TOWNSHIP OF ANDOVER SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY   ORDINANCE #2026-02   AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF ANDOVER, COUNTY OF SUSSEX, AND STATE OF NEW JERSEY AMENDING CHAPTER 3 “ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT”, ARTICLE XVII “JOINT MUNICIPAL COURT”   WHEREAS, the Township Code contains a section establishing the Andover Joint Municipal Court and setting forth the members, the specifics of operation and the necessary personnel; and WHEREAS, two (2) of the original municipalities have terminated their participation in the Andover Joint Municipal Court; and WHEREAS, one (1) additional municipality has become a member of the Andover Joint Municipal Court, which has been approved by the Assignment Judge of the Morris/Sussex Vicinage and shall become effective February 1, 2026; and WHEREAS, the Andover Township Attorney has reviewed the Code and recommended changes in accordance with the changes to the member municipalities; and WHEREAS, the Township Committee has reviewed the recommended changes and approved of same; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED, by the Township Committee of the Township of Andover, Sussex County, New Jersey, that Chapter 3 “Administration of Government”, Article XVII “Joint Municipal Court” shall be amended to read as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 3 “Administration of Government”, Article XVII “Joint Municipal Court” shall be amended to read as follows: § 3-58 Creation; name; jurisdiction. A. Creation of Court. There has been created a Joint Municipal Court consisting of the following members: the Township of Andover, Township of Byram and Township of Green, Borough of Andover, Borough of Hopatcong and Borough of Stanhope. This Court is created by the shared services agreement executed by the original five municipalities in October of 2014, by Andover Township and the two new municipalities in March 2023, and by the execution by all remaining municipalities and Green Township in November 2025, and amongst the aforesaid municipalities and is subject to the terms thereof. The shared services agreements are attached hereto and incorporated in this chapter and shall be approved by and filed with the Administrative Director of the Courts. B. Name of Court. The name of the Joint Municipal Court shall be the "Andover Joint Municipal Court (Andover, Byram and Green Townships and Boroughs of Andover, Hopatcong and Stanhope)" effective February 1, 2026 and it shall have a seal bearing the name of the Court. C. Jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of the Joint Municipal Court of Andover shall be coextensive with the territories of the Townships of Andover, Byram and Green and the Boroughs of Andover, Hopatcong and Stanhope in the County of Sussex. The Court shall be under the jurisdiction of the Assignment Judge and Municipal Court Administrator for Vicinage 10 - Morris/Sussex. § 3-58.1. Joint Municipal Court Committee. A Joint Municipal Court Committee shall be formed for the Andover Joint Municipal Court (Andover, Byram and Green Townships and Andover, Hopatcong and Stanhope Boroughs) consisting of the Administrators of each member municipality, the Joint Municipal Court Liaison for each member municipality and the Court Administrator. In those municipalities that do not have an Administrator, the Clerk shall serve as the Committee member. § 3-63.3 Withdrawal by member municipality. The members of the Joint Municipal Court of Andover established by this article are the Township of Andover, Township of Byram, Township of Green, Borough of Andover, Borough of Hopatcong and Borough of Stanhope. Collectively, the Township of Andover, Township of Byram, Township of Green, Borough of Andover, Borough of Hopatcong and Borough of Stanhope shall be referred to as members. Any member of the Andover Joint Municipal Court may withdraw by complying with the provisions of the shared services agreements amongst the members identified in § 3-58A above or such subsequent agreements or amendments then existing and in effect. § 3-63.4 Contributions and compensation. A. The Township of Byram, the Township of Green, the Borough of Andover, Borough of Hopatcong and Borough of Stanhope shall pay the Township of Andover a fee in accordance with the shared services agreement then existing between the parties. B. The Township of Andover shall remit fines and levies collected for infractions occurring in the Township of Byram, the Township of Green, the Borough of Andover, the Borough of Hopatcong and the Borough of Stanhope to the applicable municipality on at least a monthly basis or as set forth in the agreements amongst the municipalities. All sections of this Article not addressed herein shall remain unchanged. SECTION 2. All ordinances of the Township of Andover, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency. SECTION 3. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause of phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the remaining portions of this Ordinance. SECTION 4. This Ordinance may be renumbered for purposes of codification. SECTION 5. This Ordinance shall take effect upon final passage, approval, and publication as required by law.   TOWNSHIP OF ANDOVER COUNTY OF SUSSEX ATTEST: STATE OF NEW JERSEY   By:  Patricia L. Bussow, Administrator/Clerk    Thomas D. Walsh, Mayor   NOTICE OF PENDING ORDINANCE   PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that the foregoing Ordinance was introduced and passed at first reading at a Regular Meeting of the Township Committee of the Township of Andover held on January 15, 2026. A public hearing regarding same will be held at a hybrid meeting scheduled for February 05, 2026, beginning at 7:00PM, to be held both in person and virtually via Zoom, which details for accessing the meeting are as follows:   Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87509022879?pwd=mNbstbX0fkw1UyRG5GGu0EBHmKIcvQ.1 Passcode: 275014 Webinar ID: 875 0902 2879 Phone: 1-646-931-3860 Phone Passcode: 441105   All persons interested both for and against said ordinance shall be given an opportunity to be heard concerning same.   Patricia L. Bussow, RMC Administrator/Municipal Clerk   January 22, 2026 ($93.62)