40:41A-86 - Separation of powers - New Jersey Statutes

40:41A-86.  Separation of powers    In any county that shall have adopted a charter under this act, the board of  chosen freeholders shall deal with county employees only through the officials  responsible for the over-all executive management of the county's affairs as  designated in articles 3 through 6 of this act--i.e., through the county  executive, the county manager, the county supervisor, and the board president,  respectively.  All contact with county employees, all actions and communications concerning the administration of the county's government and provision of services, shall be through the aforementioned officials, except as  otherwise provided in this act.

    Nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit the board's inquiry into  any act or problem of the county's administration.  Any freeholder may require  a report on any aspect of the government of the county at any time by making a  written request to the head of the executive branch of county government.  The  board may, be majority vote of the whole number of its members, require the  head of the executive branch to appear before the board sitting as a committee  of the whole, and to bring before the board such records and reports, and such  officials and employees of the county as the board shall deem necessary to  insure clarification of the matter under study.

    The board further may, by majority vote of the whole number of its members,  delegate any number of its members as an ad hoc committee to consult with the  head of the executive branch to study any matter and to report to the board  thereon.

    It is the intent of this act to confer on the board general legislative and  such investigative powers as are germane to the exercise of its legislative  powers, but to retain in the head of the executive branch full control over the  county administration and over the administration of county services provided  for in this act.

     L.1972, c. 154, s. 86, eff. Sept. 19, 1972.