N.J. Stat. tit. 40, ch. 10A

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 40:10A-1 Short title

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Local Historians Enabling Act." L.1979, c. 59, s. 1, eff. March 27, 1979.

N.J. Stat. § 40:10A-2 Legislative findings

The Legislature of the State finds that a New Jersey Historical Commission, New Jersey Bicentennial Commission, New Jersey Cemetery Board, New Jersey Register of Historic Places, State Archivist, and county cultural and heritage commissions have been created, with special interests for historiography, bicentennial celebration, ancient cemetery maintenance, landmarks preservation, archives, preservation, and county heritage, in order to encourage an appreciation, understanding and communication of our State heritage and identity. Notwithstanding programs enlisting the aid of individuals and private associations, the Legislature finds that increased participation to encourage these efforts is necessary, and that the State has an obligation to present and future generations to encourage its citizens to appreciate our cultural, historic and architectural heritage. L.1979, c. 59, s. 2, eff. March 27, 1979.

N.J. Stat. § 40:10A-3 Public policy

It is hereby declared as a matter of public policy that each municipality and county may participate to increase the education, appreciation and communication of our heritage through local historians, in such manner as to reflect the special character or special historic or cultural development within each municipality and county, in the interest of the recreation, education, inspiration and enrichment of the citizens of this State. L.1979, c. 59, s. 3, eff. March 27, 1979.

N.J. Stat. § 40:10A-4 Local historian; establishment of position by local government; reimbursement of expenses; appointment; term

The governing body of any county or municipality may, by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, establish the position of local historian. The local historian shall serve without compensation, but the governing body may annually appropriate such funds as may be necessary to reimburse a local historian for expenses incurred in the performance of the duties and responsibilities set forth in the act. The local historian shall be appointed in the manner generally provided by law for appointments of the local unit, and shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. L.1979, c. 59, s. 4, eff. March 27, 1979.

N.J. Stat. § 40:10A-5 Vesting duties and responsibilities of local historian in chairperson of county cultural and heritage commission

Any county which shall have established a county cultural and heritage commission pursuant to P.L.1968, c. 31 (C. 40:33A-1 et seq.) may, in lieu of establishing the position of local historian, by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, vest in the chairperson of the commission all the duties and responsibilities provided in this act for local historians of counties to be exercised in addition to those provided in P.L.1968, c. 31 (C. 40:33A-1 et seq.). L.1979, c. 59, s. 5, eff. March 27, 1979.

N.J. Stat. § 40:10A-6 Local historian of county; assistance to municipalities

Whenever the governing body of a county shall establish the position of local historian for the county as herein provided, and one or more municipalities within such county shall establish the position of local historian for such municipality or municipalities, as the case may be, the county local historian may assist the local historian or historians of such municipality or municipalities only upon request. Where any municipality in any county has not so established such position, or where there exists a vacancy in such position in any municipality, the local historian of the county may advise the governing body of any such municipality as herein provided. Otherwise, the local historian of the county shall be responsible only to the governing body of the county, as herein provided. L.1979, c. 59, s. 6, eff. March 27, 1979.

N.J. Stat. § 40:10A-7 Powers and responsibilities of local historian; annual report

A local historian shall have the following powers and responsibilities, except as otherwise provided in the ordinance or resolution creating the position: a. To carry out an historical program, including but not restricted to collecting, preserving and making available materials relating to the history of the local unit. The historian shall store such materials in such manner as to insure their preservation, and shall notify the State Archivist, New Jersey Historical Commission, county local historian and local governing body of any materials which should be acquired for preservation. Upon leaving the position, the local historian shall turn over all materials and records and reports into the possession of the successor, if then appointed, or to the governing body until a successor shall be appointed; b. The local historian shall make an annual report to the chief executive officer and governing body of the local unit stating all the work performed and accomplished during that year. The local historian shall transmit a copy of such report to the New Jersey Historical Commission. The New Jersey Historical Commission may advise each county historian and municipal historian of general guidelines along which their historical program may be implemented; c. The local historian may research, write and cause to have published a county or municipal history, and may recommend appropriate historical materials for publication; d. The local historian may assist a landmark commission, as well as advise the governing body, concerning the acquisition, administration, use and disposition of any landmark, or historic site, including such places in his jurisdiction included on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. Such advice may be furnished to the Historic Sites Section, Department of Environmental Protection; e. The local historian shall assist in projects of commemoration, including the erection of monuments, historic markers and guide signs. L.1979, c. 59, s. 7, eff. March 27, 1979.

N.J. Stat. § 40:10A-8 Employment of clerical assistants

The local historian may employ such clerical assistants as may be necessary in order to carry out the duties and responsibilities set forth in this act, within the limits of such funds as may be made available by the governing body for such purposes in the annual budget of the local unit. L.1979, c. 59, s. 8, eff. March 27, 1979.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026