12,000 - it is a hybrid of the borough form and the township form of
government organization
Mayor-Council-Administrator Plan - ANSWER-Council exercises the legislative
power, the Mayor exercises the Executive power, and the appointed Municipal
Administrator supervised the administration.
What powers do municipalities have? - ANSWER--Organize and Regulate its internal
affairs
-adopt & enforce policy ordinances and impose penalties
-sue and be sured; contract and be contracted with; appropriate and expend
moneys; adopt, amend and repeal ordinances and resolutions as may be required
-exercise powers of taxation, borrowing and condemnation
What are the Types of School Districts - ANSWER--Type 1
-Type 2
County Executive Plan - ANSWER-Elected Freeholder Board, Elected County
Executive supervising an appointed County Administrator
, County Manager Plan - ANSWER-Elected Freeholder Board, appointed County
Manager
County Supervisor Plan - ANSWER-Elected Freeholder Board, appointed County
Administrator supervised by elected County Supervisor
Board President Plan - ANSWER-Elected Freeholder Board, appointment County
Administrator supervised by president of Freeholder Board
Type 1 School District - ANSWER-Board of Education are appointed by Mayor;
school tax levy is determined by Board of Education and approved by the Board of
Estimates; school debt is the debt of the municipality
Board of Estimates - ANSWER-consists of Mayor, 2 members of the School Board,
and 3 members of the Governing Body
Type 2 School District - ANSWER-members of the Board of Ed are elected by
voters; school tax levy is submitted to voters for approval (goes to Governing body if
defeated); school debt is the responsibility of the school district not municipality
Regional School Districts - ANSWER-Usually Type 2; 2 or more municipalities send
students to 1 school
-representation on the Board of Ed is determined by the population of each
municipality; Board of Ed is elected and tax levy is approved by voters
What is a School Districts source of revenue? - ANSWER-property taxes, state aid
and federal aid
Local Budget Law - ANSWER-N.J.S.A. 40A:2
Local Bond Law - ANSWER-N.J.S.A. 40A:2
Municipal Land Use Law - ANSWER-N.J.S.A. 40:55D
Non-Partisan Elections 9/14/15 - ANSWER-N.J.S.A. 40:45
Open Public Meeting Acts - ANSWER-N.J.S.A. 10:4-6
Public Records 10/31/04 - ANSWER-N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1
Reorganization Meetings - ANSWER-N.J.S.A. 40:45A-1
What are examples of Special Districts - ANSWER-Garbage, Fire Protection, and
Street Lighting
T/F- You must hold a RMC to be appointed to the position of Municipal Clerk -
ANSWER-True
What is the term for Municipal Clerk? - ANSWER-3 years
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Forms of Municipalities - ANSWER--Special Charters
-Commission
-Municipal Manager
-Optional Municipal Charter (Faulkner Act)
What are form of government do most Municipalities use? - ANSWER-Optional
Municipal Charter (Faulkner Act)
4 parts to the Faulkner Act - ANSWER--Mayor Council
-Council-Manager Plan
-Small Municipalities Plan
-Mayor-Council-Administrator Plan
Mayor-Council - ANSWER-"strong Mayor" form on government. Rather than
appointed, unelected individual, this form of government has its Chief Executive
directly elected, separate and apart from the governing body
Council-Manager Plan - ANSWER-Council is elected policymaker and appoints the
Manager who acts a Chief Executive and Admin officer for Municipality. Manager
serves at the pleasure of governing body, While other municipal officials have
statutory responsibilities and obligations. Manager serves as the decision maker with
respect to day-to-day operations of the Municipality
Small Municipalities Plan - ANSWER-Only available to municipalities with a pop of
less that 12,000 - it is a hybrid of the borough form and the township form of
government organization
Mayor-Council-Administrator Plan - ANSWER-Council exercises the legislative
power, the Mayor exercises the Executive power, and the appointed Municipal
Administrator supervised the administration.
What powers do municipalities have? - ANSWER--Organize and Regulate its internal
affairs
-adopt & enforce policy ordinances and impose penalties
-sue and be sured; contract and be contracted with; appropriate and expend
moneys; adopt, amend and repeal ordinances and resolutions as may be required
-exercise powers of taxation, borrowing and condemnation
What are the Types of School Districts - ANSWER--Type 1
-Type 2
County Executive Plan - ANSWER-Elected Freeholder Board, Elected County
Executive supervising an appointed County Administrator
, County Manager Plan - ANSWER-Elected Freeholder Board, appointed County
Manager
County Supervisor Plan - ANSWER-Elected Freeholder Board, appointed County
Administrator supervised by elected County Supervisor
Board President Plan - ANSWER-Elected Freeholder Board, appointment County
Administrator supervised by president of Freeholder Board
Type 1 School District - ANSWER-Board of Education are appointed by Mayor;
school tax levy is determined by Board of Education and approved by the Board of
Estimates; school debt is the debt of the municipality
Board of Estimates - ANSWER-consists of Mayor, 2 members of the School Board,
and 3 members of the Governing Body
Type 2 School District - ANSWER-members of the Board of Ed are elected by
voters; school tax levy is submitted to voters for approval (goes to Governing body if
defeated); school debt is the responsibility of the school district not municipality
Regional School Districts - ANSWER-Usually Type 2; 2 or more municipalities send
students to 1 school
-representation on the Board of Ed is determined by the population of each
municipality; Board of Ed is elected and tax levy is approved by voters
What is a School Districts source of revenue? - ANSWER-property taxes, state aid
and federal aid
Local Budget Law - ANSWER-N.J.S.A. 40A:2
Local Bond Law - ANSWER-N.J.S.A. 40A:2
Municipal Land Use Law - ANSWER-N.J.S.A. 40:55D
Non-Partisan Elections 9/14/15 - ANSWER-N.J.S.A. 40:45
Open Public Meeting Acts - ANSWER-N.J.S.A. 10:4-6
Public Records 10/31/04 - ANSWER-N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1
Reorganization Meetings - ANSWER-N.J.S.A. 40:45A-1
What are examples of Special Districts - ANSWER-Garbage, Fire Protection, and
Street Lighting
T/F- You must hold a RMC to be appointed to the position of Municipal Clerk -
ANSWER-True
What is the term for Municipal Clerk? - ANSWER-3 years
