§ 2.44.050. Qualifications—Appointment

A. Applications. The mayor and council shall, by resolution fix a time limit for filing of applications, and at the regular meeting following the expiration of the time so fixed, the names of all applicants shall be announced, and the clerk shall cause the list to be posted conspicuously in the municipal building with the notation above the names "list of applicants for appointment to police force."

B. Qualifications. No persons shall be appointed an officer or member of the police force of the borough unless:

1. The person is a citizen of the United States and is able to read and write and speak the English language well and intelligently;

2. Applicants for appointment to the police force shall be given preference in the following manner:

a. Borough residents,

b. Monmouth County residents,

c. State of New Jersey residents.

No nonresident of the borough shall be appointed pursuant to this chapter unless at the time of the appointment there shall be a vacancy in the police department that cannot be filled by a qualified resident of the borough;

3. The applicant is at least twenty-one (21) years of age and has not yet attained the age of thirty-five (35), subject to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 38:23a-2;

4. The applicant has successfully completed a four-year course in an accredited high school or the equivalent thereto in a private, vocational or other school, and shall have received a degree or diploma indicating that the applicant has graduated therefrom;

5. The applicant has been fingerprinted by an authorized agent of the borough and caused the same to be filed in the office of the police department;

6. The applicant shall meet all department of personnel qualifications and physical examinations, and be in good overall physical condition;

7. The applicant is of good moral character and shall have filed a duly verified application on forms furnished by the borough with all questions therein contained fully answered within the time fixed by the mayor and council, and shall have attached to such application a recommendation as to the applicant's character and integrity signed by two property owners or business persons of the borough and the following:

a. A certificate of the borough physician verifying the applicant's physical condition, including hearing and eyesight,

b. A photograph of the applicant two inches square,

c. An original or certified copy of birth certificate of the applicant or other satisfactory evidence of the date of birth.

C. Examining Body—Examination.

1. The mayor and council shall, by resolution, designate an examining body, agent or agents, person or persons, to conduct a competitive, oral, written and physical examination upon subjects determined by the examining body or agent or agents, person or persons, and all applicants who qualify and shall have filed applications for appointment pursuant to subsection B of this section and within the time fixed pursuant to subsection A of this section, shall be eligible to take the examination.

The mayor and members of council shall not participate in any phase of the competitive, oral, written or physical examination.

2. The mayor and council may, by resolution, designate the State Patrolman's Benevolent Association or any other examining body, person or persons, agent or agents, to conduct the competitive examinations set for the in this chapter and the examining body, agent or agents, person or persons shall examine the eligible applicant or applicants on the basis of a minimum passing grade to be determined by the examining body, agent or agents or person or persons.

D. Eligibility List. Upon completion of the competitive examinations hereinabove referred to, and the filing of the report of the examining body, agent or agents, person or persons who shall have conducted the examination or examinations above referred to, there shall be posted a list of candidates to be known and designated as "eligibility list," and to be composed of those who have satisfactorily passed the aforesaid examinations. These shall be announced at a regular meeting of the mayor and council. The police committee shall, within thirty (30) days after the declaration and posting of the eligibility list, submit a recommendation or recommendations of appointment to the mayor of one or more of the applicants. The police committee shall make its recommendation or recommendations for appointment of the qualified member or members from the eligibility list, as a special police officer or police officers as provided in this chapter, upon the following basis: In the event one shall be recommended for appointment, he or she shall be chosen from among the highest three. In the event two shall be recommended for appointment, they shall be chosen from among the highest four, and in the event that three shall be recommended for appointment they shall be chosen from among the highest five.

E. Recommendations—Appointment.

1. The mayor and council shall receive such recommendation or recommendations and the mayor, with the approval of the council may, at the next regular meeting, following the recommendation or recommendations, appoint the recommended applicant or applicants as a special police officer or police officers pursuant to R.S. 40:47-19 and this chapter for a term not exceeding one hundred sixty (160) days. Such police officer or police officers after the expiration and termination of the term of employment may be appointed a regular member or members of the police force of the borough.

2. In the event there shall be one recommendation of appointment made, the mayor may appoint any one of the highest three from the eligibility list, and in the event of two recommendations of appointment to be made, the mayor may appoint any two of the highest four from the eligibility list, and in the event of three recommendations of appointment to be made, the mayor may appoint any three of the highest five from the eligibility list. Any appointment or appointments, as aforesaid, must receive the approval and confirmation by a majority of the existing members of the council.

3. In the event that the mayor shall, within thirty (30) days after the recommendation or recommendations of appointment by the police committee, fail, neglect or refuse to appoint the applicant or applicants recommended by the police committee, or in the event that the appointment or appointments of the applicant from the eligibility list aforesaid, shall not meet with the approval and confirmation of a majority of the council, then, in either event, at the next regular meeting following expiration of the aforesaid thirty (30) days period, the council shall by a majority of the members of the council present at the meeting, appoint the officer or officers to be appointed.

4. In the event that the mayor shall, pursuant to law, veto or not approve the appointment or appointments of the officer or officers appointed by council as set forth above, the council at its next regular meeting shall request the mayor to enter his objection or objections at length on its minutes, and proceed to reconsider the appointment or appointments of the officer or officers to be appointed, and if a two-thirds majority of the members of council present at the meeting shall at the regular meeting or at any subsequent meeting to which they shall postpone such reconsideration, vote to appoint the officer or officers over the veto or disapproval of the mayor, the appointment or appointments shall immediately take effect.

(Ord. 2001/20 § 1; Ord. 2001/15 § 1; prior code § 4-5)