In 1798 the Legislature of the State of New Jersey enacted the
Township Act of 1798, in an effort to bring more efficient government
to a young state. The act incorporated 104 Townships, and authorized
an elected group, referred to as the freeholders to form a committee
to oversee the expenditure of township funds between town meetings.
The Township Act was modified over 150 times between 1846 and 1899,
when in 1899 the Act abolished the town meeting form of government
and empowered the three elected members with legislative powers.
Later revisions to the act increased the number of committee members
to five, with elections scheduled so the three year terms were
staggered.
In 1989 the Township Act and it’s many amendments and revisions
were replaced with a much clearer and concise statute through
the coordinated efforts of the State Legislature and Governor
overseen by the State Commission on County and Municipal Government.
The Township Act of 1989 retained the basic structure of the township
form of government and provided for a mayor elected by the committee
from among its members for a one-year term of office. The Act
provides for an annual partisan election, with primaries in June
and the general election in November. The township form of government
is contained in NJSA 40A:63-1 et seq. (PL 1989, c 157; otherwise
known as the Township Act of 1989).
