The Township of Pilesgrove and the Borough of Woodstown Joint Environmental Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "Joint Commission") is hereby established pursuant to Chapter 245 of the Laws of 1968 (N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 to 40:56A-12), as amended by Chapter
35, P.L. 1972.
The Joint Commission is established for the
protection, development or use of natural resources, including water
resources, located within territorial limits of the municipalities
of the Township of Pilesgrove and the Borough of Woodstown. The Joint
Commission shall have power to conduct research into the use and possible
use of the open land areas of the municipalities 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
inclusion in the Master Plan and the development and use of such areas.
The Joint Commission may, subject to the approval
of the governing bodies, acquire property, both real and personal,
in the name of the municipalities 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
municipalities.
The Joint Commission shall keep records of its
meetings and activities and make an annual report to the governing
bodies.
The Joint Commission may appoint such clerks
and other employees and incur such expenses as it may from time to
time require, providing the same shall be within the limits of funds
appropriated to it by the governing bodies or otherwise available
to it.
The Joint 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.