What is County Government?

What is A Freeholder?

How is the Budget Prepared?

How Does County Government Assist Municipalities?

How Does County Government Assist Individuals?

ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

To streamline county government operations, eliminate duplication, and provide a better chain of command, the Board of Chosen Freeholders on May 23, 1990 adopted a unique and far reaching Administrative Code combining more than 50 departments into six umbrella departments.

A broad, innovative approach to consolidation, the Administrative Code leaves the Freeholder Board free to set policy which will be carried out by the county administrator working through the heads of the six departments which will form a "cabinet" to conduct the day-to-day operations of the county's 2,500 full-time employees.

The six departments are:

• Law and Public Safety
• Finance
• Planning & Development
• Public Works
• Human Services
• Information Services

Freeholder adoption of the code followed a study by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs on the structure and functioning of county government. The Administrative Code remains under constant review by the Board of Freeholders.

back to top

What is County Government?

In New Jersey the county serves as the middle level of government between the state and federal governments and the municipality. It traces its origin to British settlers to the new world who brought with them the concept of the county as a unit of local government and with it the idea that only "freeholders" - those who owned land free of any debt - were eligible to vote and hold public office.

The functions of county government are divided into two distinct types: mandatory functions the county must perform, and permissive functions the county may carry out in compliance with state law.
The five mandatory areas of responsibility are the courts and law enforcement, welfare, education, roads, and the conduct of elections. Permissive areas include parks and recreation, libraries, planning and development of certain social services.

All county government functions in Morris are performed by three separate groups:

• The elected Board of Chosen Freeholders and its appointees.
• All elected Constitutional officials, IE: County Clerk, Surrogate and Sheriff.
• All state appointed officials, IE: Judges, Prosecutor, Superintendent of Schools, County Board of Taxation, and the Board of Elections.

In Morris County, government is carried on by a full-time work force of some 2,500 employees, organized into six departments encompassing over 30 divisions, in addition to independent boards, commissions and authorities headquartered in more than 20 buildings.

The majority of these are located in Morristown, the traditional seat of county government, on West Hanover Avenue in the Townships of Morris and Parsippany - Troy Hills, East Hanover Avenue and Whippany Road in Morris Township, and Mendham Road in Morris Township.

Included are the historic Morris County Courthouse, dating to 1827, county Administration and Records Building, Public Library, Cultural Center, Park Headquarters, County School of Technology, Human Services Building, Youth Center, Youth Shelter, Fire Fighters & Police Training Academy, Morris View Nursing Home, Municipal Utilities Authority, Shade Tree Commission, Mosquito Extermination Commission, three garages, the County Service Building, and the County College of Morris.

Many of the services and expertise of staff members employed in the various departments are available to municipalities.

back to top

What is A Freeholder?

Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. The members are elected at large to serve three-year terms. It is not unusual for a Freeholder to spend between 30 and 40 hours a week on activities related to the part-time position. The Freeholder Board sets policies for the operation of six super-departments, more than 30 divisions plus authorities, commissions, boards and study committees. Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by the county administrator. The Board of Chosen Freeholders has been granted broad powers by the state legislature to regulate county property, finances and affairs.

The Freeholder Board's duties include:

• Preparing and adopting the county budget.
• Authorizing expenditures and bonds.
• Appointing county officials and members to boards, commissions and authorities.
• Passing on all claims against the county.
• Supervising the administration of county government.

The Freeholders are the center of legislative and administrative responsibility in Morris County and, as such, perform a dual role. As legislators they draw up and adopt a budget, and in the role of administrators they are responsible for spending the funds they have appropriated. Many of these duties in Morris County have been delegated by the Board of Chosen Freeholders to the county administrator.

Public Meetings

Public meetings of the Board of Chosen Freeholders are held regularly on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, except holidays. The meetings begin at 7:30 p.m., in the Freeholders Public Meeting Room on the 5th floor, in the County Administration and Records Building, Court Street, Morristown (click here for a complete schedule). The public is invited to attend these meetings and urged to present opinions. In addition, the Freeholders conduct workshop conference meetings on same second and fourth Wednesday, at 9:30 a.m. in the Knox Conference Room, Administration and Records Building. Call 973-285-6015 for specific meeting dates.

Freeholder Background

In New Jersey's early history, any person who owned land free from debts, mortgages, other legal claims or liens was a "freeholder." Those who were elected to serve were the "Chosen Freeholders." At first, legislative functions were performed by the Courts, later by a Board of Chosen Freeholders and Justices.
Gradually, the judges became increasingly involved with judicial concerns and in 1798 the State Legislature established the Board of Chosen Freeholders as the legislative and administrative head of county government in New Jersey.

As a result, the 21 counties of New Jersey serve as a middle level of government between the state and federal governments and the municipalities. The counties deal with regional problems such as solid waste disposal and water supply, as well as the historic responsibility with the courts, roads, general government, and the conduct of elections.

For the first half of the nineteenth century, the system of apportioning freeholders remained absolutely rigid; two freeholders for each township, town or city. But when the number of townships in the county began to grow at an appreciable rate, the board membership became unwieldy.

For example, in Morris County between 1806 and 1918 the number of persons sitting on the Board of Chosen Freeholders ranged from 20 to 27. In the latter year the first small board (five members) was seated in Morris County. It was expanded to its present seven member size in 1972.

back to top

How is the Budget Prepared?

The Board of Chosen Freeholders each year directs the Freeholder Budget Subcommittee, County Administrator and County Treasurer, to prepare the county budget. Each department director is involved with the planning and preparation of his or her respective budget. The Freeholder Budget Subcommittee meets throughout the year with county department heads and various boards and commissions within the county government, as well as private social services agencies to review their budget requests.

The budget traditionally is introduced in late January or in February. A public session is held with the municipal elected officials on the county budget. A formal public hearing on the budget is then conducted by the Freeholders, after which the budget for that year is approved. The Freeholders adopt a temporary budget at the county's annual stated organizational meeting at the start of the year, which provides for the orderly continuation of government until the new budget for that year is officially approved.

back to top

How Does County Government Assist Municipalities?

County government in Morris operates under a philosophy of assisting municipalities with services and expertise when and wherever possible. This action, designed to eliminate the duplication of and provide overall services for the public at the lowest possible cost, actually involves almost every department in county government.

Some county programs such as Data Processing/Communications offer specific services at cost. Others, ranging from Planning, Engineering, Community Development and the Shade Tree Commission to the Treasurer and Law Enforcement offer expertise of county staff members and officials.

Included are:

Data Processing/Communications: Provides automated computer services to municipalities including accounting and budgeting, police information, utility billing, tax assessment, billing and collection, payroll and animal licensing.

Shade Tree Commission: Provides arboricultural expertise and assistance to maintain and protect plant material within right-of-way of roadways. Provides assistance in establishing and operating compost facilities for all municipalities.

Transportation: Provides technical assistance to municipalities wishing to start bus lines and/or senior citizen busing and assists in monitoring operations.

Office on Aging: Provides, on request, assistance to municipalities in many phases of service for the elderly.

Emergency Management: Provides municipalities with emergency use vehicles, assistance in the acquisition of surplus government materials and in the development and writing of municipal Emergency Operations Plans.

Mosquito Extermination Commission: Provides, on request, expertise to municipalities seeking to implement mosquito control operations.

Community Development: Administers the HUD-sponsored Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships and the Emergency Solutions Grant Programs. Each stream of funding is available to non profits and participating municipalities applying for grants funding infrastructure and improvements, services, facilities, creation of affordable housing and dealing with homelessness. The Division's homeowner housing rehabilitation program serves to maintain affordable housing and satisfy towns' affordable housing obligations.

Housing Authority: Provides both direct and advisory assistance to help municipalities determine housing needs, information on housing, problems and conditions, and administers a rent supplement program.

Sheriff/Communications: Labor Assistance Program provides non-violent, low security inmates to municipalities to assist with public service projects ranging from painting, restoration and cleaning to maintenance and recycling.

Communication Center: Provides access for municipal police departments to state and federal centralized computer services for retrieval of criminal information. Also, provides 24-hour emergency dispatching services for police, fire, ambulance and public works vehicles.

Personnel: Training programs available for municipal employees.

Criminal Identification: Photographic section provides on-the-scene photography for all police departments, processing of film, and printing of pictures, both in black and white and color, and the gathering and dissemination of evidence to State Police laboratories.

K-9 Unit: Provides trained dogs to all police departments for use in searches, tracing of lost persons, crimes, and narcotics detection.

Public Safety Training Academy: Provides professional courses for municipal law enforcement, firefighters and first aid personnel.

Treasurer: Provides an investment program for municipalities and boards of education.

Heritage Commission: Assists municipalities by making grants available for local history programs and by providing publications that highlight the history of each town.

Library Services: Provides technical assistance in updating printed and audiovisual collections; coordinates live summer entertainment programs for children; provides municipal libraries with access, through a computer network, to printed and audiovisual collections of all municipal libraries in the county and other counties.

Municipal Utilities Authority: Provides recycling seminars and advice for local officials. The MUA also offers a curbside recycling program.

Planning Board: Provides training for municipal board of adjustment and planning board members. Provides photographs and maps on sewer lines, land parcels, etc., as part of cross acceptance process.

Public Works: Provides interlocal services agreements with municipalities for them to provide emergency road services such as snow plowing, salting, sanding and storm damage repair.

Flood and Drainage Committee: Provides financial assistance for flood and drainage projects to municipalities.

Human Resources: Provides consultation services to municipalities on labor relations, civil service regulations, salary administration and other personnel matters. Sponsors pre-retirement and other counseling sessions for municipal and county employees.

back to top

How Does County Government Assist Individuals?

County government in Morris County provides a wide range of specialized services to assist individuals and residents in a myriad of ways . Designed to provide specific services at the lowest possible cost while avoiding duplication either in governmental or the private sectors, these services involve numerous county departments. Many are partially funded through federal/state grants or mandated by state legislation.

These services have helped provide employment, rehabilitation, social services and financial aid, nutrition and transportation for the elderly, training and education, and adolescent and family treatment programs.

Included are:

Temporary Assistance: Provides a wide range of programs to help the needy, the aged, and the infirm. Included are homemaker, health services, family planning, education and training, housing, legal services, a needy children's program, and food stamp program.

Extension Service: Provides information and data for homeowners and farmers on agriculture, home landscaping, horticulture and gardening problems and home economics, plus courses and instruction. Issues bulletins and press releases and operates 4-H clubs and programs.

Aging, Disability and Veteran Services: Operates fifteen senior citizen Midday Friendship nutrition sites and provides home delivered meals; information and services ranging from free legal assistance to in home assistance, and provides transportation for seniors and people with disabilities.

County College of Morris: Provides degree and certificate programs in full and part-time schedules.

County Library: Provides general lending facilities; film library; children's library; reference section; technical services; historical section; large print books; audio tapes; prints; music and art paintings.

Shade Tree Commission: Provides leaf mulch for homeowners on request at small cost to cover labor and trucking.

back to top