[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the Borough of Wharton as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Sec. 2-16 of the Revised General Ordinances]
There shall be established an environmental
commission for the protection, development and use of natural resources,
including water resources, located within the territorial limits of
the Borough. The Commission shall be known as the "Environmental Commission
of the Borough of Wharton."
The Commission shall consist of seven members
to be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Borough
Council; one member shall also be a member of the Borough of Wharton
Planning Board, and all members shall be residents of the Borough.
Three members of the Commission shall be appointed for three-year
terms; two shall be appointed for two-year terms; two shall be appointed
for one-year terms. All subsequent appointments of members except
to fill vacancies shall be for terms of three years beginning January
1 of the first year of the term. Members of the Commission shall serve
without compensation.
The Environmental Commission shall have the
following duties:
A.
To conduct research into the use and possible use
of the open land areas of the municipality.
B.
To coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies
organized for similar purposes.
C.
To advertise, prepare, print and distribute books,
maps, charts, plans and pamphlets, which, in its judgment, it deems
necessary for its purposes, within the limits of funds appropriated
to the Commission.
D.
To keep an index of all open areas publicly and privately
owned, including open marshlands, swamps and other wetlands, and to
obtain information on the proper use of such areas.
E.
To recommend from time to time to the Planning Board,
plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan of the Borough
for development and use of such areas.
F.
To do such other acts and things as are reasonably
related to and designed to carry out the purposes and objectives of
the Commission, including without limitation and payment of such Clerks
and other employees as the Commission may from time to time require,
within the limits of the funds appropriated to the Commission.
G.
To keep records of the meetings and activities of
the Commission and to make an annual report to the Borough Council.
Subject to prior approval of the Planning Board
and Borough Council, the Environmental Commission may acquire property,
both real and personal, in the name of the Borough, by gifts, pledges,
grants, bequests, devises or lease, for any of the purposes of the
Commission, and it shall administer the same for such purposes, subject
to the terms of such conveyance or gift. The interest so acquired
may be 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 Borough.
