The Township of Harding operates under the “township” form of government.  This is the oldest form of municipal government in New Jersey, having been first established by the Township Act of 1798.  The township form of government is “government by committee,” with the legislative and executive responsibilities of the municipality vested in the township committee as a whole.  The Committee establishes policies for the administration of the various departments and appoints the Township Administrator who is responsible for carrying out those policies and overseeing the day to day operations of the township. 

The township committee members are elected officials whose three year terms of office begin on January 1 following their election at the November general election.  At the reorganization meeting during the first seven days of January, the township committee elects one of their number to be the mayor.  Eleven standing committees are appointed at the reorganization meeting including Planning, Zoning & Legal; Finance & Insurance; Public Safety; Public Works and Building; Personnel; Recreation Commission; Freeholder Liaison; Glen Alpin Steering Liaison; School Board Liaison; Open Space Liaison; and Board of Health Liaison.  Two members of the township committee serve on each standing committee and provide oversight to the departments.

For 2008:

Committee Chair:          Louis J. Lanzerotti 

Committee Vice-Chair:   Marshall P. Bartlett 

Committee Person:        John R. Murray, III

Committee Person:        James A. Rybka

Committee Person:        Ned Ward

Committee                            Chair         Vice Chair
Planning, Zoning and Legal           Murray        Bartlett 
Finance & Insurance                  Murray        Rybka  
Public Safety                        Rybka         Murray
Public Works and Building            Lanzerotti    Rybka
Personnel                            Ward          Lanzerotti
Recreation Commission                Ward          Bartlett
Freeholder Liaison                   Rybka         Murray
Glen Alpin Strategy Liaison          Murray        Ward
School Board Liaison                 Lanzerotti
Open Space Liaison                   Murray        Bartlett
Board of Health Liaison              Rybka
Local Assistance Board               Ward
Ten Towns Liaison                    Murray
Redevelopment Steering Committee     Murray        Bartlett
Library Liaison                      Murray
Bayne Park Management Planning       Ward