[Amended 5-21-1979 by Ord. No. 43-79]
There shall be an Environmental Commission established
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq.
[Amended 4-16-1990 by Ord. No. 10-90; 3-20-2017 by Ord. No.
02-17]
A.
The Environmental Commission shall consist of seven members appointed
by the Mayor, one of whom shall be a member of the Planning Board.
The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve as Chairman
and presiding officer of the Commission. Appointments of members,
except to fill vacancies, shall be for three-year terms beginning
January 1 of the first year of the term. Terms shall be staggered
by reason of initial appointments. Members of the Commission shall
be residents of Washington Township and shall serve without compensation.
A vacancy on the Commission occurring otherwise than by expiration
of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner
as an original appointment.
B.
There shall be two alternate members, appointed by the Mayor and
designated at the time of appointment as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate
No. 2". The terms for 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 appointing authority for the unexpired term
only.
C.
An alternate member may participate in discussions of the proceedings
but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular
member. 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 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. It may advertise, prepare,
print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which,
in its judgment, is necessary for its purposes. It shall keep an index
of all open space 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 Planning Board plans and programs for inclusion in a Township
Master Plan and the development and use for such areas.
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. Acquisitions may be to acquire the fee or any lesser interest,
development right, easement, including conservation easements, 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.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records
of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report to
the Township Committee.
