There is hereby established an Open Space Committee which shall
be an advisory committee consisting of seven members whose terms and
powers are hereinafter set forth.
The Open Space Committee shall be comprised of the following
persons:
A. Seven citizens of the Township appointed by the Mayor with the advice
and consent of the Township Committee.
The Open Space Committee shall make recommendations to the Township
Committee with regard to the open space needs of the Township. In
furtherance of same, the Open Space Committee shall:
A. Prepare an initial list of eligible open space properties in the
Township.
B. Submit to the Mayor and Township Committee, annually or on a more
frequent basis, a prioritized list of properties which it recommends
that the Township acquire and/or properties for which it recommends
that permanent easements or development rights be acquired. The Mayor
and Township Committee shall review the list as submitted and make
a determination as to which property acquisitions, easements or development
rights should be funded and appropriate the necessary funds accordingly.
C. Periodically review its initial list of potential open space properties,
adding or deleting properties as necessary.
D. Have the authority to receive inquiries from landowners seeking information
about the Open Space, Recreation and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund
and shall also have authority to solicit information from owners of
properties that might be potential candidates for acquisition or other
easements under the Open Space, Recreation and Farmland Preservation
Trust Fund.
E. Help the Recreation Committee draft a management plan for each open
space parcel purchased and owned by the Township.
F. Provide an annual status report to the Township Committee for each
parcel as well as a summary of the year's activities regarding
open space acquisition.
G. Undertake such other duties related to the open space needs of the
Township as may be delegated to it by the Township Committee.
The Open Space Committee shall hold public meetings, which public
meetings shall be held in accordance with the Open Public Meetings
Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq., and shall annually fix its meeting dates
and give appropriate notice of the time and place of its meetings
and shall not conduct any meeting except in compliance with the law.
The Open Space Committee shall select from among its members
a Chairman and a Vice Chairman to serve as the presiding officer in
the absence of the Chairman. The Committee shall also select a Secretary
whose function shall be to maintain minutes of the Committee's
meeting and records of the proceedings of the Committee.
The Open Space Committee shall organize annually on or after
January 1 of each year.