Welcome AEA Authority Commissioners! 

This page contains information and news of interest to you as policy makers for authorities. Please check this page frequently and let us know if you like what you see and also advise us on topics of interest to you.

**Updated November 20, 2008**  

News

DEP's Guidebook for Local Government Officials (posted 4/9/08)

The guide is designed to help you understand the programs and services of the DEP. The programs listed are organized by operational divisions within the department. Each has contact information, links to their program, a general description of its operational responsibilities and any permitting responsibilities or financial assistance it can provide. If you have any questions about the Guidebook, DEP services, or to order copies, please call the DEP Office of Local Government Assistance at (609) 633-7700.

http://nj.gov/dep/localgov/guidebook.html

Commissioners' Handbook CD Available
The handbook CD has been distributed to all authorities. Commissioners should contact your executive director and request a CD or a hard copy of the handbook. Please use the CD as a resource. Many new articles have been included for your information and there is a section for each authority to add information pertinent to their operation. Click here to view the table of contents. (pdf)

Past Recipients

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  Do I still continue my role on the authority board if my term has expired?
A: Yes. The authorities’ laws specify that members remain on the board until their replacement is named.

Q:  Can the mayor serve as an authority Board member?
A: The authority's law says that being an elected official or employee of a local government unit does not disqualify a person from serving on the authority board. 
 
Recently this issue has been raised with regard to a bill introduced in the legislature that proposes that mayors serve as ex officio members of authority boards.  AEA feels that this is not necessary because the mayor wishing to serve on the board can be appointed by the governing body to one of the seats on the board.  Adding an ex officio member complicates the quorum requirements when conducting authority business. 

Another issue to consider is whether the mayor will attend regularly and stay current on projects and issues that the authority is addressing.  For this reason the law now allows the public official who wishes to take on this responsibility the opportunity to be appointed on a full time basis.

Q: What are my duties as an authority commissioner?
A: A commissioner is appointed to represent your community and to be thinkers. To maintain clean water, air and land while delivering services to citizens. The economic issue of keeping rates reasonable is the other part of the challenge.

Q: How are Authorities governed?
A: The Board of Commissioners oversees the budget, approves expenditures and appoints consultants. It makes controversial decisions on the siting of facilities, choice of designs and management options. It sets user rates and moderates capacity usage for local zoning boards.

Q: What legal requirements must I fulfill?
A: Actions may only be taken and motions and resolutions adopted by the sewerage authority at any meeting of members thereof by vote of a majority of the members present, unless in any case the bylaws of the sewerage authority shall require a larger number.

Each Member of a sewerage authority shall hold office for the term for which he or she was appointed and until a successor has been appointed and has qualified.

No member, officer or employee of a sewerage authority shall have or acquire any interest, direct or indirect, in the sewerage system or in any contract or proposed contract for materials or  services to be furnished to or used by the sewerage authority.

A member of a sewerage authority may be removed only by the governing body by which he was appointed and only for inefficiency or neglect of duty or misconduct in office and after he shall have been given a copy of the charges against him and, not sooner then ten days thereafter, had opportunity in person or by counsel to be heard thereon by such governing body.

A sewerage authority may reimburse its members for necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties.

Every sewerage authority, upon the first appointment of its members and thereafter on or after the first day of February in each year, shall annually elect among its members a chairman and a vice-chairman who shall hold office until the first day or February next ensuing and until their respective successors have been appointed and qualified.

Q: What do I need to know about the authority budget?
A: The budget submission date is established pursuant to N.J.A.C.5:31-2.3 and requires that each authority submit copies of the annual budget to the director of local Government services at least 60 days prior to the end of the fiscal year.
It is important that commissioners be conversant with all the programs funded by the budget being presented for their approval. The authority is required to hold a public hearing on the budget prior to approval.

Q: When does AEA hold member meetings?
A: The AEA posts meetings and conferences on their webpage on the main page and under the calendar page. You can check either of these for upcoming events.

Q: What services does AEA provide to authority members?
A: The services and benefits the AEA provide are explained on our Members Page.

Q: Where can I find a list of AEA members?
A: You can find everyone listed under our Member Directory

For more background information please click on the AEA News section of this website, there we have past newsletter articles for your convenience. If you are not receiving an AEA Newsletter The Authority View, please contact us by email with your name and address and we will be happy to send one to you directly.