Walsh Act























































New Jersey municipal government Flag of New Jersey
Traditional forms
Borough Township





City Town Village


Modern forms
Walsh Act commission
1923 municipal manager
Faulkner Act forms
Mayor–council Council–manager
Small municipality
Mayor–council–administrator
Nonstandard forms
Special charter
Changing form of municipal government
Charter Study Commission

The Walsh Act is legislation in the U.S. state of New Jersey that permits municipalities to adopt a non-partisan commission form of government. The legislation was signed by Governor of New Jersey Woodrow Wilson on April 25, 1911. The commissions in Walsh Act municipalities are composed of either three or five members elected for four-year concurrent terms. The commissioners also serve as department heads in addition to their legislative functions. The commissioners elect one commissioner as mayor, who serves as chair of the commission. With few exceptions, Walsh Act mayors have no powers over and above their fellow commissioners, and are only responsible for their specific department(s).


The Walsh Act was modeled on the commission system that was set up in Galveston, Texas in the wake of the devastating Hurricane of 1900. As part of its reconstruction efforts, the city reorganized itself to a government system in which each elected official had a specific area of responsibility, combining executive and legislative responsibilities. The Walsh Act was enacted in 1911, and specified that commissioners would be elected at large in nonpartisan elections, and would serve four-year, concurrent terms of office. The Walsh Act was the first charter law in New Jersey to include options for ballot initiatives, referendums and recall.[1]




Contents






  • 1 Municipalities that have a five member commission


  • 2 Municipalities that have a three member commission


  • 3 See also


  • 4 References


  • 5 External links





Municipalities that have a five member commission


These communities have five commissioners:



  • Commissioner of Public Affairs

  • Commissioner of Public Safety

  • Commissioner of Public Works

  • Commissioner of Parks and Public Property

  • Commissioner of Revenue and Finance












































Municipality

County

Year
Adopted


Lyndhurst Township

Bergen
1913

Millville City

Cumberland
1913

North Bergen Township

Hudson
1931

Nutley Township

Essex
1912

Ridgefield Park Village

Bergen
1912

Union City

Hudson
1930

West New York Town

Hudson
1931


Municipalities that have a three member commission


These communities have three commissioners:



  • Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety

  • Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property

  • Commissioner of Revenue and Finance






































































































































Municipality

County

Year
Adopted


Allenhurst Borough

Monmouth
1916

Audubon Borough

Camden
1921

Avon-by-the-Sea Borough

Monmouth
1919

Bass River Township

Burlington
1972

Beach Haven Borough

Ocean
1946

Bordentown City

Burlington
1913

Bradley Beach Borough

Monmouth
1915

Cape May Point Borough

Cape May
1916

Collingswood Borough

Camden
1917

Deal Borough

Monmouth
1912

Haddon Township

Camden
1950

Haddonfield Borough

Camden
1913

Harvey Cedars Borough

Ocean
1923

Long Beach Township

Ocean
1936

Longport Borough

Atlantic
1912

Margate City

Atlantic
1911

Monmouth Beach Borough

Monmouth
1929

Mount Ephraim Borough

Camden
1935

Pine Valley Borough

Camden
1942

Sea Isle City

Cape May
1913

Tavistock Borough

Camden
1928

Ventnor City

Atlantic
1968

West Cape May Borough

Cape May
1948

West Wildwood Borough

Cape May
1964

Wildwood Crest Borough

Cape May
1937


See also


  • 1923 Municipal Manager Law


References





  1. ^ Wolfe, Albert J. "A HISTORY OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN NEW JERSEY SINCE 1798", New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed April 30, 2008.




External links



  • The Commission Form of Municipal Government (PDF)

  • A History of Municipal Government in New Jersey Since 1798 (PDF)




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