History and Organization of the Dennis Township Committee

The Township of Dennis was established in 1826. The Township operates under the Township Committee form of government pursuant to New Jersey State Statutes.

The governing body consisted of three elected officials, one of which would be elected by the membership to serve as the Mayor. In, 1989 a question was approved for the General Election ballot to increase the membership from three members to five members. That question was approved by the voters and in November of 1990 the voters elected two additional Committee members. In January of 1991 a full Committee of five members was sworn into office. At that same meeting the governing body established the position of Township Administrator.

Today, we have a five member Township Committee with one of its members serving as Mayor. The Committee members serve in a part-time capacity and receive an annual salary.

The Township Committee, pursuant to New Jersey Law, has the authority to adopt, amend, and repeal any ordinance or resolution for any purpose required for the government; reviewing, revising, and adopting the annual municipal budget; making appropriations, levying taxes, authorizing bond issues; providing for the internal structure of the local government; providing by ordinance for the creation and abolition of jobs; fixing salaries; establishing general municipal policy, and adopting an Administrative Code.

The Township Committee has the authority to initiate hearings for the purposes of gathering information, for ordinance making, airing public problems, and supervising the spending of appropriations. Statutes governing the Township form of government can be found in N.J.S. 40A:63-1 et seq.