Township of East Amwell, NJ Chapter 26 Farmland and Open Space Preservation Committee

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of East Amwell 5-8-2003 by Ord. No. 03-07. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Open space trust fund — See Ch. 27.

Right to farm — See Ch. 110.

§ 26-1 Establishment.

There is hereby established a Farmland and Open Space Preservation Committee (the “Committee”) in the Township of East Amwell, which shall consist of five members and two alternates whose terms, powers and affiliations are set forth herein.

§ 26-2 Membership.

A. Regular members. The Farmland and Open Space Preservation Committee shall consist of the following residents to be appointed by the Mayor:

(1) Mayor (or Mayor’s designee).

(2) Four members of the public who shall hold no elected office in the Township.

(3) Two alternates who shall hold no elected office in the Township.

B. Liaisons. A liaison to be selected annually by each of the boards, committees and commissions listed below and shall serve in a non-voting capacity:

(1) Agriculture Advisory Committee.

(2) Planning Board.

(3) Environmental Commission.

(4) Recreation Committee.

(5) Historic Preservation Committee.

C. Volunteers. All members shall serve without remuneration.

§ 26-3 Term of office.

A. Mayor (or Mayor’s designee): one year.

B. Regular member. Initially these members shall serve for staggered terms of one at three years, one at two years and two at one year. After the completion of the initial terms, the terms of these members shall be three years.

C. Alternate members. Initially, the first alternate will have a two-year term, and the second alternate a one-year term. After completion of the initial terms, the terms shall be two year terms.

§ 26-4 Officers.

Initially, the Chair and Vice Chair shall be appointed annually by the Mayor for a one-year term. Thereafter, the Chair and Vice Chair shall be selected from the regular members and voted upon by the regular members for one-year terms.

§ 26-5 Administrative secretary.

An administrative secretary shall be appointed annually by the Township Committee. It shall be the secretary’s responsibility to maintain minutes of the Committee’s meetings and records of the proceedings of the Committee as well as any administrative duties as determined by the Committee. This shall be a paid position.

§ 26-6 Public meetings.

The Farmland and Open Space Preservation Committee shall hold public meetings on a regular basis, which shall be held in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act[1] and upon appropriate notice of such meetings having been given.

[1] Editor’s Note: See N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.

§ 26-7 Powers and duties of Committee.

The Committee shall:

A. Review on an annual basis the Township’s Municipal Open Space, Recreation and Farmland and Historic Preservation Program as set forth in Chapter 27 of the Code of the Township of East Amwell.

B. Advise the Township Committee on the financial needs of the various preservation plans and on the use of the funds in the Municipal Open Space Trust Fund as set forth in the Township’s Open Space Trust Fund Ordinance (Chapter 27 of the Code of East Amwell Township).

C. Develop and update for the Township Committee’s approval criteria for the preservation of open space and farmland.

D. Seek on behalf of the Township opportunities for the preservation of open space and farmland in the Township.

E. Research funding from governmental and private sources as well as other means for preserving open space and farmland in the Township.

F. Inform and educate residents about the Township’s open space and farmland preservation programs and goals.

G. Maintain an inventory of preserved lands and conservation easements in the Township.

H. Monitor compliance with deed restrictions and easements in the Township.

I. Perform such administrative duties as are necessary for the implementation of the Township’s open space and farmland preservation programs and goals.