An Environmental Commission is hereby established for the protection,
development or use of natural resources, including water resources,
located within the City of Clifton.
The Commission shall consist of seven members, appointed by
the Mayor, one of whom shall also be a member of the Municipal Planning
Board and all of whom shall be residents of the City. The members
shall serve without compensation except as hereinafter provided. The
Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve as Chairman and
presiding officer of the Commission.
The terms of office of the first Commissioners shall be for
one, two or three years, to be designated by the Mayor in making his
appointments so that the terms of approximately 1/3 of the members
will expire each year, and their successors shall be appointed for
terms of three years and until the appointment and qualification of
their successors. The Mayor or governing body 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. 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. Notwithstanding
any other provisions of law to the contrary, the powers of appointment
and removal hereby accorded to the Mayor shall be vested in the elected
official so designated or, where there is a vacancy in the office
of Mayor, in the duly designated Acting Mayor.
The Environmental Commission may, subject to the approval of
the governing body, acquire property, both real and personal, in the
name of the City 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 City of Clifton.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records of its meetings
and activities and shall make an annual report to the governing body
of the City.
The governing body 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.