Englewood - Official Site

Beginning in 1980, Englewood switched from a mayor-council form of government to a modified council-manager plan of government in accordance with New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law of 1950. Under this charter, the mayor retains appointive and veto powers, while the council acts as a legislative and policy making body, with some power to appoint and confirm appointments. Administrative functions are responsibilities of the City Manager.

Mayor
The mayor is elected city-wide to a three year term of office, in which he/she has significant powers in appointing members to the Planning Board, the Library Board of Trustees, and, with council confirmation, the Board of Adjustment. The mayor serves on the Planning Board. The mayor attends and may speak at council meetings, but voting is confined only to breaking a deadlock with an affirmative vote for passage of an ordinance or resolution. The mayor has veto power over any city ordinance, but can be overridden with votes from four council members.

City Council
The City Council consists of five members, each elected for a three year term. Four are elected by the individual wards in which they live and the other is elected by a city-wide vote as an at-large member. The city is divided into four wards which are approximately equal in population.

The City Council is the legislative branch of government, whereby, deciding public policy, creating city ordinances and resolutions, passing the city budget, appropriating funds for city services, and hiring the City Manager. The City Council meets generally four times per month (except during summer months). On the first and third Tuesdays, formal meetings are held in the Municipal Courtroom at the Public Safety Complex, South Van Brunt St. and Englewood Ave. Generally, each Tuesday, prior to a formal meeting, an executive work session is held in the conference room at City Hall, North Van Brunt St. and Palisade Ave. All meetings are open to the public, but the public may only speak at the formal meetings. Minutes of all meetings are available at the office of the city clerk.

City Manager
The city manager is the chief executive officer in the city government. The manager oversees and coordinates the activities of all municipal departments in accordance with council policies, prepares, presents, and administers the municipal budget, and has final decision over hiring and firing of employees.