Livingston Town Council's Page

New Jersey’s current system and organization of local government continues to have basic roots in its early history as a colony. Located in the middle of the thirteen colonies, New Jersey’s early local governments adopted patterns of government which were a mix of those of her northern and southern neighbors. The following form of government is used today in the Township of Livingston.

The Township Form (NJSA 40A:63-1) The township form is the oldest form of municipal government in New Jersey. Designed to parallel the New England Township meeting, the Township Act of 1899 abolished the township meeting and replaced it with a township committee with all municipal powers. This act, with a handful of amendments, served until it was repealed by the Township Act of 1989, which cleared up many of ambiguities of the previous law. Under the current township government laws, the township committee remains the backbone of the municipality’s government. Voters elect, at-large,1 the township committee comprising three or five members. The elections are partisan and the committee members serve staggered three-year terms. The township committee elects the mayor for a one-year term. The mayor serves as chair of the township committee and has powers vested in the mayor’s office by general law. Under the township form, all legislative powers are concentrated in the committee. The committee also has all executive powers not placed in the mayor either by general law or the revised Township act. Additionally, all municipalities under the traditional form may appoint, including the township form, may appoint a municipal administration and “delegate to him all or a portion of the executive responsibilities of the municipality.”2 As of 2006, 144 municipalities operate under the Township form.