[Adopted 9-27-1999 by Ord. No. 1999-26]
The Township Committee approved the creation of an Open Space Trust Fund for the acquisition and preservation of open space within the Township. The Planning Board adopted an Open Space Plan as part of the Delaware Township Master Plan. An Open Space Advisory Committee would be of substantial help to the Township to carry out the intents and purposes of an Open Space Plan and Open Space Trust Fund.
[Amended 2-11-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-02]
There is hereby established an Open Space Advisory Committee that shall consist of seven members whose terms and powers are set forth in this article.
The Open Space Advisory Committee shall be appointed by the Township Committee and shall be comprised of the following persons:
A. 
Two Class IV members of the Planning Board of the Township of Delaware;
B. 
One member of the Environmental Commission of the Township of Delaware.
[Amended 2-11-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-02]
C. 
One member of the Recreation Commission of the Township of Delaware.
[Amended 2-11-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-02]
D. 
Three citizens of the Township of Delaware.
E. 
In addition to the regular members, an alternate member shall be appointed in each of the categories designated in Subsections A through D.
The following terms of office shall apply:
A. 
The term for all Committee members in § 5-17, Subsections A, B and C, shall have terms that correspond with the terms of their respective appointed offices;
B. 
The terms for all Committee members in § 5-17D shall be three years, except the term of the members first appointed shall be one member for one year; one member for two years; and one member for three years;
C. 
Members shall serve without remuneration.
A. 
The Open Space Advisory Committee shall review, update and submit to the Planning Board annually or on a more frequent basis, the Open Space Plan of the Township of Delaware.
B. 
The Open Space Committee shall prepare and revise on an annual or more frequent schedule a prioritized list of properties it recommends that the Township acquire, and properties for which it recommends that permanent easements or development rights be acquired.
C. 
Together with the Planning Board and the Agricultural Advisory Board, the Open Space Advisory Committee will recommend to the Township Committee properties, acquisitions, easements or development rights that should be acquired.
D. 
The Open Space Advisory Committee may seek funding sources in the form of grants from individual and nonprofit agencies and provide detailed information regarding these sources to the Planning Board for consideration and action.
E. 
The Open Space Advisory Committee shall have the authority to receive inquiries from landowners seeking information about the Open Space Plan and Open Space Trust Fund and shall also solicit information from owners of properties that might be potential candidates for acquisition or other easements under the Open Space Plan.
F. 
The Open Space Advisory Committee shall continue to update the Township inventory of Open Space land on the Geographic Information System (GIS) to include information that will assist in the monitoring of the open space program.
G. 
The Open Space Advisory Committee may maintain an educational program to inform the citizens of Delaware Township of the merits and economic benefits and importance of the open space program and its status.
The Open Space Committee shall hold public meetings, which public meetings shall be held in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act,[1] and the Committee shall give appropriate notification of these meetings.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.
The Open Space Committee shall select from among its members a Chairman, a Vice Chairman to serve as the presiding officer in the absence of the Chairman, and a Secretary, whose function shall be to maintain minutes of the Committee's meeting and records of the proceedings of the Committee.
In the event that no property, easement or development rights are acquired under this article for a period of five consecutive years, then the Township Committee shall review the activities of the Open Space Advisory Committee and issue a report with recommendations and conclusions concerning the Open Space Trust Fund.