The City of Linwood Environmental Commission is hereby established pursuant
to Chapter 245 of the Laws of 1968 (N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 to 40:56A-12), as amended
by Chapter 35, P.L. 1972, Chapter 334, P.L. 1975, Chapter 168, P.L. 1989.
The Commission is established for the protection, development or use
of natural resources, including water resources, located within territorial
limits of the City of Linwood. The Commission shall have power to conduct
research into the use and possible use of the open land areas of the municipality
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 marshland, 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.
The Environmental Commission may, subject to the approval of the governing
body, acquire property, both real and personal, in the name of the municipality
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 municipality.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records of its meetings and
activities and make an annual report to the governing body.
The Commission may appoint such clerks and other employees and incur
such expenses as it may from time to time require, providing the same shall
be within the limits of funds appropriated to it by the governing body or
otherwise available to it.
The Environmental Commission shall have power to study and make recommendations
concerning open space preservation, water resources management, air pollution
control, solid waste management, noise control, soil and landscape protection,
environmental appearance, marine resources and protection of flora and fauna.