[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of White 4-6-1973 (Ch. 16 of the 1977 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Township of White Environmental Commission is hereby established
pursuant to Chapter 245 of the Laws of 1968 (N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 to
40:56A-5).
[Amended 3-11-1988; 7-9-1993; 7-11-1997; 9-6-2001]
A.
The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor,
one of whom shall be a member of the Planning Board and all of whom
shall be residents of the Township of White. Members of the Commission
shall serve without compensation. The Mayor shall designate one of
the members to serve as Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission.
B.
The terms of office of the regular members of the Commission shall
be one, two or three years, to be designated by the Mayor in making
his or her appointments, so that the terms of approximately 1/3 of
the members will expire each year. Their successors shall be appointed
for terms of three years and until the appointment and qualification
of their successors.
C.
In addition to the foregoing regular members of the Commission, two
alternate members shall be appointed by the Mayor to serve in accordance
with N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1. Said alternates shall be known as "Alternate
No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2," and they shall serve for a period of
two years and one year, respectively, from the date of his or her
appointment, so that the term of not more than one alternate member
shall expire in any one year.[1]
(1)
An alternate
member shall not be permitted to act on any matter in which he has
either directly or indirectly any personal or financial interest.
An alternate member may, after public hearing if he requests one,
be removed by the governing body for cause.
(2)
An alternate
member may participate in discussions of the proceedings but may not
vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member.
A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote
instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be
made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall
vote first.
The Commission is established for the protection, development
or use of natural resources, including water resources, located within
the territorial limits of the Township of White. The Commission shall
have power to 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. 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 plans and programs for inclusion in the Master
Plan and the development and use of such areas. The Environmental
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.
The Environmental Commission may, subject to the approval of
the Township Committee, acquire property, both real and personal,
in the name of the Township, 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.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records of its meetings
and activities and make an annual report to the Township Committee.
The Commission may appoint such clerks and other employees as
it may from time to time require, provided the same shall be within
the limits of funds appropriated to it by the Township Committee.
