[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Jefferson 11-3-1969 by Ord. No. 254; amended in its entirety 4-4-1977 by Ord. No.
8-77 (Ch. 24A of the 1967 Code).[1] Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: Regarding former Ch. 24A and
Ord. No. 254, this ordinance provided as follows: "It is recognized
that under the old ordinance and statute a Conservation Commission
has heretofore been created and established in the Township of Jefferson.
Therefore, in accordance with this ordinance, the name is changed
to "Environmental Commission," and all of the present members of Conservation
Commission are hereby deemed to be members of the Environmental Commission.
There is hereby created and established an Environmental
Commission, in and for the Township of Jefferson, for the protection,
development or use of natural resources, including water resources,
located within its territorial limits.
A.
The Commission shall consist of seven members and
two alternate members to be appointed by the Mayor. One regular member
shall also be a member of the Township Land Use Board, and all members
shall be residents of the Township of Jefferson.
[Amended 4-19-1989 by Ord. No. 3-89; 12-18-2019 by Ord. No.
19-28]
B.
The members shall serve without compensation, except
as hereinafter provided.
C.
The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve
as Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission.
D.
The terms of office of the first Commissioners 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.
E.
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.
F.
A vacancy on the Commission occurring otherwise than
by the expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term
in the same manner as an original appointment. Notwithstanding any
other provisions of law to the contrary, the powers of appointment
and removal hereby accorded to the Mayor of the Township of Jefferson
shall be vested in the elected official so designated or, where there
is a vacancy in the office of Mayor, in the duly designated Acting
Mayor.
G.
Alternate members. The two alternate members appointed
by the Mayor shall serve during the absence or disqualification of
any regular member. Such alternate member shall meet the same qualifications
as any regular member. The Mayor shall designate one alternate to
be Alternate No. 1 and one alternate to be designated as Alternate
No. 2. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate
member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote. The initial terms of
such alternate members shall be one and two years respectively. All
subsequent appointments of alternates, except to fill vacancies, shall
be for a period of three years and until the appointment and qualification
of their successors, beginning the first day of January of the first
year of the term.
[Added 4-19-1989 by Ord. No. 3-89]
A.
The Environmental Commission shall have the power
to:
(1)
Conduct research into the use and possible use of
the open land areas of the Township 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.
(2)
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.
(3)
Establish rules, policy and procedures for conducting
its meetings and obtaining its purposes.
(4)
Keep records of its meetings and activities and shall
make an annual report to the Township Council of the Township of Jefferson.
(5)
Select from its own members a Vice Chairman, Secretary
and Treasurer.
B.
The Commission 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 Land Use Board
or to the Township Council of the Township of Jefferson plans and
programs for inclusion in a Municipal Master Plan and the development
and use of such areas.
[Amended 12-18-2019 by Ord. No. 19-28]
The Environmental Commission may, subject to
the approval of the Township Council, acquire property, both real
and personal, in the name of the Township of Jefferson 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 Township of Jefferson.
The Township Council of the Township of Jefferson
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, provided that they
shall be within the limits of funds appropriated for such purposes
by the Township Council.
