There is hereby established a Farmland Preservation and Open
Space Advisory Committee comprised of Township residents appointed
by the Mayor with the consent of the other members of the Township
Committee each year at the annual Township reorganizational meeting.
The Farmland Preservation and Open Space Advisory Committee shall
consist of seven regular members and two alternate members.
The initial membership appointments to the Farmland Preservation
and Open Space Advisory Committee shall be as follows: two members
shall serve for one year, two members shall serve for two years, and
three members shall serve for three years. Alternate members shall
serve for terms of three years. Upon the expiration of each initial
member's appointment, the term of office for all members thereafter
shall be for three years, and three initial members whose terms have
expired shall be replaced with Township residents actively engaged
in farming and owning at least a portion of the land they farm. The
Farmland Preservation and Open Space Advisory Committee shall have,
within the appropriations which may be established by the Township
Committee, the following duties:
A.
In cooperation with the landowners, identify farmland and open space
suitable for preservation;
B.
Establish guidelines for the preservation of farmland and open space;
C.
Establish an application process for the landowners interested in
preserving farmland and open space;
D.
Educate the public about farmland and open space preservation programs,
and the compensation therefor;
E.
Evaluate and recommend to the Township Committee, with the cooperation
and approval of landowners, specific properties and projects for inclusion
in the Farmland Preservation and Open Space Trust Fund program, and
the amount of public funds needed to be expended therefor;
F.
Evaluate and recommend to the Township Committee appropriate funding
mechanisms for the preservation of farmland and open space;
G.
Meet on a regular basis in order to properly discharge its functions
herein, subject to the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et
seq.;
H.
Provide written monthly reports to the Township Committee and Planning
Board on the status of all farmland preservation and open space acquisition
efforts;
I.
Keep and maintain, in an appropriate place in the municipal building,
comprehensive records of its proceedings and all the studies and reports
it has generated or received in connection with its work.
In the event that no property or easements are acquired under
this chapter for a period of five consecutive years, then the Township
Committee shall review the activities of the Farmland Preservation
and Open Space Advisory Committee and issue a report with recommendations
and conclusions concerning the continuation of the fund.
[Amended 12-26-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-27]
There is hereby created a committee known as the "Agriculture
Advisory Committee." The Agriculture Advisory Committee shall be comprised
of five members, three of whom shall be actively engaged in farming
and owning at least a portion of the land they farm. The members of
the Agriculture Advisory Committee shall be appointed by the Mayor
with the consent of the other members of the Township Committee at
the annual reorganizational meeting. One member shall serve for one
year, two members shall serve for two years and two members shall
serve for three years. Upon the expiration of each member's initial
appointment, the term of office for all members thereafter shall be
for three years. Members of the Agriculture Advisory Committee who
are actively engaged in farming may also serve as members of the Farmland
Preservation and Open Space Advisory Committee. The duties of the
Agriculture Advisory Committee shall be as follows:
A.
Provide expertise and advice regarding farmland preservation to the
Farmland Preservation and Open Space Advisory Committee, the Township
Committee, and the Township Planning Board.
B.
Comply with the New Jersey Planning Incentive Grant ("PIG") program,
N.J.A.C. 2:76-17.1, et seq.
C.
Meet on a regular basis in order to properly discharge its functions
herein, subject to the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et
seq.
D.
File periodic reports with the Township Planning Board as required
by N.J.A.C. 2:76-17.4(a)1, and provide copies of same to the Township
Committee and to the Farmland Preservation and Open Space Advisory
Committee.
F.
Keep and maintain, in an appropriate place in the municipal building,
comprehensive records of its proceedings and all studies and reports
it has generated or received in connection with its work.
[Amended 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-1; 5-6-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-9]
There is hereby created the positions of Secretary, White Township
Farmland Preservation and Open Space Advisory Committee and Secretary,
White Township Agriculture Advisory Committee. One individual may
serve in both positions if deemed appropriate by the respective Committees.
Said positions shall be funded within the limits appropriated by the
Township Committee by ordinance.
