5. a. Within 20 days of either: (1) receipt of an ordinance consenting to consolidation pursuant to subsection c. of section 3 of P.L.1995, c.376 (C. 40:43-66.80), with regard to a consolidation involving a sparsely populated municipality with a population of less than 100 persons according to the most recent federal decennial census, or (2) the certification of the results of elections approving a consolidation pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1995, c.376 (C. 40:43-66.81), the director shall meet with the mayors and such other municipal officials as the director shall require from the sparsely populated municipality and the absorbing municipality.

b. In consultation with the mayors the director shall establish a timetable for the consolidation to become effective and shall make such budget, financial and educational district adjustments as shall be required to complete the consolidation. The Commissioner of Education also shall be consulted with regard to the adjustment of educational district matters. The director shall also establish a timetable for the preparation of a new official map of the consolidated municipality showing the new boundaries.

c. The director, in consultation with the mayors, shall have all of the powers of a consolidation commission under the “Municipal Consolidation Act,” P.L.1977, c.435 (C. 40:43-66.35 et seq.).

L.1995,c.376,s.5.