40A:5-49 Public meeting when resolution proposed to establish, modify employee compensation.

40. Whenever the governing body of a local unit proposes a resolution, or other action that will establish or modify the salaries, benefits, or other compensation of any individual employee or group of its employees, that measure shall only be taken after the local unit first holds a public meeting where the proposed action shall be introduced and discussed by the governing body. Notice of the date, time, place, and purpose of the public meeting, and of the time and place at which a copy of the proposed measure, together with the employee compensation disclosure form required to be prepared pursuant to this section, shall be available to each person requesting it, at no charge, during the week preceding such public meeting. The public meeting shall be advertised in a newspaper having substantial circulation in the local unit at least 10 days prior to the meeting date. Salaries for local officers and employees that are established, increased, or decreased by ordinance pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.40A:9-165 shall continue to be fixed and determined in accordance with that section.

Prior to the publication of the newspaper notice required by this section, the chief financial officer or other appropriate officer of the local unit shall prepare an employee compensation disclosure form pursuant to the requirements of this section. The employee compensation disclosure form shall be made part of any formal action taken by the local unit, but shall not be considered part of any contract or agreement.

The chief financial officer of the local unit shall file the employee compensation disclosure form with the clerk or the secretary to the governing body of the local unit prior to a public meeting when such measure shall be introduced and discussed. Any such proposed measure shall be announced publicly at the meeting, along with a declaration that an employee compensation disclosure form has been provided to the governing body of the local unit pursuant to the requirements of sections 38 through 41 of P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:5-48 et al.). Any formal action by a governing body approving or disapproving a measure establishing or modifying the salaries, benefits, or other compensation of its employees shall occur no earlier than the tenth calendar day immediately following the meeting at which the measure was introduced and discussed.

The employee compensation disclosure form shall display the estimated cost of salary, benefits or other compensation, for each year of the contract for each individual employee or group of employees, itemized by the specific form of compensation, the estimated cost of the compensation at the time of the action, and the incremental difference between each year.

Governing body actions taken without compliance with this section shall be null and void.

L.2007, c.63, s.40.