The Hazlet Township Environmental Commission
is hereby established pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq.
[Amended 9-4-2012 by Ord. No. 1511-12; 12-19-2023 by Ord. No. 1726-23]
A. The Commission shall consist of not less than five nor more than
seven members, appointed by the Mayor, one of whom shall also be a
member of the Planning Board and all of whom shall be residents of
the municipality.
B. The members shall serve without compensation, except as hereinafter
provided.
C. The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve as Chair and
presiding officer of the Commission.
D. The terms of office of the first Commissioners shall be for one,
two or three years, as designated by the Mayor in making his or her
appointment, and their successors shall be appointed for terms of
three years and until the appointment and qualification of their successors.
E. The Mayor or Township Committee may remove any member of the Commission
for cause, on written charges served upon the member and after a hearing
thereon, at which the member shall be entitled to be heard in person
or by counsel.
F. 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.
[Added 12-5-1989 by Ord. No. 769-89]
A. The Mayor shall appoint two alternate members, designated
as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2."
B. Commencing with the initial appointments, one alternate
shall be appointed for a term of one year and the other alternate
shall be appointed for a term of two years and thereafter all alternate
appointments shall be for terms of two years.
C. Alternates shall serve until their successors are
appointed and qualified.
D. Alternates shall perform all the duties and exercise
all the powers in the absence of a regular member of the Environmental
Commission.
[Added 12-5-1989 by Ord. No. 769-89]
The Environmental Commission may, with the approval
of the Township Committee, designate not more than two persons to
serve annually as associate members of the Environmental Commission,
who shall be neither regular nor alternate members of the Commission.
The Commission is established for the protection,
development or use of natural resources, including water resources,
and for the preservation of scenic, historic, esthetic, educational,
environmental, ecological and scientific values to be found in the
lands, waters and total environment of the Township. The Commission
shall have 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 purpose. 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 Planning Board plans and programs for inclusion in the Master
Plan and the development and use of such areas.
[Amended 6-25-1990 by Ord. No. 795-90]
The Environmental Commission may, subject to
the approval of the Mayor and 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 the purposes set forth
in this article. The Environmental Commission 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.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records
of its meetings and activities and make an annual report to the Mayor
and Township Committee.