[Adopted 3-11-2003 by Ord. No. O-6-2003 (Ch. 42 of the 1978 Code); amended in its entirety 12-3-2018 by Ord. No. O-14-2018]
There is hereby established in the Township of Mantua a Recreation
Committee, which shall have the duties and powers hereinafter more
particularly set forth and the members of which shall be appointed
by the Township Committee in accordance with the provisions of this
article.
A.
The
Recreation Committee shall be composed of up to 15 members who shall
be citizens and residents of the Township of Mantua. Such members
shall be appointed by the Township Committee to serve three-year terms;
provided, however, that the initial appointments shall be made in
the following manner: five members for initial one-year terms, five
members for initial two-year terms, five members for initial three-year
terms. Initial appointments shall specify the respective one-, two-,
or three-year term to which the appointment is being made. All initial
terms whether filled by Township Committee shall commence January
1, 2019. After the conclusion of the initial terms as herein provided,
all terms shall be for three years.
B.
In
addition to the aforementioned members, the Township Committee shall
appoint a member of the Township Committee to serve as a liaison to
the Recreation Committee each year, who shall be permitted to participate
in discussions of the proceedings of the Committee but who shall not
be permitted to vote. Such members of the Township Committee shall
serve a one-year term.
C.
All
appointments shall expire on December 31. Initial appointments as
above provided shall be made for the balance of the one-, two-, or
three-year term designated, ending on December 31 of the applicable
year.
D.
Vacancies
shall be filled by the Township Committee for the unexpired term only.
The members shall serve until their respective successors are appointed,
found qualified, and take office.
A.
The
Township Committee shall cooperate with the Recreation Committee to
coordinate and provide equipment for recreational activities, as well
as to coordinate the development, operation and maintenance of parks,
public places, playgrounds and recreational areas in the Township
of Mantua in order to provide for the maximum benefit and planned
development for the residents of the Township of Mantua.
B.
The
Township Committee may, from time to time, by resolution, place activities,
parks, public places, playgrounds and recreational areas under the
jurisdiction of the Recreation Committee for development, operation
or maintenance thereof, or for such purposes as may be specified in
any such resolution. The Township shall continue to be responsible
for the care, custody and policing of any such parks, public places,
playgrounds and recreational areas, which from time to time may be
placed under the jurisdiction of the Recreation Committee, unless
such responsibilities or any others shall be specifically assigned
in any such resolution.
C.
The
Recreation Committee herein established shall not be deemed to be
a park or recreation commission pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:12-1 et seq.,
but such Recreation Committee shall have only those powers and duties
as may be set forth herein or as may be more particularly provided
by resolution of the Township Committee.
D.
There
shall be no appropriation of public funds to the Recreation Committee,
except as may be provided by the Township Committee for designated
purposes consistent with the intent of this article. The Recreation
Committee shall recommend to the Township Committee proposals from
time to time as may be consistent herewith.
E.
The
Township Committee shall obtain liability insurance coverage covering
the approved activities under the jurisdiction of the Recreation Committee,
the participants in those activities, the Township of Mantua and individual
members of the Recreation Committee.
F.
Neither
the Recreation Committee nor any member or members thereof shall have
any power or right, express or implied, to bind or obligate the Township
of Mantua or the Township Committee, directly or indirectly.
The primary purpose of the Recreation Committee shall be to:
A.
Assist
in providing equipment as needed to programs concerned with the recreation
of the residents of the Township of Mantua.
B.
Provide
recommendations for the orderly development of parks or other public
lands in the Township of Mantua.
C.
Cooperate
with the Gloucester County Department of Parks and Recreation in coordinating
and advising on activities to be held on county-owned recreational
land should such aid be requested by the Gloucester County Department
of Parks and Recreation.
D.
Suggest
improvements needed for orderly development and to undertake such
improvements as it is authorized to carry out pursuant to this article
or hereafter by resolution of the Township Committee.
E.
Operate
and maintain such parks or other public lands over which it is given
jurisdiction in any resolution of the Township Committee and shall
do so pursuant to any standards set forth in any such resolution.
F.
Handle
other specific programs which may be assigned or authorized by the
Township Committee by resolution from time to time in accordance with
the general purposes of the Recreation Committee and the provisions
of this article and subject to the limitations contained herein.
The Recreation Committee shall not act in any manner which would
cause a forfeiture of any lands of the Township of Mantua. The Township
Committee reserves the right to limit the jurisdiction, purposes or
programs of the Recreation Committee at any time by resolution of
the Township Committee.
A.
The
Recreation Committee may organize as it sees fit, choosing a Chairperson
and such other officers from among its members as it may deem advisable,
adopt rules and bylaws for the proper administration of its functions
and formulate committees for the administration and handling of its
programs.
B.
Members
shall attend 1/2 of all public meetings in each calendar year and
shall not be absent from three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings.
The Committee may petition the Township Committee for removal and
replacement of any member with attendance below this standard and
it shall be within the Committee's sole discretion as to whether
to remove such member.
C.
A quorum of the Recreation Committee for the purposes of conducting
a meeting shall be four members. Recreation Committee Members may
attend Recreation Committee meetings telephonically. Members attending
Recreation Committee Meetings telephonically shall be counted towards
a quorum.
The Park Director appointed by the Township Committee shall
serve as a nonvoting member of the Recreation Committee.
A.
Any
recognized recreational group who feels or believes it is aggrieved
by any of the actions of the Park Director shall have the right to
appeal any of the Park Director's actions and/or recommendations
in the first instance to the Recreation Committee. Said appeal shall
be filed not later than 10 days from the date of any action or recommendation
taken by the Park Director and shall be in writing to the Recreation
Committee Chairperson.
B.
The
Recreation Committee Chairperson shall thereafter set the matter down
for a hearing and consider the testimony of witnesses and other evidence
to be presented and at the conclusion of which the Recreation Committee
shall render a decision as soon as is practicable.
C.
Any
party may appeal the action of the Recreation Committee to the Township
Administrator within five days of the Recreation Committee's
decision in writing to the Township Administrator.
D.
Any
party may appeal in the final instance the decision to the Township
Administrator to the Township Committee within five days of the Township
Administrator's decision in writing to the Township Clerk.
