§ 52:27BBB-16 — Recommendation of department, division heads.

16. a. Following the completion of the municipal management study, the chief operating officer shall, in consultation with the mayor, recommend the appointment of department heads and division heads, as the case may be, and submit the list of nominees to the governing body for approval. Any recommendations provided by the chief operating officer pursuant to this subsection shall be made in consultation with the mayor. Any person who has served as an interim department head pursuant to section 11 of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-11) shall be eligible for appointment pursuant to this section. The governing body may only reject a candidate by a 2/3 vote of the fully authorized membership of the governing body. In the event of an impasse in the appointment process, the matter shall be decided by the special arbitrator, whose decision shall not be subject to appeal. In making a determination pursuant to this subsection, the special arbitrator shall uphold the appointment recommended by the chief operating officer if, by any objective measure, the person under consideration for that position is the most qualified by reason of experience, education or training. Appointment as a department head or division head, as the case may be, shall be for a period of time coinciding with the term of the chief operating officer and an additional two years thereafter; however, department heads and division heads may be removed for cause by the Local Finance Board following a hearing before the board. b. Any person who has served as an employee in a position with tenure rights during the rehabilitation term who is reappointed by the mayor, with the advice and consent of the governing body, as appropriate, following the termination of the rehabilitation term shall receive credit for the years served during the period of rehabilitation for the purposes of establishing eligibility for tenure, so long as the position otherwise qualifies for tenure under general law. L.2002,c.43,s.16.