The Township of Manalapan Environmental Commission
is hereby established pursuant to Chapter 245 of the Laws of 1968
(N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 to 40:56A-5).
The Environmental Commission is established
for the protection, development or use of natural resources, including
water resources, located within the territorial limits of the Township
of Manalapan. The Commission shall have the power to conduct research
into the use and possible use of the open land areas of the Township
and may coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for
similar purposes and may advertise, prepare, print and distribute
books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which, in its judgment, it
deems necessary for its purposes. It shall keep an index of all open
areas, publicly or privately owned, including open marshlands, swamps
and other wetlands, in order to obtain information on the proper use
of such areas, and may, from time to time, recommend to the Planning
Board plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan and the
development and use of such areas.
The Environmental Commission may, subject to
the approval of the Township Committee, acquire property, both real
and personal, in the name of the Township 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 Township.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records
of its meetings and activities and make an annual report to the Township
Committee.
The Commission may appoint such clerks and other
employees as it may, from time to time, require, provided that the
same shall be within the limits of funds appropriated to it by the
Township Committee.