reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-1 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-1 - Election on question whether charter commission shall be elected

40:69A-1. Election on question whether charter commission shall be elected  (a) Whenever authorized by ordinance of the governing body or upon petition of the registered voters of any municipality, an election shall be held in the municipality upon the question: "Shall a charter commission be elected to study the charter of and to consider a new charter or improvements in the present charter and to make recommendations thereon?" The petition calling for such election shall be in the form required by subsection (b) hereof and shall be signed by the following per centum of registered voters of the municipality: 25% in municipalities of 7,000 or less inhabitants; 20% in municipalities of more than 7,000 and less than 70,000 inhabitants; 10% in municipalities of 70,000 or more inhabitants. In either event, the municipal clerk shall provide for the submission of the question and for the election of a charter commission at the next general or regular municipal election, occurring not less than 75 days after the passage of the ordinance or the filing of the petition with the clerk. At the election the question above stated shall be submitted as other public questions are submitted to the voters of a single municipality. (b) A petition under this section shall conform to the requirements of form for petitions under sections 17-37 through 17-39 hereof (except that there shall be no reference therein to any ordinance) and shall be subject to examination, certification and amendment as therein provided. L.1950, c. 210, p. 460, s. 1-1. Amended by L.1953, c. 254, p. 1741, s. 1; L.1954, c. 69, p. 423, s. 1, eff. June 24, 1954.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-2 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-2 - Election of charter commission members at same time public question is submitted

40:69A-2. Election of charter commission members at same time public question is submitted  A charter commission of five members shall be elected by the qualified voters at the same time as the public question is submitted. Duly nominated candidates for the office of charter commissioner shall be placed upon the ballot containing the public question in the same manner as is provided by law for candidates nominated by petition for other offices elective by the people of a single municipality, except that they shall be listed without any designation or slogan. Each voter shall be instructed to vote on the question and, regardless of the manner of his vote on the question, to vote for five members of a charter commission who shall serve if the question is determined in the affirmative. L.1950, c. 210, p. 461, s. 1-2, eff. June 8, 1950.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-3 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-3 - Candidates for charter commission

40:69A-3. Candidates for charter commission  Candidates for the charter commission shall be registered voters of the municipality. They may be nominated by petition signed by at least 3% or 100, whichever is the lesser number, but at no time shall such number be less than 10, of the registered voters of the municipality, and filed with the municipal clerk not less than 60 days prior to the date of the election. (a) Each nominating petition shall set forth the names, places of residence, and post-office addresses of the candidate or candidates thereby nominated, that the nomination is for the office of charter commissioner and that the petitioners are legally qualified to vote for such candidate or candidates. Every voter signing a nominating petition shall add to his signature, his place of residence, post-office address and street number, if any. No voter shall sign a petition or petitions for more than five candidates. (b) Each nominating petition shall, before it may be filed with the municipal clerk, contain an acceptance of such nomination in writing, signed by the candidate or candidates therein nominated, upon or annexed to such petition, or if the same person or persons be named in more than one petition, upon or annexed to one of such petitions. Such acceptance shall certify that the candidate is a registered voter of the municipality, that the nominee consents to stand as a candidate at the election and that if elected he agrees to take office and serve. (c) Each nominating petition shall be verified by an oath or affirmation of one or more of the signers thereof, taken and subscribed before a person qualified under the laws of New Jersey to administer an oath, to the effect that the petition was signed by each of the signers thereof in his proper handwriting, that the signers are, to the best knowledge and belief of the affiant, registered voters of the municipality, and that the petition is prepared and filed in good faith for the sole purpose of endorsing the person or persons named therein for election as stated in the petition. L.1950, c. 210, p. 461, s. 1-3, eff. June 8, 1950. Amended by L.1975, c. 372, s. 1, eff. March 3, 1976.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-4 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-4 - Canvass of election

40:69A-4. Canvass of election  The result of the votes cast for and against the adoption of the public question shall be returned by the election officers, and a canvass of such election had, as is provided by law in the case of other public questions put to the voters of a single municipality. The votes cast for members of the charter commission shall be counted, and the result thereof returned by the election officers, and a canvass of such election had as is provided by law in the case of the election of members of the local governing body. The five candidates receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected and shall constitute the charter commission, provided that if a majority of those voting on the public question shall vote against the election of a charter commission, none of the candidates shall be elected. If two or more candidates shall be equal and greatest in votes they shall draw lots to determine which one shall be elected. L.1950, c. 210, p. 462, s. 1-4, eff. June 8, 1950.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-5 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-5 - Organization of charter commission; quorum; majority required for effective recommendations

40:69A-5. Organization of charter commission; quorum; majority required for effective recommendations  As soon as possible and in any event no later than fifteen days after its election, the charter commission shall organize and hold its first meeting and elect one of its members as chairman, fix its hours and place of meeting, and adopt such rules for the conduct of its business as it may deem necessary and advisable. A majority of the members of said commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business but no recommendation of said commission shall have any legal effect pursuant to sections 1-15 and 1-16 of this act unless adopted by a majority of the whole number of the members of the commission. L.1950, c. 210, p. 462, s. 1-5, eff. June 8, 1950.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-6 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-6 - Vacancies in charter commission

40:69A-6. Vacancies in charter commission  In case of any vacancy in the charter commission, the remaining members of such commission shall fill it by appointing thereto some other properly qualified citizen. L.1950, c. 210, p. 463, s. 1-6, eff. June 8, 1950.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-7 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-7 - Duties of charter commission

40:69A-7. Duties of charter commission  It shall be the function and duty of the charter commission to study the form of government of the municipality, to compare it with other available forms under the laws of this State, to determine whether or not in its judgment the government of the municipality could be strengthened, made more clearly responsive or accountable to the people or whether its operation could be more economical or efficient, under a changed form of government. L.1950, c. 210, p. 463, s. 1-7, eff. June 8, 1950.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-8 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-8 - No compensation; expenses of commission members; consultants and assistants

40:69A-8. No compensation; expenses of commission members; consultants and assistants  Members of the charter commission shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed by the municipality for their necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Within the limits of such appropriations and privately contributed funds and services as shall be made available to it, the charter commission may appoint one or more consultants and clerical and other assistants to serve at the pleasure of the commission and may fix a reasonable compensation to be paid such consultants and clerical and other assistants. L.1950, c. 210, p. 463, s. 1-8, eff. June 8, 1950.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-9 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-9 - Hearings; public forums

40:69A-9. Hearings; public forums  The charter commission shall hold public hearings, may hold private hearings and sponsor public forums and generally shall provide for the widest possible public information and discussion respecting the purposes and progress of its work. L.1950, c. 210, p. 463, s. 1-9, eff. June 8, 1950.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-10 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-10 - Report of charter commission; copies

40:69A-10. Report of charter commission; copies  The charter commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the citizens of the municipality in accordance with section 1-7 within 9 calendar months from the date of its election. For this purpose it shall file with the municipal clerk an original signed copy of any final report containing said findings and recommendations made by any member of the commission. It shall also deliver to the municipal clerk sufficient copies of any such report to permit distribution to any interested citizen. The municipal clerk shall deliver a copy of any such report to each member of the governing body. If the charter commission, or any member or members thereof shall recommend the adoption of any of the optional plans of government as authorized in section 1-12(a) or 1-13, such report shall contain the complete plan as recommended. L.1950, c. 210, p. 463, s. 1-10. Amended by L.1953, c. 254, p. 1742, s. 2; L.1960, c. 88, p. 571, s. 1, eff. July 5, 1960.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-11 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-11 - Discharge of charter commission; change of recommendation; amended report

40:69A-11. Discharge of charter commission; change of recommendation; amended report  (a) The charter commission shall be discharged upon the filing of its report; provided, that if the commission's recommendations require further procedure on the part of the governing body or the people of the municipality pursuant to section 1-15 or 1-16 of this act, the commission shall not be discharged until the procedure required under those sections has been finally concluded. (b) Any charter commission which has not been discharged pursuant to subsection (a) above may, any time before the procedure required under section 1-15 or 1-16 of this act has not been finally concluded, but not later than one year from the date of the publication of its final report pursuant to section 1-10 of this act, modify or change any recommendation set forth in said final report by publishing an amended report in accordance with the provision of section 1-10 hereof. (c) Whenever a charter commission issues an amended report pursuant to subsection (b) above, such amended report shall supersede the final report and such final report shall cease to have any legal effect under this act. (d) The procedure to be taken under the amended report shall be governed by all provisions of article 1 of this act applicable to the final report of a charter commission submitted pursuant to section 1-10 of this act. L.1950, c. 210, p. 464, s. 1-11. Amended by L.1953, c. 254, p. 1742, s. 3, eff. July 20, 1953.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-12 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-12 - Report and recommendations

40:69A-12. Report and recommendations  1-12. The charter commission may report and recommend: (a) That a referendum shall be held to submit to the qualified voters of the municipality the question of adopting one of the plans of government authorized in this act, and such of the alternative provisions as permitted thereunder, to be specified by the commission; or  (b) That the governing body shall petition the Legislature for the enactment of a special charter or for one or more specific amendments of or to the charter of the municipality, the text of which shall be appended to the charter commission's report pursuant to Article IV, Section VII, Paragraph 10, of the Constitution of 1947 and to the enabling legislation enacted thereunder to the extent that such legislation is not inconsistent herewith; or  (c) That the form of government of the municipality shall remain unchanged; or  (d) That the charter of the municipality adopted under P.L.1950, c.210 (C.40:69A-1 et seq.) be amended to adopt one of the alternative provisions authorized under the current plan of government of the municipality, in which case a referendum shall be held to submit the question to the qualified voters of the municipality in the same manner as required for an ordinance adopted to that effect pursuant to sections 7 through 11 of P.L.1981, c.465 (40:69A-25.1 through 40:69A-25.5) and sections 17-42 through 17-47 of P.L.1950, c.210 (C.40:69A-191 through 40:69A-196); or  (e) Such other action as it may deem advisable consistent with its functions as set forth in section 1-7 of this article.  L.1950,c.210,s.1-12; amended 1953,c.254,s.4; 1981,c.465,s.1; 1991,c.430,s.1.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-13 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-13 - Number of council members and wards; recommendations

40:69A-13. Number of council members and wards; recommendations  (a) If the charter commission shall recommend the adoption of the mayor-council plan of government or the council-manager plan of government, it may also specify that the municipal council shall consist of seven or nine members instead of five members as provided therein; or if the charter commission shall recommend the adoption of the small municipality plan of government, it may also specify that the council shall consist of five or seven members instead of three members as provided therein. (b) If the charter commission shall recommend the adoption of the mayor-council plan of government or the council-manager plan of government it may further specify that the municipality shall be divided into two, three, four, five or six wards within the limitations hereinafter provided: (1) Where the council is to consist of five members, the municipality may be divided into two or three wards; (2) Where the charter commission specifies that the council shall consist of seven members, the municipality shall be divided into four wards; and (3) Where the charter commission specifies that the council shall consist of nine members, the municipality shall be divided into five or six wards. L.1950, c. 210, p. 465, s. 1-13. Amended by L.1953, c. 254, p. 1743, s. 5, eff. July 20, 1953; L.1973, c. 234, s. 1, eff. Oct. 24, 1973; L.1981, c. 465, s. 2, eff. Jan. 9, 1982.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-14 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-14 - Form of question submitted to voters

40:69A-14. Form of question submitted to voters  1-14. The question to be submitted to the voters for the adoption of any of the optional plans of government authorized by this act, including any of the alternatives contained in this act, shall be submitted in the following form or such part thereof as shall be applicable:  "Shall ......(insert name of plan)...... of the Optional Municipal Charter Law, providing for (a division of the municipality into ......(insert number)...... wards, with ......(insert number)...... council members (one to be elected from each ward and ...(insert number)... to be elected at large) for ......(insert "concurrent" or "staggered" terms ......) ......at elections held in ...(insert May or November)... , with the mayor elected ......(insert "directly by the voters" or "by the council from among its members") ......, (insert, if appropriate) with run-off elections to be held thereafter if a sufficient number of candidates fail to attain a majority of votes, be adopted by ...(insert name of municipality)... ?".  L.1950,c.210,s.1-14; amended 1953,c.254,s.6; 1973,c.234,s.2; 1981,c.465,s.3; 1989,c.221,s.1; 1991,c.430,s.2.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-15 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-15 - Ballots; submission of question of adoption of optional plan of government

40:69A-15. Ballots; submission of question of adoption of optional plan of government  If the charter commission shall recommend that the question of adopting one of the optional plans of government authorized by this act shall be submitted to the voters of the municipality, it shall be the duty of the municipal clerk to cause the question of adoption or rejection to be placed upon the ballot at such time as the commission shall in its report specify. The commission may cause the question to be submitted to the people at the next general or regular municipal election, occurring not less than 60 days following the filing of a copy of the commission's report with the clerk, or at a special election occurring not less than 60 days or more than 120 days after the filing of the report, at such time as the commission's report shall direct. At such election the question of adopting that plan of government recommended by the charter commission shall be submitted to the voters of the municipality in the same manner as other public questions to be voted upon by the voters of a single municipality. The charter commission shall frame the question to be placed upon the ballot as provided in section 1-14 and, if it deems appropriate, an interpretative statement to accompany such question. L.1950, c. 210, p. 466, s. 1-15. Amended by L.1953, c. 254, p. 1745, s. 7, eff. July 20, 1953; L.1981, c. 465, s. 4, eff. Jan. 9, 1982.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-16 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-16 - Special charter or specific amendments of charters; petition to legislature

40:69A-16. Special charter or specific amendments of charters; petition to legislature  If the charter commission shall propose a special charter or specific amendment or amendments of or to the existing charter of the municipality, it shall be the duty of the governing body of the municipality to forthwith petition the Legislature for a special law or laws, pursuant to the Constitution of 1947 and in the manner provided by general enabling legislation thereunder, to carry out the recommendations of the charter commission. L.1950, c. 210, p. 466, s. 1-16, eff. June 8, 1950.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-17 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-17 - Other proceedings pending; no new resolution or petition within 4 years

40:69A-17. Other proceedings pending; no new resolution or petition within 4 years  No ordinance may be passed and no petition may be filed for the election of a charter commission pursuant to section 1-1 of this act while proceedings are pending under any other petition or ordinance filed or passed under article 1 of this act, or while proceedings are pending pursuant to section 1-18 hereof or any other statute providing for the adoption of any other charter or form of government available to the municipality, nor within four years after an election shall have been held pursuant to any such ordinance or petition passed or filed pursuant to section 1-1 hereof. L.1950, c. 210, p. 467, s. 1-17. Amended by L.1953, c. 254, p. 1745, s. 8, eff. July 20, 1953.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-18 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-18 - Adoption of optional plan without charter commission

40:69A-18. Adoption of optional plan without charter commission  The legally qualified voters of any municipality may adopt any of the optional plans provided in this act upon petition and referendum, without a charter commission, hereinafter provided. L.1950, c. 210, p. 467, s. 1-18. Amended by L.1953, c. 254, p. 1746, s. 9, eff. July 20, 1953; L.1973, c. 234, s. 3, eff. Oct. 24, 1973; L.1981, c. 465, s. 5, eff. Jan. 9, 1982.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-19 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-19 - Petition for election upon adoption of optional plan of government

40:69A-19. Petition for election upon adoption of optional plan of government  Upon petition of the registered voters of any municipality, an election shall be held in the municipality upon the question of adopting any of the optional plans of government provided in this act. The petition calling for such election shall be subject to the provisions of section 1-1(b) hereof and shall be signed by the following per centum of registered voters of the municipality: (a) 25% in municipalities of 7,000 or less inhabitants; (b) 20% in municipalities of more than 7,000 and less than 70,000 inhabitants; (c) 10% in municipalities of 70,000 or more inhabitants. The petition shall designate the plan to be voted upon, which may include any of the alternatives provided in this act and the question to be placed upon the ballot shall be in the same form as is required by section 1-14 of this article. L.1950, c. 210, p. 467, s. 1-19. Amended by L.1953, c. 254, p. 1746, s. 10; L.1954, c. 69, p. 424, s. 2, eff. June 24, 1954; L.1981, c. 465, s. 6, eff. Jan. 9, 1982.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-20 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-20 - Submission of question

40:69A-20. Submission of question  The municipal clerk shall provide for the submission of the question at the next general or regular municipal election if one is to be held not less than sixty days nor more than one hundred twenty days after the filing of the petition, and if a general or regular municipal election is not to be held within that time, at a special election within such time. The question of adoption of an optional plan of government shall be submitted to the voters of the municipality in the same manner as other public questions to be voted upon by the voters of a single municipality. L.1950, c. 210, p. 468, s. 1-20, eff. June 8, 1950.
NJ Rev Stat § 40:69A-21 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 40 - Municipalities and Counties|Section 40:69A-21 - Other proceedings pending; no new petition within 4 years

40:69A-21. Other proceedings pending; no new petition within 4 years  No petition for submission of the question of adopting an optional plan of government pursuant to section 1-18 et seq. of this act may be filed while proceedings are pending pursuant to another such petition, or under an ordinance passed or petition filed pursuant to section 1-1 of this act, or while proceedings are pending pursuant to any other statute for the adoption of any other charter or form of government available to the municipality, nor within four years after an election shall have been held pursuant to any such petition filed pursuant to section 1-18 et seq. of this act. L.1950, c. 210, p. 468, s. 1-21. Amended by L.1953, c. 254, p. 1746, s. 11, eff. July 20, 1953.