[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Bethlehem 9-4-1997
by Ord. No. 298-97. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There shall be an Economic Committee to be known as the "Township of
Bethlehem Economic Development Committee."
A.
The Committee shall consist of five members nominated
by the Mayor and appointed with the advice and consent of the Township Committee.
The Mayor shall be an ex officio member of the Economic Development Committee.
B.
When reasonably practicable, and when such persons having
such qualifications who desire to serve on said Committee are available, the
Mayor may appoint to the Committee at least one thoroughly competent representative
of each of the following groups: industry, labor, banks or banking, a lawyer
and a real estate broker. No member shall be associated with or have an interest
in construction or real estate.
C.
A member of the Committee need not be a resident of the
township, but residents should be appointed in preference to nonresidents.
D.
The members of the Committee shall choose annually from
among its members a Chairman and such officers as it may deem necessary. A
majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.
The term of each member shall be for three years. The initial term of
the first Committeemen shall expire on December 31 of the first, second and
third years next ensuing after the date of their appointment. One member shall
be appointed for one year, two members for two years and two members for three
years. At the expiration of each of the above terms, new members and members
reappointed shall serve for terms of three years and until their successors
are appointed and qualify.
A.
The employees and assistants required by the Committee
shall be subject to the budget set forth by the Township Committee. In addition
thereto, said employees shall be recruited and shall serve similar to the
requirements of that which such employees would have under N.J.S.A. 40:55B-6.
B.
The Committee shall have and maintain a suitable office
where its maps, plans, documents, records and accounts shall be kept, subject
to public inspection at such times and under such reasonable conditions as
the Committee shall determine. Existing office facilities of the Township
of Bethlehem shall be used without charge, if practical.
A.
The Economic Development Committee shall have the following
purpose, functions and additional powers:
(1)
To inquire into and assess and publicize the extent,
advantages and utility of the vacant lands of such municipality, whether municipally
owned or otherwise.
(2)
To classify such vacant lands according to their adaptability
for the settlement thereon of various types of industrial, professional, commercial
and other business enterprises.
(3)
To study and analyze the various industries, professional
organizations and commercial and business enterprises of the nation and, to
the extent it deems necessary for its purposes, the enterprises of other nations,
with a view to ascertaining the opportunities for the economic expansion of
the township. In this connection, the reports, records, statistics, compendia
and similar documents of existing federal, state, county, municipal and other
governmental and public agencies, as well as of responsible private institutions,
boards, agencies and similar bodies interested in the compilation of the information
relating to economic development, shall be resorted to wherever possible in
order to avoid unnecessary original research and gathering of source material.
(4)
To advertise the economic advantages and opportunities
of the municipality and the availability of real estate within the municipality
for economic development and to encourage and work with the Township Committee
to accomplish the settlement within the municipality of beneficial industries,
professional organizations and commercial and business enterprises.
(5)
To solicit the several industries, professionals, organizations
and other commercial and business enterprises whose settlement in the township
is best calculated, in the judgment of the Committee, to advance the interests
of the township and of its citizens to purchase or lease the vacant lands
and property of or in the township.
B.
The Committee shall have the power to advise on issues
of economic development to the Planning Board and Township Committee.
A.
The Committee shall submit a report to Township Committee
biannually. Those reports shall be submitted by December 15 each year and
shall include Committee activities since the last report and any results and
pending results.
B.
The Committee shall also advise the Township Committee
immediately of any action or assistance needed by any other committee, commission
or board of the township or by Township Committee itself.
