[Adopted 3-5-1975 as Section 2:8 of Ch. II of the General Ordinances; amended in its entirety 5-19-1978 by Ord. No. 6-1978]
Pursuant to L. 1972, c. 35 (N.J.S.A. 40:56A.1 et seq.), there is hereby established in and for the Township of Pemberton an Environmental Commission, to be known as the "Pemberton Township Environmental Commission."
A. 
Term and appointment; vacancy.
[Amended 5-20-1981 by Ord. No. 9-1981]
(1) 
The Environmental Commission shall consist of seven members to be appointed by the Mayor, one of which seven members shall be a member of the Pemberton Township Planning Board. All members so appointed shall be residents of the Township of Pemberton. All appointments to such Commission shall be for a term of three years beginning the first day of January of the first year of the term. The Mayor shall designate which of the appointees shall serve as Chairman or Presiding Officer of the Commission. Any vacancy on the Commission other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term. Removal of any appointee shall be for cause, only on written charges and after hearing before the Mayor and Township Committee.
(2) 
In addition to resignation or death of an appointee or an appointee's moving his or her residence from the Township, any appointee who shall fail to attend three successively called meetings of the Commission shall be deemed to have vacated his or her appointment to the Commission, at the discretion of the Township Committee.
B. 
Powers. The Environmental 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 Pemberton Township Planning Board plans and programs for inclusion in a Township Master Plan and the development and use of such areas.
C. 
Property acquired. 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.
D. 
Records. The Environmental Commission shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report to the Township Committee.