Borough Government
Tenafly was incorporated as a borough in January 1894 under an act of
the New Jersey Legislature. A municipality in New Jersey derives its
authority from the State Legislature under Title 40 of the Revised
Statutes, which mandates that municipalities enforce certain state
regulations in matters of finance, law enforcement, education, health
and welfare. However, state laws encourage "home rule" by permitting a
local government to enact ordinances suitable for its own needs if they
do not conflict with state or federal laws.
The Municipal Center, located at 100 Riveredge Road, is the seat of
Tenafly's government. It houses the various local government
administrative offices, the Police and Fire Departments, the Volunteer
Ambulance Corps, the Public Library, Youth Center, McCandless Rooms,
Mayor's Office, Council Chambers, Municipal Court, and meeting and
conference rooms. The Department of Public Works is located at 107
Grove Street. The Tenafly Senior Center is located at 20 South Summit
Street.
Municipal offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., excluding holidays. Since it became a Borough, Tenafly has been
governed by a Mayor and Council who are chosen through partisan
elections held in November annually. The Mayor is the chief executive
officer and the six Council members handle legislative functions. A
full-time Administrator assists the Mayor and Council and coordinates
the operations of government departments.
The Reorganization Meeting of the governing body is held on the first
Saturday in January. At this meeting, the newly-elected Council members
take the oath of office, and a Council President, who serves as Acting
Mayor when the Mayor is absent, is elected by the Council. Appointments
for the coming year are announced by the Mayor and confirmed by the
Council when required by law.
Regular Public Meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday of the
month. In July, August and December, the latter meeting is omitted.
The public is encouraged to attend, and comments from the audience are
part of the agenda and are listed on the agenda under "Audience Remarks
for Agenda Items" and "Audience Remarks for Non-Agenda Items." Work
Sessions of the Committee of the Whole, consisting of all Council
members, the Mayor, Borough Administrator and Borough Clerk, take place
on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. In July, August and
December, the latter meeting is omitted. Citizens are welcome to attend
work sessions to observe, but may not participate. At the start of
each work session, a total of 15 minutes is set aside to receive Public
Comments on any item of concern, whether or not it is listed on the
posted Agenda. The Council reserves the right to close work sessions
and public meetings in accordance with state law to discuss personnel or
legal matters.
The governing body focuses on two major areas of consideration at their
meetings, whether a work session or a public meeting, in addition to
other items that come to their attention. The first major area deals
with financial matters affecting the operation of the Borough,
specifically appropriating money and approving expenditures. The second
major area deals with the laws of the Borough of Tenafly, called
"ordinances". Potential ordinances are discussed at work sessions and
then introduced at a public meeting. It is the responsibility of the
Borough Clerk to publish the ordinance in the designated official
newspaper under "Public Notices". This alerts the public to the action
being considered by the governing body. It includes the date, time and
place of the public hearing at which the interested public can ask
questions and offer comments on the particular ordinance. Following the
public hearing and the adoption of any amendments to the ordinance, the
governing body then votes to adopt the ordinance and it becomes law.
Anyone wishing to have a matter considered by the Mayor and Council
should send a letter addressed to them, in care of the Borough Clerk, to
100 Riveredge Road, Tenafly, NJ 07670. The Borough Clerk schedules the
item on the work session agenda and distributes copies of the
correspondence to the governing body, the Borough Administrator, the
Borough Attorney and to the appropriate Borough departments to obtain
information necessary for the Council to make an informed decision.
When a decision is made, the Borough Clerk is directed to relate the
decision to the inquiring party.