Township of Montclair

Montclair is a suburban township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 37,669. Montclair Township operates under the Optional Municipal Charter Law (OMCL) popularly known as the Faulkner Act. The OMCL provides for several forms of government. In 1980 the Township voted to adopt the “council-manager” plan. In the council-manager plan there is only one directly elected power center: the council. The manager, while chief executive and administrative officer of the municipality, is appointed by the council and can be suspended and removed by a majority vote of the council. The manager’s function is to carry out the will of the council. The council members in the council-manager plan serve a four-year term. The Mayor in the Council-Manager Plan is also considered to be a member of the council and is elected by the voters. The Mayor and council members all serve concurrent terms, with all terms expiring at the same time (except for vacancies). The power and function of the council in the council-manager plan is short and to the point: All powers of the municipality and the determination of all matters of policy shall be vested in the municipal council, except as otherwise provided by this act, or by general law. The council-manager plan is a legislative supremacy, and thus the setting of policy is the responsibility of the council alone.