[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Old
Tappan 5-22-2000 by Ord. No. 716-00. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
There is hereby established the Open Space Advisory Committee of the
Borough of Old Tappan, hereinafter referred to as the "Committee."
[Amended 11-15-2004 by Ord. No. 867-04]
A.
The Committee shall consist of seven members appointed by the
Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council. Members shall be appointed
for a term of two years, except that the terms of four of the initially appointed
members shall expire on December 31, 2000, and the terms of the remaining
three initially appointed members shall expire on December 31, 2001.
[Amended 12-18-2006 by Ord. No. 928-06]
B.
The position of alternate member of the Committee is hereby established.
The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council, shall appoint two alternate
members to the Committee. Alternate members shall be designated at the time
of appointment by the Mayor as “Alternate No. 1” and “Alternate
No. 2.” The terms of 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. A vacancy
occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled by the Mayor
for the unexpired term only.
C.
Alternate members may participate in all matters but may not
vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member of any
class. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote
instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be made as
to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote first.
The Committee shall organize annually and from its members shall elect
a Chairperson who shall preside over all meetings, and a Vice Chairperson.
No member of the Committee shall receive compensation for his or her
service.
A.
Borough voters, at the November 2, 1999, general election,
approved a referendum establishing an Open Space Trust Fund which is to be
funded through the collection of local property taxes in an amount of $0.01
per $100 of assessed value for a period of five years. It is anticipated that
the total amount that this tax will yield will be approximately $70,000 per
year. These funds are designated for the purchase of open space so as to preserve
such land as open space and to keep it in its natural state and, if no open
space is available for purchase, then the moneys shall be used for such other
recreation, conservation, farmland preservation or historic preservation purposes
as may be permitted by law, to be determined following a public hearing.
B.
The Committee shall make recommendations to the Mayor
and Council for the use of the Open Space Trust Fund moneys. The Committee
shall have the responsibility of reviewing suggestions from all sources, including
the public, the Planning Board, the Environmental Commission, and the Mayor
and Council, regarding the use of the Open Space Trust Funds, and make recommendations
to the Mayor Council for the expenditure of such funds consistent with the
Borough referendum.
C.
The Committee shall maintain minutes of its deliberations
and shall report to the Mayor and Council the results of its ongoing activities
and determinations on a regular basis.