There is hereby created in the Village of Ridgefield
Park an Environmental Commission pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et
seq., with the membership, powers, duties and responsibilities hereafter
set forth in this chapter.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records
of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report to
the Board of Commissioners of the Village.
The meetings of the Commission shall be subject
to the Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.), and its
records shall be considered public documents.
The Environmental Commission shall have the
following powers and duties:
A. 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
it may from time to time recommend to the Planning Board plans and
programs for inclusion in the Village Master Plan and for the development
and use of such areas.
B. The Environmental Commission may, as it deems fit,
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.
C. The Environmental Commission may advertise, prepare,
print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which,
in its judgment, it deems necessary for its purposes.
D. The Environmental Commission shall have the 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.