Departments

Division of Library Services
The mission of the Atlantic County Library System is to offer informational and recreational materials which will educate, enlighten, and enrich the lives of area residents.

The Library System's nine branches, Bookmobile, Book-by-Mail program, and Buena Community Reading Center provide access to materials in a variety of formats to appeal to a diverse population with a wide range of interests and needs.

The Accounts Payable Unit is responsible for reviewing and auditing all county requests for payment and disbursing weekly checks to vendors. The Grants Unit reviews and monitors all county grant activities to ensure program compliance, proper charges and receipt of funds.

In addition, this Office maintains a central payroll system and disburses biweekly payroll checks to all county personnel. The Office aggressively pursues technology upgrades to provide a seamless management information system.

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES- (609) 343-2289
The Department of Administrative Services includes the Divisions of Human Resources, Information Technologies, Budget and Purchasing and the Office of Veteran's Services.

The Department also offers grant research to identify funding sources to support county government initiatives and programs. The Department also assists County Administration in the development of the Freeholder package which is the list of action items for each meeting.

The Department is committed to providing universal access to employment opportunities and work force development for the citizens of Atlantic County. The Department provides individuals and families with supportive services, either in-house or through a network of partnerships with public and private agencies, which include child support, medical and financial assistance, substance abuse and mental health assessment and treatment, adult and literacy education, and senior citizen programs.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - (609) 645-5930
The Department of Human Services includes four Divisions: Meadowview Nursing Home, Support Services, Public Health and Intergenerational Services.

This Division in cooperation with the County's Human Services Advisory Council, Youth Services Commission, Mental Health Advisory Board, its Senior Citizen and Disabled Citizen Advisory Boards, and local agencies provides the planning and implementation services to research and configure the dynamics of our human services delivery system.

The Environmental Health Unit tests private drinking wells, ocean water and other public recreational swimming areas. Inspection services are undertaken in retail food establishments, campgrounds, youth camps, pools, body art establishments and kennels. It investigates potential sources of air, water and noise pollution in addition to community health hazards such as vermin, rabid animals and lead paint. It reviews plans, issues permits and inspects new septic systems. The Unit tracks illegal dumpers, promotes workplace health and safety and responds to hazardous material incidents and other public health emergencies. It promotes healthy lifestyles through tobacco age of sale enforcement and public health education initiatives. This Unit also monitors environmental health indicators using geographic information systems computers and maintains public records.

The Community Health and Clinical Services Unit prevents and controls diseases such as TB and STD's through screening, contact tracing and treatment programs. This Unit investigates outbreaks of communicable diseases. Each Fall, flu clinics are conducted which administer vaccine to over 6,000 residents. The Unit also provides healthy child services such as immunizations, lead screening and special outreach including home visits and family health counseling. Screenings and risk assessments for the prevention of cancer and heart disease are managed within the Unit. The Unit also coordinates the Drug Testing Program for designated county employees as well as the Bloodborne Pathogens (Hepatitis B) Immunization Program for county and municipal employees.

The Substance Abuse Service Unit plans and coordinates a broad spectrum of community services for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. It conducts programs that evaluate and educate persons convicted of "driving under the influence" of drugs or alcohol. The Unit also assesses and counsels county employees with potential substance abuse problems.

The Health Information, Planning and Education Unit plans, implements and evaluates a variety of community health education programs. This Health Information, Planning and Education Unit plans, implements and evaluates a variety of community health education programs. The unit further promotes health and wellness in the community through programs such as the "Live Stronger, Longer" health screening program and the "Get Fit for Life" wellness program. The unit promotes "Get Fit for Life" to community groups and employers throughout Atlantic County.

Office of Support Services The Office of Support Services administers the ordering, receipt, storage, distribution, and financial accounting for all supplies commonly used to support the operation of County government. This unit also prepares and delivers bulk meals, nearly 2,000 per day, for County facilities, contract agencies and the Home Delivered Meals Program. Inter office courier services are provided for all County agencies and centralized United States mail distribution and processing is provided for County departments in Northfield.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY - (609) 645-5855
The Department of Public Safety provides a comprehensive array of public services within its mission.

The Atlantic County Park Rangers are assigned to this Office and provide emergency services within the County's park system. The system is made up of 14 parks covering 6,200 acres from Atlantic City to Folsom. The rangers are responsible for providing first response law enforcement, emergency medical, and rescue services to the park patrons.

The Office oversees the coordinated 800 MHz communications system which has the ability to tie all public safety radio users together in times of emergencies. To further enhance the system and provide for the best coordination during emergency situations, the Office utilizes its new communications/incident command vehicle which was acquired with Homeland Security grant funding.

Canale Training Center The Canale Center is also home to both the Atlantic County Police Training Center and the Atlantic County Fire Training Center which supports all emergency medical, fire emergency management and law enforcement training. In conjunction with its training responsibilities, related training activities take place at satellite facilities such as the Atlantic County Firearms Range.

Office of Mosquito Control The Office of Mosquito Control carries out an extensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. This comprehensive surveillance program involves inspections, biological and chemical controls, water management and public education, in coordination with the NJ DEP, the NJ Agriculture Experimental Station, and the Atlantic County Division of Public Health. The primary goal of this unit is to control mosquito populations to eliminate the spread of diseases, including the West Nile virus, reduce nuisance and enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors of Atlantic County.

DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT - (609) 645-5898
The Department of Regional Planning and Development oversees the Office of Policy and Planning, the Office of Geographic Information Services and the Department of Engineering.

This office is also responsible for transportation, open space, land use, solid waste and water quality planning. The office also provides technical support for the Agricultural Review Board, Farmland Preservation Program, Planning Advisory Board, Solid Waste Advisory Commission, County Municipal Open Space Partnership Committee, and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization. In 2006, the Office will continue involvement in the mandatory implementation of the State Stormwater Management Regulatory Program.

In the area of economic development, the Office provides technical assistance to
businesses and municipalities with economic development plans and activities, as well as maintaining a county and regional database of economic information.

Documents such as deeds, mortgages, cancellations, federal tax liens, and maps related to the subdivision of land, are all maintained in the Record Room of the Atlantic County Clerk's Office inside the Government Complex in Mays Landing. Approximately 140,000 documents are processed and recorded annually.

The County Clerk designs and produces the official ballots for the annual Primary, General and School Elections and maintains Elections Reports as required by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Division. Additionally, the Clerk's Office is responsible for processing Absentee Ballots for all elections in Atlantic County and certifying election results.

The County Clerk also serves a wide range of public service functions including; County Clerk photo ID cards, U.S. Passport Acceptance Agent, Notary Public Oaths, Business Trade Name Certificate filing, and Veteran Vendor's licenses. The County Clerk conducts Outreach Programs on a regular basis for senior citizens, civic and community organizations in Atlantic County providing ID cards and other services.

The County Clerk's main office is located inside of the Atlantic County Government Complex in Mays Landing as well as satellite locations in Atlantic City and on a limited basis in Hammonton and Galloway.

As the chief law enforcement officer in Atlantic County, the Prosecutor provides guidance and direction to municipal police departments to ensure uniform conduct of law enforcement personnel and implements all directives from the State Attorney General.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office is comprised of three divisions, each of which functions under the Prosecutor's guidance in it's respective area of responsibility.

The Litigation Division processes criminal cases through the courts. It handles functions mandated by Megan's Law and includes the Grand Jury, Trial, Juvenile, Domestic Violence, Special Litigation, and Victim-Witness units. Included within the Trial Section is the Gun Violence Prosecution unit.

The Investigations Division is comprised of specialized units that address certain categories of crime through detection, investigation, arrest and prosecution of offenders. The units include Major Crimes, which investigates all homicides in Atlantic County, Violent Crimes, Narcotics, Intelligence, Financial Crimes, Insurance Fraud, Official Corruption, Arson, Crimes Against Children, Sex Crimes, Fatal Collision,
Computer Crimes, and Forensics/Identification.

The Administration Division is responsible for office and budget management, personnel, computer information systems, records management, building operations and security and employee safety.

Other services rendered by the Office include: response to constituent queries and requests made to individual Freeholders; codification of all resolutions and ordinances; updates the Code of Atlantic County as it pertains to Traffic, Land Standards, and the organizational structure of the County.

The Director and Board staff conduct the day to day business of the Board. This Office is responsible for the development and production of equalization values with respect to the schedule of amounts due to the County by each municipality.

RCE-AC also expands outreach and economic development opportunities by partnering with community organizations and volunteers. From traditional volunteer led 4-H clubs and on-farm research demonstration projects, to new grant-supported urban outreach programs begun in cooperation with the NJ Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, the RCE-Atlantic County office has been recognized for innovative team programming to increase the quality of life for residents. This team approach helped secure USDA Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program funding to work with Atlantic City Special Improvement District to create several demonstration gardens throughout Atlantic City. In addition, to beautifying empty lots, the gardens will be open for the public to enjoy, as well as serving as outdoor classrooms for 4-H clubs, Atlantic City and neighboring community schools, and Master Gardeners.

4-H Youth Development programs combine the experience of a broad range of enthusiastic volunteer leaders and the educational resources of Rutgers to provide productive opportunities for youth members to grow and learn about things that interest them. Over 400 youth are active in full time 4-H programs and more than 1100 additional young people participate in shorter special events. 4-H conducts active programming in such diverse locations as the Atlantic City Housing Authority and the Family Centers of Atlantic County, and innovative outreach, including new teacher training workshops to implement Character Education curriculum. Partnering with Job Connection/Youth Corps, a USDA Communities, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) grant teaches Youth Corps members entrepreneurial skills by operating a youth farm stand in Atlantic City.

Agricultural and Marine Agents provide direct assistance to fisherman and farmers, horticultural businesses and residents through a wide range of services including research and demonstration of improved production, management and marketing systems and techniques. Master Gardeners help extend RCE-AC outreach to residents by volunteering time to special projects in return for intensive horticultural training.

The Office is comprised of two Divisions, Operations and Staff Services. Special Sections function within each Division with appropriate management oversight.

The Operations Division fields sections which carry out judicial security, prisoner transport, identification, arrest of fugitives, crime scene processing and emergency response.

The Staff Services Division is comprised of sections including Legal Services, which provides for the services of all civil process and sheriff's sales. Community Affairs administers the "Crime Prevention Programs" and Community Awareness Projects associated with crime prevention targeting children and the elderly. Communications is the hub for county law enforcement inquiries and requests for mutual aid and provides response to requests from municipal, county, and state and federal law enforcement agencies.

The Superintendent of Elections function includes voter registration, custody and maintenance of voting machines and registration cards, as well as responding to registration problems and complaints. This Office also conducts investigations of voter fraud, elections fraud and other inquiries pertaining to voter registration.

The County Board of Elections designates polling places, appoints district board workers; conducts District Board Worker instructional classes; issues Challenger Certificates for primary and general elections; receives and counts Absentee ballots, as well as Election recounts. This Board also reassigns Election Districts in each municipality as prescribed by law.

Technical assistance support and monitoring is provided to the twenty-six public school districts and four Charter Schools of the County in the areas of program development and approval, assessment and testing, budget and finance, facilities, curriculum and staff development, state monitoring, staff certification, special education, legislation and mandated regulations or guidelines.

The Office works with the school districts to provide high quality educational programs that are equitable and efficient; that prepare students for employment and citizenship; and that promote students' intellectual, ethical, cultural, emotional and physical growth.

The County Superintendent of Schools works closely with the County Executive, County Board of Chosen Freeholders and various local and county educational and social services agencies with respect to educational issues and initiatives. Collaborative and shared services initiatives receive significant emphasis.

The County Superintendent of Schools serves as a member of the Board of Education for Atlantic County Special Services School District, the Atlantic County Vocational School District and the Board of Trustees of Atlantic Cape Community College.

All filings in the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part, are done in the Surrogate's office, and after processing, are made part of the case file and presented to the appropriate Judge. After hearings are completed the filings are then recorded and acted upon by the Surrogate's office. Among those matters handled are estate accountings, incapacitated person proceedings, contested probate and similar matters. The Surrogate's office audits all accountings filed by fiduciaries. Handled in the same fashion are all adoption pleadings in the Chancery Division, Family Part. The Surrogate's Court handles all probating of wills, appointment of executors, administrators, guardians, trustees and other matters pertaining to the administration of estates. The Office also administers the Intermingled Fund for minors and incapacitated persons.

All documents filed and recorded in the Surrogate's office with the exception of adoptions are public record, and all requests for information are handled by the Surrogate's office.