[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of
the City of Hackensack 11-20-1989 by Ord. No. 35-89. Amendments noted where
applicable.[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: The title of this chapters was amended 10-3-2022
by Ord. No. 44-2022 to add "AND GREEN TEAM."
[Amended 9-4-2018 by Ord.
No. 38-2018]
There is hereby created an Environmental Commission
for the City of Hackensack. The membership of the Commission shall
consist of seven persons who are citizens and residents of the City.
One such member shall also be a member of the Planning Board. The
members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor. Additionally,
there shall be two alternate members of the Commission, also appointed
by the Mayor, who shall be designated at the time of appointment as
"Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2."
[Amended 9-4-2018 by Ord.
No. 38-2018]
The Commission members first appointed shall
be appointed for the following terms: two members for one year, three
members for two years and two members for three years. Following the
initial appointments, all appointments shall be for three years, and
vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term only. The members
shall receive no compensation for their services. With the exception
of the Commission members first appointed, the term of office of each
appointee shall commence on the first day of January and shall expire
on the 31st day of December of the appropriate year. The Commission
members first appointed as aforesaid shall also serve from the date
of their respective appointments through and including December 31,
1989, at which time the term of years of their full appointment shall
be deemed to commence. The terms of the alternate members shall be
for two years, except that the terms of the alternate members first
appointed shall be two years for Alternate No. 1 and one year for
Alternate No. 2 so that the term of not more than one alternate member
shall expire in any one year. Any alternate member vacancy occurring
otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled by the Mayor
for the unexpired term only.
With the exception of the Chairperson, who shall
be designated annually by the Mayor, the Commission shall choose its
own officers, make its own rules and regulations for the discharge
of its duties and for the proper exercise of the powers conferred
upon it by the Mayor and Council and keep a record of its proceedings.
The Board shall meet at least monthly, but as frequently as may be
provided for in its rules and regulations and as circumstances may
require.
Subject to the availability of duly appropriated
funds by the Mayor and Council, the Environmental Commission shall
perform the following duties:
A.
Conduct research into the use and possible use of
the open land areas of the City.
B.
Prepare an index of all such open lands, publicly
and privately owned, within the City. Said index shall be updated
annually and, upon completion, shall be transmitted to the Mayor and
Council, the Planning Board and the Board of Adjustment.
C.
Make recommendations concerning such open lands to
the Mayor and Council and the Planning Board regarding plans and programs
for inclusions in the Master Plan.
D.
Study and make recommendations to the Mayor and Council,
including but not limited to open space preservation, water resources
management, air pollution control, solid waste managements, recycling
programs, noise control, soil and landscape protection, environmental
appearance and protection of flora and fauna.
E.
Coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized
for environmental and conservational purposes within the City.
F.
Prepare, print and distribute informational materials
which, in its judgment, it deems necessary for its purposes, so long
as the same relates to its authorized duties as set forth herein.
G.
When authorized by ordinance, review and report upon
any environmental impact statement referred to it by the Planning
Board or Board of Adjustment in a timely fashion.
H.
Upon receiving the prior approval by resolution of
the Mayor and Council, assist in the acquisition of property, real
and personal, by the City gift, purchase, grant, bequest, devise or
lease for any of its purposes and shall assist in the administration
of 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
or other contractual right, including a conveyance on conditions or
with limitation 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.
I.
Prepare such advisory reports and perform such other
duties as may from time to time be requested by the Mayor and Council.
The Mayor and Council may annually fix, determine
and appropriate a sum sufficient for the expenses of the Commission.
In the event that any member of the Commission
shall miss three consecutive meetings, the Commission shall report
such absences to the Mayor and Council. If the Mayor and Council,
after due inquiry, are satisfied that the absences were not occasioned
by reasonable cause, the Commission member may be removed by resolution
of the Mayor and Council.
[Added 10-3-2022 by Ord.
No. 44-2022]
Effective January 1, 2023, there is hereby established in and
for the City of Hackensack a "Green Team," which is a group of citizens
dedicated to the sustainability of the community. The Green Team shall
perform the following specific duties:
A.
Support the City of Hackensack's participation in the Sustainable
Jersey program.
B.
Facilitate the successful completion of the requirements for achieving
Sustainable Jersey certification.
C.
Educate and encourage all City employees, residents, and businesses
to participate in green initiatives.
D.
Collaborate with public and private green committees, state agencies,
nonprofit organizations, foundations, academic institutions, and industry
to ensure the replication of best practices and to ensure a coordinated
effort towards sustainability within the City of Hackensack and with
neighboring communities.
E.
Actively solicit and evaluate sustainable environmental ideas and
suggestions from the Hackensack community and recommend same to the
governing body.
[Added 10-3-2022 by Ord.
No. 44-2022]
A.
The Green Team will consist of no less than five nor more than 11
regular voting members, to be appointed by the City Council.
B.
Membership on the Green Team shall be persons who reside, are full-time
students or are employed in the City of Hackensack. Members of the
Green Team may also serve on other municipal boards or committees
without limitation.
C.
Appointments to the Green Team shall run for one year from the date
of City Council appointment.
D.
The City Council may appoint nonvoting associate members to the Green
Team to serve terms of one year, who are not required to reside, study
or work in the City of Hackensack.
E.
Green Team members shall serve on a voluntary basis and without compensation.
