[Adopted 5-6-1986 by Ord. No. 437 (Ch.
9 of the 1970 Code)]
Pursuant to the Laws of 1968, Chapter 245, as
amended, of the State of New Jersey (N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq.), there
is hereby created a public body corporate and politic in the name
of and style of "Runnemede Environmental Commission."
The Runnemede Environmental Commission hereby
created is an environmental commission as contemplated and provided
for by said public law and shall have and exercise all the powers
and perform all of the duties provided by said statute and any other
statutes heretofore or hereafter enacted and applicable thereto. Specifically,
though not limited to, the Commission is hereby established for the
protection, development or use of natural resources, including water
resources, located within the Borough of Runnemede.
A.
Creation of Board. The Environmental Commission shall
consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor.
A.
All members of the Environmental Commission shall
serve without compensation.
B.
The terms of office for the first Commissioners shall
be one, two, or three years, to be designated by the Mayor, so that
a term of approximately 1/3 of the members will expire each year,
and their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years and
until the appointment and qualification of the successor.
C.
The removal and filling of a vacancy shall be pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1.
The Mayor shall designate one of the members
to serve as Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission. The
Commission may employ experts and a staff and pay for their services
and for such other expenses as may be necessary and proper, not exceeding
in all the amount appropriated by the governing body for its use.
A.
The Commission shall have the 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, are
deemed necessary for its purposes. 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 Joint Planning/Zoning
Board of Adjustment plans and programs for inclusion in the Municipal
Master Plan and the development and use of such areas.
B.
The Commission shall have the further power to study
and make recommendations concerning open space preservation, water
resource management, air pollution control, solid waste management,
noise control, soil and landscape protection, environmental appearance,
marine resources and the protection of flora and fauna.
C.
The 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 acquisition may
be to acquire the fee or any lesser interest, development right, easement,
including conservation easement, covenant or other contractual right,
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.
