The board of chosen freeholders of any county, other than a county having adopted a form of government pursuant to the provisions of P.L. 1972, c.154 (C.40:41A-1 et seq.), may by resolution create the office of county administrator, to act as the executive or administrative officer for the board and to have such executive and administrative powers, perform such executive and administrative duties and to receive such compensation as the resolution creating such office shall provide and as may from time to time otherwise be directed by the board by resolution.
In any county creating the position of county administrator the board by majority vote of all its members shall appoint some suitably qualified person to such office for a term of either three, four or five years, as determined by the board of freeholders at the time of the appointment, and until appointment and qualification of his successor.
N.J.S. § 40A:9-42