[Adopted 2-16-1995 by Ord. No. 662 (Ch.
20B of the 1970 Code)]
This article shall be known and may be cited
as the "Water Watch Committee Ordinance of the Borough of Oceanport,
New Jersey."
There is hereby established and created a committee
to be known as the "Water Watch Committee of the Borough of Oceanport."
The Water Watch Committee of the Borough of
Oceanport shall be composed of not less than 15 members to be selected
and appointed by the Mayor and Council at their next regular meeting
after this article shall be in effect.
The members of said Water Watch Committee shall
be nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by the vote of the Council.
All members shall serve for a term of one year, to expire on December
31 next succeeding the date of appointment. Vacancies in the membership
of the Committee, occurring for whatever cause, shall be filled in
the same manner in which the original appointments were made, for
the unexpired term thereof. Members shall serve for their respective
terms and until their successors are appointed and qualified.
Any member of the Water Watch Committee may
be removed from his or her office for cause, after an opportunity
has been given for a hearing and upon the vote of a majority of the
Council.
Members of the Water Watch Committee may consist
of both residents and nonresidents of the Borough of Oceanport and
shall serve without compensation, except as may be hereinafter provided.
Each member of the Committee shall, before assuming
office, take and subscribe an oath that he will faithfully and impartially
discharge the duties of his office.
The members of the Committee shall choose annually
from among its members a Chairman or President and such other officers
as it may deem necessary. One member of the Borough Council, appointed
annually by the Council, shall be a liaison member of the Committee
without voting privileges.
Eight or more members shall constitute a quorum
of the Committee.
A.
The purpose of this article shall be to create a Water
Watch Committee in the Borough of Oceanport to provide for the monitoring
of water quality of the rivers, bays, streams and other waterways
in and surrounding the Borough of Oceanport, to detect sources of
water pollution and to recommend to the Mayor and Council policies
or action to be taken or adopted by the Borough to eliminate or reduce
such pollution.
B.
To effectuate it purposes, the Committee shall have
the power to:
(1)
Obtain equipment and supplies necessary for the monitoring
and testing of water quality and the detection of pollution.
(2)
Conduct periodic testing and sampling of the rivers,
bays, streams and other waterways in and surrounding the Borough to
determine the quality of such water and to detect and identify the
presence, nature and source of any water pollution.
(3)
Establish liaison with other governmental organizations
and agencies to fulfill the purposes established by this article.
(4)
Design and implement community-wide educational programs
intended to foster public awareness of the sources of water pollution
and to encourage individual actions likely to reduce or eliminate
levels of water pollution.
(5)
Research sources of funding for the activities of
the Committee.
A.
During the month of December in each year, the Water
Watch Committee shall certify to the governing body of the Borough
of Oceanport the estimated sum necessary for the proper conduct of
its work during the ensuing fiscal year, which shall include the sums
estimated to be expended for such of the following items as it is
anticipated expenditure will be made for, namely:
B.
The governing body of the Borough of Oceanport shall
annually appropriate such sum as it may deem necessary for said purposes,
which sum may thereafter be administered and disbursed by the Committee.
The Committee shall make an annual report to
the Borough Council setting forth in detail its operation, transactions
and accomplishments for the preceding year.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to
make the Committee or any member thereof liable for the death or injury
of any person or for any injury to any property which may occur in
the performance of the powers and duties conferred on the Committee
by this article.