The Borough Commissioners of the Borough of Haddonfield does, pursuant
to the N.J.S.A. 40:45A-1 et seq., hereby create an Environmental Commission.
[Amended 6-12-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-17]
A. The Environmental Commission shall consist of seven members,
appointed by the Mayor, one of whom shall be a member of the Planning Board
of the Borough of Haddonfield and all of whom shall be residents of the Borough
of Haddonfield. The members shall serve without compensation except as hereinafter
provided. The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve as Chairman
and presiding officer of the Commission. The terms of office of the first
Commissioners shall be for one, two, or three years as designated by the Mayor
of the Borough of Haddonfield, so that the terms of approximately one-third
of the members will expire each year. The successor Commissioner shall thereafter
be appointed for a term of three years and shall remain in office until the
appointment and qualification of the successors. In addition, there shall
be two alternate members who are residents of the Borough, appointed by the
Mayor for a term of two years, and who shall serve without compensation. The
alternate members first appointed shall be for a term of two years for Alternate
No. 1 and one year for Alternate No. 2, so that the term of not more than
one alternate member shall expire in any one year. Thereafter all appointments
for alternate members shall be for two years.
B. Alternate members shall be designated at the time of
their appointment as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2." Alternate members
may participate in the discussion of the proceedings but may not vote except
in the absence or disqualification of a regular member. A vote shall not be
delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member.
In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate is to vote,
alternate members shall vote in the order of the numerical designations.
Removal of any member of the Commission may be accomplished as set forth
in the N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1. The Mayor or governing body may remove any member
of the Commission for cause, on written charges served upon the member and
after the hearing thereon at which the member shall be entitled to be heard
in person or by counsel. Any vacancies on the Commission occurring otherwise
than by expiration of the term shall be filled for the unexpired term.
The Environmental Commission shall have such powers as are provided
by the N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq. and as may be granted by the Borough Commissioners.
The Commission is established for the protection, development or use
of natural resources, including water resources, located within the territorial
limits of the Borough of Haddonfield. The Commission shall have the power
to conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas of
the municipality and may coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized
for similar purposes, and may advertise, prepare, print and distribute books,
maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which in its judgment it deems necessary
for its purposes. It shall keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately
owned, including open marshland, swamps and other wetlands, in order to obtain
information on the proper use of such areas and may from time to time recommend
to the Planning Board plans and programs for including in the Master Plan
and development and use of such areas.
The Environmental Commission may, subject to the approval of the governing
body, acquire property, both real and personal, in the name of the municipality
by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, devise or lease for any of its purposes
and shall administer the same for such purposes subject to the terms of the
conveyance or gift. Such an acquisition may be to acquire the fee or any lesser
interest, development right, easement (including conservation easement), covenant
or other contractual right (including conveyance on conditions or with limitations
or revisions), as may be necessary to acquire, maintain, improve, protect,
limit the future use of, or otherwise conserve and properly utilize open spaces
and other land and water areas in the municipality.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records of its meetings and
activities and make an annual report to the governing body.
The Commission may appoint such clerks and other employees and incur
such expenses as it may from time to time require, provided that the same
shall be within the limits of funds appropriated to it by the governing body
or otherwise available to it.
The Environmental Commission shall have power to study and make recommendations
concerning open space preservation, water resources management, air pollution
control, solid waste management, noise control, soil and landscape protection,
environmental appearance, marine resources and protection of flora and fauna.