[Adopted 5-21-1973 by Ord. No. 73-13]
The Borough of Metuchen Environmental Commission is hereby established pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq., and amendments thereto.
[Amended 2-5-1990 by Ord. No. 90-1]
A. 
The Environmental Commission shall consist of 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 Borough. The members shall serve without compensation, except as hereinafter provided. The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve as Chairperson and presiding officer of the Commission.
B. 
The terms of office of the first Commissioners shall be for one, two or three years, to be designated by the Mayor in making the appointments, and their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years and until the appointment and qualification of their successors. All terms of office shall run from January 1 in the year of appointment and shall terminate on December 31 at the end of the third year. The appointments shall be made in such a manner so that the terms of approximately 1/3 of the members shall expire each year.
C. 
The governing body 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.
D. 
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.
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 it deems 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 Planning Board plans and programs for inclusion in a Municipal Master Plan and the development and use of such areas. In addition, the 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.
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 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 Commission shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report to the governing body of the municipality.
The governing body may appropriate funds for the expenses incurred by the Commission. The Commission may appoint such clerks and other employees as it may from time to time require and as shall be within the limits of funds appropriated to it.