[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of
the City of Somers Point 5-22-1980 as Ord. No. 7-1980 (Ch. 35A of 1967 compilation).
Sections 25-2A and 25-5 amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch.
1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Development regulations — See Ch. 114.
The purpose of this chapter is to create an
Environmental Commission, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq., to
advise the City Council in matters concerning the protection, development
or use of natural resources, including water resources, located within
the territorial limits of Somers Point, New Jersey.
A.
The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed
by the Mayor, one of whom shall be designated by the Mayor as the
Chairperson. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Mayor, all
powers vested in the Mayor shall be vested in the Mayor Pro Tem.
[Amended 3-14-1991 by Ord. No. 6-1991]
B.
One member shall be a member of the Planning Board,
and all members shall be residents of Somers Point, New Jersey.
C.
All members shall serve without compensation.
A.
Initially, two Commissioners shall be appointed for
one-year terms, two for two-year terms and three for three-year terms.
Thereafter, each appointment shall be for a three-year term.
B.
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.
The Mayor or City Council of Somers Point 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.
[Amended 3-14-1991 by Ord. No. 6-1991]
The Environmental Commission organized under
N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq. 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 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, if none, to the Mayor and governing body of the municipality,
plans and programs for inclusion in a Municipal Master Plan and the
development and use of such areas.
[Added 5-8-2014 by Ord. No. 14-204]
The Somers Point Environmental Commission shall conduct its
activities and meetings in accordance with all applicable state law,
which shall include, but may not be limited to, the Open Public Meetings
Act and the Open Public Records Act.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq. and N.J.S.A.
47:1A-1 et seq., respectively.
[Added 5-8-2014 by Ord. No. 14-204]
The meetings and deliberations of the Somers Point Environmental
Commission shall proceed in accordance with the latest version of
Robert's Rules of Order.
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 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 this 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 and as shall be within the limits of funds
appropriated to it. No funds shall be expended without prior approval
of the City Council.
The Environmental Commission shall 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.
