N.J. Stat. § 40:48-18
The governing body of any municipality may by contract join with the board of chosen freeholders of the county in which it is located or with the governing body or bodies of any other municipality or municipalities or with the board of chosen freeholders of the county and the governing body or bodies of any other municipality or municipalities within the county or adjoining such county or of any district, to acquire or construct any public improvement or works, do any act, maintain any department or render any service which any such municipality or county or district is empowered to acquire, construct, do, maintain or render.
No municipality under any such contract may acquire, construct, maintain or operate any property or service defined as a "public utility" by section 48:2-13 of the title Public Utilities, until a majority of the legal voters in the municipality affected voting at an election advertised, held and conducted in accordance with the laws relating to elections, shall vote in favor of the proposition: "Shall the municipality of acquire (or construct, as the case may be), and maintain and operate a (here insert brief description of the public utility proposed to be established or operated)?"
N.J.S. § 40:48-18