BOROUGH CLERK'S FILES, 1935-1990

Summary:Contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, legal documents, charts, clippings, lists, broadsides, notices, resolutions, licenses, petitions, and forms concerning every aspect of the borough government activities exemplified by the specific folder titles. Other types of material include election returns (1937-1990) and a register of applications by various community groups to organize legalized games of chance for fund-raising (1954-1980).

The types of material and subjects reflect the many duties of the borough clerk, who, as well as being responsible for implementing Borough Council policy, played various roles including health officer, elections officer, town purchaser and animal control officer. In his capacity as Borough Council Secretary, the Borough Clerk sent out press releases about the Roosevelt budget, animal control, public health, and election ordinances, notices of public hearings on such ordinances, and ceremonies, such as a memorial for Jersey Homesteads founder, Benjamin Brown, to local newspapers.

Much of the correspondence from the years 1937 to 1947 is from federal agencies or the Community Manager, since during this period the clerk served as liaison between community residents and the federal government. Later correspondence deals with such topics as the Ben Shahn mural repairs, safety, the borough hall, budget, town planning, development, health, the sewage treatment plant, public utilities, and the borough bulletin.

Many of these files date from Isidore Sackowitz' tenure as borough clerk (1956-1978). Included is documentation of a controversy surrounding an enforcement ruling he made as Building Inspector. Because the size of the borough and the number of roles played by the borough clerk, charges of conflict of interest arose.