[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Hanover 12-26-1968 by Ord. No. 19-68; amended in its entirety 3-8-1973 by Ord. No.
2-73. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 11-12-1998 by Ord. No. 28-98]
A.Â
An Environmental Commission is hereby established
for the Township of Hanover for the protection, development or use
of natural resources, including water resources located within the
Township of Hanover. The Commission shall consist of seven members
and two alternate members appointed by the Mayor and one of whom shall
also be a member of the Municipal Planning Board and all of whom shall
be residents of the Township of Hanover. At the time of the appointment
of the alternate members, one shall be designated as "Alternate 1"
and the other shall be designated as "Alternate 2." The members shall
serve without compensation, except as hereinafter provided.
B.Â
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 Commission
shall be for one, two or three years, to be designated by the Mayor
in making his appointments so that the terms of approximately 1/3
of the members will expire each year, and their successors shall be
appointed for terms of three years and until the appointment and qualification
of their successors. The Mayor or governing body of the municipality
may remove any member of the Commission for cause, on written charges
served upon the member and after a hearing thereon at which the member
shall be entitled to be heard in person or by counsel. A vacancy on
the Commission occurring otherwise than by expiration of a term shall
be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as an original
appointment.
An Environmental Commission organized under
this chapter shall have power to conduct research into the use and
possible use of the open land areas of the Township of Hanover 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 purpose. It shall keep an index of all open areas, publicly
or privately owned, including open marshlands, 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 or the Mayor
and Township Committee of the Township of Hanover plans and programs
for inclusion in the Township of Hanover Master Plan and the development
and use of such areas. The Commission shall also have the 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.
The Environmental Commission may, subject to
the approval of the governing body of the Township of Hanover, 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 a conveyance on conditions or with limitations or reversions)
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 shall make an annual report to
the governing body of the municipality.
The governing body of the municipality may appropriate
funds for the expenses incurred by the Environmental Commission. The
Commission may appoint such clerks and other employees as it may from
time to time require, within the limits of the funds appropriated
to it.
The Conservation Commission hereto established
pursuant to this chapter shall henceforth be the Environmental Commission
for Hanover Township.
