Municipal Clerk
537 Totowa Road, 2nd Floor Totowa, NJ 07512
Business Hours
Monday - Friday
9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Joseph Wassel, Borough Clerk
jwassel@totowanj.org | (973) 956-1000 ext. 1004 | (fax) (973) 956-8414
Kathy Wasilewski, Deputy Clerk
kwasilewski@totowanj.org | (973) 956-1000 ext. 1014 | (fax) (973) 956-8414
Denise Zarek, Administrative Clerk
dzarek@totowanj.org | (973) 956-1000 ext. 1009 | (fax) (973) 956-8414
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The Borough Clerk’s Office is the hub of municipal operations and serves as liaison officer between the governing body and the taxpayers/residents. The Borough Clerk also serves as liaison between the governing body and the general body of municipal personnel.
The Borough Clerk as Secretary to the Governing Body:
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Prepares meeting agendas.
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Records official minutes of the governing body.
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Handles incoming and outgoing municipal correspondence.
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Processes, records, files and advertises ordinances.
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Processes, records and files resolutions.
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Processes, records, files and advertises municipal budget.
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Processes, records, files and advertises bids for municipal equipment.
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Administers and records oaths of office.
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Maintains custody of all official records.
The Borough Clerk as Secretary of the Municipal Corporation:
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Maintains custody of the municipal seal.
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Signs the majority of official documents.
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Attest signatures of municipal officers and officials.
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Processes, records and files all deeds and contracts.
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Maintains receipt of service of legal documents.
The Borough Clerk as Election Official:
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Registers voters.
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Certifies vacancies existing on the local level.
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Maintains receipt of nominating petitions and certification to the County Clerk of local candidates nominated by petition.
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Exercise quasi-judicial authority in determining the validity of petitions.
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Conducts the drawing for position of candidates on the local ballot (primary).
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Recommends polling places.
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Maintains receipt of election results.
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Certifies to County Clerk persons elected to partisan county committee offices in each election district.
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Canvasses the votes for and certifies election of candidates for local office at the primary and general elections.
The Borough Clerk as Administrative Official:
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Issues various permits and licenses (liquor, bingo, raffle, solicitors, garage sale, florist, hotel, used car, gasoline pumps, etc.)
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Issues assessment search certificates.
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Handles all types of complaints.
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Furnishes data to public information media.
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Purchases all supplies and equipment.
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Receives and files bonds and insurance policies.
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Directs correspondence and inquiries for action to various municipal departments.
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Handles personnel records and files.
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Provides for records and information management.
In addition to the statutory duties listed above, the Borough Clerk’s Office also:
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Prepares and processes payroll.
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Prepares the municipal budget.
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Handles all requisitions and issues purchase orders.
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Processes all checks for payment (accounts payable).
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Calculates, processes and issues sewer billing.
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Handles all insurance liability claims.
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Handles all worker’s compensation cases.
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Mayor’s Office – Handles all telephone calls & correspondence, sets up meeting dates and set up & keeps calendar for weddings and grand openings.
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Files quarterly pension reports.
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Processes enrollments, change of beneficiaries, names, retirements, etc. regarding the pension.
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Processes all forms pertaining to employee benefits.
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Processes agreement and follow-up forms pertaining to rental of Community Center.
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Processing requests from all departments or groups to have a particular message put on the marquee(s).
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Keep municipal parking lot car calendar.