[Added 5-26-1970 by Ord.
No. 70-9]
The Township of Cranford 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).
A.
The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the Township
Committee, one of whom shall also be a member of the Planning Board,
and all of whom shall be residents of the Township of Cranford.
B.
The members shall serve without compensation except as hereinafter
provided.
C.
The Township Committee shall designate one of the members to serve
as Chairperson and presiding officer of the Commission.
D.
The terms of office of the first Commissioners shall be for one,
two or three years, to be designated by the Township Committee in
making their appointments, and their successors shall be appointed
for terms of three years and until the appointment and qualification
of their successors. The first members of the Commission shall be
appointed for the following terms:
E.
The Township Committee may remove any member of the Commission for
cause, on written charges served upon the member and after a hearing
thereon at which the member shall be entitled to be heard in person
or by counsel.
F.
A vacancy on the Commission occurring otherwise than by expiration
of term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner
as an original appointment.
Said Commission shall have the following powers:
A.
To promote the conservation and development of all the natural resources
of the Township of Cranford, including the Rahway River.
B.
To plan, inform and recommend, to the Township Committee and to the
public, local conservation programs.
C.
To implement conservation programs as authorized by the Township
Committee.
D.
To compile and keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately
owned, including open marshlands, swamps and other wetlands.
E.
To conduct research into the possible use of the open areas of the
Township of Cranford.
F.
To recommend to the Planning Board plans and programs for inclusion
in a municipal master plan and the development and use of such areas.
G.
To advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts,
plans and pamphlets which, in its judgment, it deems necessary for
its purposes.
H.
To act as the coordinating agency of the community on conservation
matters and a liaison between local conservation needs and regional,
state and federal agencies ministering to those needs.
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,
limit the future use or otherwise conserve and properly utilize open
spaces and other land and water areas in the Township.
Said Commission shall keep records of its meetings and activities
and shall make an annual report on or before the first day of February
and submit the same to the Township Committee of the Township of Cranford,
which report shall be comprehensive and detailed, covering operations,
receipts, disbursements and expenditures for the full year.
The Township Committee of the Township of Cranford may appropriate
funds for the expenses incurred by the Environmental Commission. Any
salaries for appointed clerks and other employees of the Environmental
Commission shall be fixed and determined by the Township Committee
of the Township of Cranford.
