40:43-66.42 Election of members of consolidation commission.
8. Members of a consolidation commission formed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection a. of section 7 of P.L.1977, c.435 (C.40:43-66.41) shall be elected by the qualified voters at the same time as the public question is submitted.
Duly nominated candidates for the office of commission member 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 elective offices 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 the voter's vote on the question, to vote for the elected members of a commission.
The five candidates for commission member receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected and shall constitute the commission members from the participating municipality in which they reside, provided that if a majority of those voting on the public question in any of the municipalities in which the question was submitted shall have voted against the formation of a commission, none of the candidates in any of the municipalities shall be elected. In the instance that the vote for commission members results in six or more candidates in any one participating municipality receiving sufficient votes to be elected, then those candidates receiving the least and equal number of votes shall draw lots to determine which shall be elected.
b. Members of a consolidation commission formed pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection a. of section 7 of P.L.1977, c.435 (C.40:43-66.41) shall be appointed by the governing body of the participating municipality.
Five members shall be appointed to the consolidation commission by the governing body of the participating municipality. The governing body shall appoint not more than one individual who holds a paid or volunteer position with the appointing municipality. Each member, except a member holding a paid or volunteer position with the appointing municipality, shall be a resident of the appointing municipality.
L.1977,c.435,s.8; amended 1999, c.58, s.2.