Township of Teaneck, NJ Article XXVI Council's Advisory Boards

Sec. 2-142 General provisions.

[Ord. No. 3158, 7-26-1988, § 2-30.1; amended by Ord. No. 3421, 3-28-1995, § 1; Ord. No. 3427, 7-11-1995, § 1; Ord. No. 3616, 10-12-1999, § 1; Ord. No. 3621, 11-9-1999, § 1; Ord. No. 3649, 9-12-2000, § 1; Ord. No. 3894, 7-26-2005, § 1; Ord. No. 9-2016, 4-5-2016; Ord. No. 15-2016, 6-14-2016; Ord. No. 23-2016, 9-6-2016; Ord. No. 19-2019, 8-13-2019; Ord. No. 15-2020, 8-11-2020; Ord. No. 21-2022, 8-30-2022; Ord. No. 6-2023, 1-24-2023; Ord. No. 44-2023, 1-23-2024]

The following provisions are applicable generally to all of Council's advisory boards, except where otherwise specifically provided.

(a) Role of Council's advisory boards:

(1) Discuss items pertinent to the Council's advisory board content area.

(2) Provide guidance and make recommendations to the Township Council as to potential Township action.

(3) Discuss items tasked to the Council's advisory board/committee by the Township Council for its advice and recommendations.

(b) Legal authority of Council's advisory boards.

(1) Council's advisory boards are purely advisory and are not collectively empowered as a voting body to perform any public governmental function affecting the rights, duties, obligations, privileges, benefits, or other legal relations of any person.

(2) Council's advisory boards are not "public bodies," as that term is defined under the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.), and are not subject to the notice, meeting, and other provisions of said Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent practicable, Council's advisory boards shall provide an annual schedule of their meetings to the Township Clerk for posting on the Township's website, posting at Town Hall and distribution to the Township's official newspapers, and shall provide the Township Clerk with at least 48 hours' advance notice of the holding of any special meetings together with the agendas therefor, to the extent known.

(3) Any recommended actions or positions of a Council's advisory board are subject to and must be approved by the Township Council.

(4) Council's advisory boards do not have any fiduciary responsibilities and are not authorized to expend public funds. They do not have any governance authority to act independent of the Council.

(5) While the Council's advisory board meetings are not required by statute to be open to the public, as a matter of policy, the Council has determined that advisory board meetings shall be opened to the public. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the chairperson of a Council's advisory board may exclude the public during such portions of a meeting at which matters concerning personnel, privacy interests, pending or anticipated litigation, matters falling within the attorney-client privilege, or other matters of a confidential nature are discussed.

(6) The public can submit items for discussion to the Council's advisory board chair and Council liaison for review and potential for inclusion on their meeting agenda.

(c) Role of Township Council liaisons.

(1) The Township Council shall designate a Council liaison to each Council's advisory board who shall attend meetings of the assigned Council's advisory board as available.

(2) If a liaison cannot attend, they will reach out to the Council's advisory board's chair for an update on the meeting.

(3) Bring items to the attention of Council that the Council's advisory board wants the Council to discuss and consider action on.

(4) Share information with the Council's advisory board to facilitate their functions.

(5) Share information about the Council's advisory board's activities with the Council.

(6) Help connect the Council's advisory board to other Township resources as necessary.

(7) Ask the appointed Council's advisory board's chair to add agenda items for their meetings as necessary.

(d) Role of Council's advisory board chairs. Chairs of Council's advisory boards will:

(1) Prepare an agenda and ensure distribution through the Clerk's office to the appointed board members and the liaison approximately one week before each meeting. Agendas will be posted on the Township's website by the Clerk approximately five days before a meeting.

(2) Work with appointed Council's advisory board members to determine meeting frequency and timing for the coming year taking into consideration the schedule of Council meetings and Township budget preparation.

(3) The chair or designee will give the meeting schedule of the board to the Clerk for posting on the Township calendar at the website.

(4) By December 1 of year, the chair of each Council's advisory board will provide a yearly written report to the Council on activities completed by the Council's advisory board and, in addition, include what the Council's advisory board would like to work on in the coming year.

(5) Work with the Township Clerk and orient new members to the appointed board.

(e) Role of Council's advisory board members. Council's advisory board members shall:

(1) Be an active participant in the meetings.

(2) Complete any assigned tasks.

(3) Attend all meetings of the respective Council's advisory board to which they are appointed.

a. If a Council's advisory board/committee member is unable to attend a meeting, they need to notify the chair as soon as possible in order to ensure that a quorum can be achieved to hold the meeting.

b. If a member misses 50% or more of the meetings held in a single year, the chair and the board's Council liaison will meet with the member to determine his/her ability to continue serving on the Council's advisory board.

(f) Council's advisory board appointment process. Members to Council's advisory boards shall be appointed by the process referenced in § 2-21(b) of the Township Code and as follows:

(1) By January 15 of each year, Council liaisons and their respective Council's advisory board/committee chairs shall discuss membership of Council's advisory boards. In the event of vacancies, the position(s) shall be included in a call for candidates for appointment. The Council liaisons will notify the Clerk of what positions need to be filled and the Clerk shall publicize a call for new applicants.

(2) The Council will appoint the chair of each of Council's advisory boards.

(g) Council's advisory board members' term of office:

(1) Except as otherwise provided, each Council's advisory board or committee will have an odd number of members, a total being between five to nine members, including the chair.

(2) Except as otherwise provided, each term will be two years. Terms shall be staggered to minimize the number needing appointment or reappointment each year for each Council's advisory board or committee.

(3) All full terms will expire on December 31 of the year in which that Council's advisory board member's term ends or until the board member's successor is qualified and appointed.

(4) Terms will run from the date of the appointment to December 31 of the year in which that Council's advisory board member's term ends.

(5) Anyone filling an unexpired term will serve to the end of that term and then can be considered for reappointment during the normal time for the call for candidates.

(h) Council's advisory board quorum.

(1) A "quorum" shall be defined as a majority of the voting members of the Council's advisory board.

(2) Actions and recommendations of a Council's advisory board shall be taken by a vote of the majority of a quorum present.

(i) Council's advisory board reporting.

(1) Items that a Council's advisory board wants the Council to consider will be brought to the Council by that Council's advisory board's Council liaison.

(2) Each fall, the Clerk will request from each Council's advisory board chair a report on the past year's activities and its plans for activities for the coming year. These reports will be reviewed by Council to determine if they meet the needs of the Council/Township and to approve items that need to be included in the upcoming Township budget.

(3) The Council may request a Council's advisory board chair to attend a Council meeting to address the Council at any time.

(j) Council's advisory board minutes.

(1) Each Council's advisory board shall assign a member to take minutes of the actions taken at each meeting.

(2) Minutes will be completed and distributed to the Council's advisory board no later than five days before the next meeting.

(3) Following approval of the minutes by the Council's advisory board, the approved minutes shall be submitted to the Clerk's office for review and filing.

(4) Approved minutes shall be posted on the Township's website by the Clerk within one week of submission.

(k) Electronic communication. All communications in the course of official business directed to a Council's advisory board shall be through the designated "teanecknj.gov" Council's advisory board email address posted on the Township website. The Clerk shall forward the communication to the Council's advisory board chairperson and Council liaison to review.

(l) Public input and comments.

(1) There shall be a fifteen-minute good and welfare period at each meeting, allowing each speaker three minutes to speak. The chair may extend good and welfare at the chair's discretion.

(2) When determining the need for outside consultation, Council's advisory boards need to first make a request to Council with regards to outside resources that it feels would aid its discussions. These outside resources should be at no cost to the Township unless approved by the Township Council. Access to outside expertise can occur only with the approval of the Council.

(3) Sources of outside expertise or invited public are not permitted to participate in the running of a meeting or the decisionmaking of any Council's advisory board but may attend a meeting with the approval of the chair in order to share their expertise with the Council's advisory board.

Sec. 2-143 Establishment of Council's advisory boards.

[Added by Ord. No. 15-2020, 8-11-2020; amended by 1-9-2024 by Ord. No. 43-2023; Ord. No. 44-2023, 1-23-2024; Ord. No. 2-2024, 1-23-2024; Ord. No. 23-2025, 7-15-2025]

The following Council's advisory boards are hereby established.

(a) A Parks, Playgrounds, and Recreation Advisory Board is hereby created.

(1) Its membership shall consist of nine residents appointed by the Council and the Director of Recreation as an ex officio member.

(2) Purpose. The purpose of the Board is to advise the Council respecting the acquisition, development, maintenance, and use of parks and recreational facilities within the Township of Teaneck, including recreational programs.

(b) A Shade Tree Advisory Board is hereby created.

(1) Because of the nature and expertise required of such Board, its membership shall be as follows:

a. The Shade Tree Council's Advisory Board shall consist of seven members and two alternate members. As to the regular members, one shall also be a member of the Township Environmental Commission and shall have a term of two years or a term which shall terminate at the completion of his or her term of office as a member of the Environmental Commission, whichever first occurs; and six shall be residents of Teaneck who have knowledge of shade tree issues. The terms of the six resident members first appointed shall be so determined that, to the greatest practicable extent, the expiration of such terms shall be distributed evenly over the first two years after their appointments, as determined by resolution of the Council; provided, however, that no term of any such member shall exceed two years, and thereafter all such resident members shall be appointed for terms of two years. Two alternate members shall be appointed by the Council to serve for terms of two years; provided, however, that the initial terms of such alternate members be one year and two years, respectively. Such alternate members shall be designated by the Council as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2" and shall serve during the absence or disqualification of any regular member or members. Alternate members may participate in discussions of the proceedings but may not vote, except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote.

b. A designee of the Township Manager shall be an ex officio member of the Shade Tree Council's Advisory Board.

c. With the permission of and budgetary control by the Township Manager, a consultant and/or an expert in shade tree management and urban forestry, with preference given to volunteered services, shall be an ex officio member of the Shade Tree Council's Advisory Board.

(2) Purposes. The purposes of the Shade Tree Council's Advisory Board is to advise the Council on the welfare, maintenance, and planting of shade trees within the Township of Teaneck.

(c) A Pride Awareness Advisory Board is hereby created.

(1) Purposes. The purposes of the Pride Awareness Advisory Board are to raise public awareness of the various ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, gender identity or expression and other important aspects that make up the mosaic of the Teaneck community, to foster a respect and honor for all persons, regardless of any individual trait within our diverse community and celebrate and build a culture of inclusiveness and acceptance.

(2) Membership. The Pride Awareness Advisory Board will consist of seven members, including the chair. The Council may appoint Teaneck residents and other persons associated with local community groups, faith communities, local businesses, schools, mental health organizations, hospitals, physicians, attorneys, health care professionals, social service organizations and municipal officials as the Council deems appropriate who express a commitment to promoting pride awareness in Teaneck. The Council shall appoint a chairperson from among the membership each year.

(3) Functions. The Pride Awareness Advisory Board may, subject to the availability of adequate funds, undertake a pride awareness campaign, participate in pride awareness programs, host pride awareness forums, distribute pride awareness promotional materials, coordinate pride awareness events with the Township and/or local community service organizations, advise the Council as to additional pride awareness programs, and perform such other functions in furtherance of the purposes of furthering pride awareness within the Township of Teaneck.

(d) An Advisory Board on Community Relations is hereby created.

(1) The purpose of the Board is to advise the Council on strengthening the bonds and improving relations between and among the diverse citizenship of the Township of Teaneck and to foster better communication and interaction across racial, ethnic, religious, cultural, economic, gender, age, and geographical lines.

(2) The membership of the Board shall consist of nine regular members and two alternate members appointed by the Council from residents of Teaneck representing a cross section of the community and a representative from the Police Department as an ex officio member. Alternate members shall be designated by the Council as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2" and shall serve during the absence or disqualification of any regular member or members. Alternate members may participate in discussions of the proceedings but may not vote, except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote.

(e) A Hackensack River Greenway Advisory Board is hereby created.

(1) Purpose. The purpose of the Board is to advise the Council respecting the creation, acquisition, maintenance, and use of a 3.5-mile Hackensack River Greenway through Teaneck and to provide information to the public respecting same. The Greenway contains a pedestrian walkway and nature trail. Interpretive signs have been installed at intervals along the Greenway, describing the flora, fauna, and historic attractions of the area. Native vegetation is encouraged within the Greenway to protect and improve the Hackensack River by creating a natural, green buffer between Teaneck's developed area and the river. The Greenway runs through three municipal parks and the Fairleigh Dickenson University campus in Teaneck. Ultimately, the goal is for the Teaneck Greenway to be a continuous trail along the Hackensack River, linking pathways planned by adjacent towns.

(2) Membership. The membership shall consist of seven residents, and a representative from the Parks, Playgrounds, and Recreation Advisory Board selected by the Council and a representative from Fairleigh Dickenson University selected by the University.

(f) A Teaneck Municipal Alliance Against Substance Abuse is hereby created.

(1) Purpose. The purpose of the Municipal Alliance is the prevention of alcoholism and substance abuse and the development and support of prevention programs.

(2) Duties. The duties and responsibilities of the Municipal Alliance is to advise the Council on substance abuse issue and assist the Council in the following matters:

a. Identifying substance abuse prevention, education, and community needs (N.J.S.A. 26:2BB-9).

b. Implementing the Alliance programs formulated pursuant to Section 8 of P.L. 1989, c. 51 (N.J.S.A. 26:2BB-8).

c. Applying for funding through the procedures set forth by the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA).

d. Organizing and coordinating efforts involving schools, law enforcement, business groups, and other community organizations for the purpose of reducing substance abuse.

e. In cooperation with local school districts, assist in the development of comprehensive and effective substance abuse education programs in grades K through 12.

f. In cooperation with local public and private schools, assist in the development of procedures for the intervention and referral to treatment for students abusing alcohol and/or drugs.

g. Developing comprehensive substance abuse education support and outreach efforts for parents in the community.

h. Developing comprehensive substance abuse awareness programs.

i. Creating a network of community leaders, private citizens, and representatives of public and private human service agencies who will make a comprehensive and coordinated effort to promote and support substance abuse prevention and education programs and related activities with an emphasis on youth.

j. Conducting an assessment of its community in relation to substance abuse issues.

k. Identifying existing efforts and services acting to reduce substance abuse.

l. Coordinating projects within the municipality to avoid fragmentation and duplication.

m. Developing programs to be implemented at the municipal level or participate in regionally developed programs that accomplish the purpose of the Alliance effort and the purposes of the Municipal Alliance Committee.

n. Keeping such records and providing such information to the Governor's Council as may be required for fiscal audit.

o. Cooperating with GCADA (Governors Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse) and the LACADA (Local Council's advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse) in providing municipal data to assist the Alliance effort.

p. Establishing an annual budget and allocate available resources, financial and otherwise, in furtherance of the goals of the Committee.

q. Making recommendations to the governing body addressing the needs identified by the Committee.

(3) Membership. Membership shall consist of nine members, who may include the Chief of Police or designee; the President of the Board of Education or designee; the Superintendent of Schools or designee; a student assistance coordinator; a representative of the parent-teacher association; a representative of the local bargaining unit for teachers; a representative of the Chamber of Commerce; a municipal court judge; representatives of local civic associations; representatives of local religious groups; and private citizens.

(g) A Senior Citizens Advisory Board is hereby created.

(1) Purpose. The purpose of the Board is to advise the Council with respect to improving the quality of life for Teaneck's senior citizens and to make recommendations to the Township Council about the concerns of the older population, including program offerings at the Senior Center, transportation opportunities, and wellness programs.

(2) Membership. The membership shall consist of 12 residents of the Township of Teaneck.

(h) A Social Services Advisory Board is hereby created.

(1) Purpose. The purpose of the Board is to advise the Council and the Social Services Coordinator with respect to the social services programs available to the residents of the Township of Teaneck.

(2) Membership. Membership on the Board shall consist of seven members, six of whom shall be residents of the Township and one of whom shall be the Social Services Coordinator of the Township of Teaneck.

(i) A Youth Advisory Board is hereby created.

(1) Purpose. The purpose of the Board is to empower, express ideas, and to bridge the gap between Teaneck Township officials and Teaneck's youth.

(2) Membership. The membership of the Board shall consist of seven advisors appointed by the Council from among residents of the Township of Teaneck and youth members appointed by the advisor members. Advisor members of this Board shall be required to undergo training in youth protection and abuse and harassment prevention and shall be required to submit to and pass a criminal background screening prior to appointment.

(j) A Municipal Open Space Trust (MOST) Advisory Board is hereby created.

(1) Purpose. The purpose of the Board is to advise the Township Council with respect to the expenditure of Municipal Open Space Trust funds. The Council may authorize the expenditure of MOST funds without first referring such expenditures to the MOST Advisory Board.

(2) Membership. The membership of the Board shall consist of seven residents appointed by the Council. The members will include a representative from the Environmental Commission, the Parks, Playgrounds and Recreation Advisory Board, the Teaneck Historic Preservation Commission, the Township engineer, and one member at large. The Recreation Department Superintendent will serve as ex officio member.

(k) A Patriotic Observance Advisory Board is hereby created.

(1) Purpose. The purpose of the Board is to plan, and with the approval of the Council, implement patriotic observances within the Township of Teaneck, including the 4th of July and Memorial Day.

(2) Membership. The membership of the Board shall consist of seven residents of the Township of Teaneck appointed by the Council.

(l) A Stigma Free Advisory Board is hereby created.

(1) Purposes. The purposes of the Stigma Free Advisory Board are to raise public awareness of the stigmas associated with mental illness, sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, being discriminated against on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality or sex, and being subjected to harassment, intimidation and bullying, with the goal of eliminating such stigmas and encouraging individuals suffering from the disease of mental illness and sexually transmitted diseases to seek treatment and to urge individuals who are subjected to discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying to report same to the appropriate authorities.

(2) Membership. The Council may appoint such number of Teaneck residents and other persons associated with local community groups, faith communities, local businesses, schools, mental health organizations, hospitals, physicians, attorneys, health care professionals, social service organizations and municipal officials as the Council deems appropriate who express a commitment to promoting a stigma-free Teaneck. The Council shall appoint a chairperson from among the membership each year.

(3) Functions. The Stigma Free Advisory Board may, subject to the availability of adequate funds, undertake a stigma-free campaign, participate in public awareness programs to eliminate stigmas, host stigma-free forums, distribute stigma-free promotional materials, coordinate stigma-free events with local community service organizations, advise the Council as to additional stigma-free programs, and perform such other functions in furtherance of the purposes to eliminate stigmas within the Township of Teaneck.

(m) A Fields Advisory Board is hereby created.

(1) Purposes. The purpose of the Board is to advise the Council with respect to recommendations for policies and procedures, scheduling, and maintenance of all athletic fields and related facilities owned by the Township of Teaneck.

(2) Membership. The membership of the Board shall consist of 15 residents of the Township of Teaneck, with one member coming from each of the following organizations: (i) Teaneck Junior Basketball; (ii) Teaneck Southern Little League; (iii) Teaneck Baseball Organization; (iv) Teaneck Lancers Baseball; (v) Teaneck Junior Football; (vi) Teaneck Junior Soccer League; (vii) TOP Soccer; (viii) Teaneck Wrestling; (ix) the Director of Athletics for Teaneck High School or their designee; (x) a liaison from the Teaneck Board of Education; (xi) a liaison from the Parks, Playgrounds, and Recreation Advisory Board; (xii) a liaison from the Township Council; (xiii) The Recreation Department Director; (xiv) The DPW Director; and (xv) a liaison from the Municipal Open Space Trust Fund Committee (MOST).