The Natural Lands Trust Advisory Committee shall consist
of the Chairperson of the Environmental Commission, the Chairperson
of the Historic Preservation Commission, the Chairperson of the Recreation
Advisory Committee, Council President of the Stafford Township governing
body and one additional Township Council member designated by the
Township Council. The Committee shall also have ten at-large members
of the community who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice
and consent of the Township Council.
There shall be five alternates to the Natural Lands
Trust Committee who shall be designated as "Alternates 1, 2, 3, 4
and 5." The alternate members shall be permitted to participate at
meetings of the Committee but shall not vote unless a regular member
or members are absent, in which case an alternate member in numerical
order shall be permitted to vote in the absence of a regular member
or members. The terms of all members of the Natural Lands Trust Committee
shall be for a term of one year commencing on January 1 of the year
of the appointment and ending on December 31 of the year of the appointment.
A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of the term shall
be filled for the unexpired term. The 10 at-large members and five
alternate members of the community shall be appointed by the Mayor
with the advice and consent of the Township Council.
The members of the Committee shall serve without
compensation.
The Natural Lands Trust Advisory Committee shall be
responsible for the evaluation of properties to be acquired and developed
for open space and recreation and conservation purposes, pursuant
to the establishment of the annual levy for this purpose under N.J.S.A.
40:12-15.7. The Committee shall make recommendations to the governing
body concerning acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation
purposes, development of lands acquired for recreation and conservation
purposes, maintenance of lands acquired for recreation and conservation
purposes, acquisition of farmland for farmland preservation purposes,
historic preservation of historic properties, structures, facilities,
sites, areas or objects, and the acquisition of such properties, structures,
facilities, sites, areas or objects for historic preservation purposes.
Nothing contained in this section shall authorize
this Committee to enter into any contract or agreement or expend,
obligate or otherwise encumber funds of the Township for any of the
purposes set forth in this section, and the powers of the Committee
shall be limited to the making of recommendations and providing reports
as needed or appropriate to the governing body in accordance with
this section.
In the case of the Chairperson of the Environmental
Commission, Historic Preservation Commission and the Recreation Advisory
Committee, they shall have the right to designate, in writing, that
the Vice Chair of the Commission or Committee can serve in their place
in the case of their absence at a meeting.
The Township Administrator and the Community Development
Director shall be ex-officio members of the Natural Lands Trust Advisory
Committee and shall have the right to attend and participate at all
meetings of the Committee but shall not have a vote on the Committee.
The Council President of the Stafford Township governing
body or his or her councilmanic designee shall be the Chairperson
of the Natural Lands Trust Advisory Committee. The additional Township
Council member designated by the Township Council or his or her designee
shall be the Vice Chairperson of the Committee.