In 1985, Hardyston Township voted by referendum to adopt the
council-manager form of government, which combines the strong
political leadership of an elected council with the managerial
expertise of an appointed manager or administrator. The council-
manager form is the most popular form of government in the
United States; in 2007, more than 49 percent of U.S. cities and
towns with populations of at least 2,500 residents used this
form, and it is also used overseas in nations such as Australia,
Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
The council-manager system has its roots in the U.S. progressive
reform movement at the beginning of the 20th century, designed
to combat corruption by placing an emphasis on ethical,
efficient management in a transparent system. Role of Council:
The council consists of the elected representatives of the
residents and serves as the Township’s legislative and policy-
making body. Power is concentrated in the council, which is
responsible for approving the budge