The Township of Willingboro is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Council-Manager form of government (Plan E), enacted by direct petition and implemented as of January 1, 1962.

The Township Council is made up of five elected members, and is the legislative body for our municipality.  The Council also appoints the positions of Municipal Clerk, Tax Assessor and well as provides for appointments of members of Boards, Commissions and Authorities. Perhaps most importantly, the council appoints a qualified manager to serve as the Chief Executive Officer.

The Township Manager has the full administrative responsibility for the municipality, including appointment of department heads as well as subordinates, preparation and presentation of the budget and the negotiation of contracts.

A municipality under the Council-Manager form has the following options:

• Partisan or nonpartisan elections.
• If the elections are nonpartisan, the municipality has the option of run-off elections.
• Staggered or concurrent terms.
• The mayor can be voted directly by the people or selected from among the council. If elected by the voters, the mayor serves a four-year term.
• If selected by the council, the mayor serves either a one, two or four year term, depending on whether the council serves staggered or concurrent terms and local ordinances.
• Council members can be elected at-large or from wards
• If the municipality operates under a ward-based system, the number of wards is also an option.

As of 2006, 42 municipalities operate under the OMCL Council Manager form. For more information on the this and other forms of government in New Jersey.

New Jersey League of Municipalities