Elections. The Historic Preservation Commission shall annually
elect a Chair and Vice-Chair from its members and select a Secretary,
who may or may not be a member of the Historic Preservation Commission
or a municipal employee. (See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-107c.) The terms of
the elected officers shall run for a one-year period beginning in
January of each year.
The duties and responsibilities of the Historic Preservation
Commission shall be as follows:
A. Resources. To prepare, record, and maintain a system for the survey
and inventory of historic resources within the City using criteria
that is compatible with National Park Service Bulletin Number 24,
Guidelines for Architectural Surveys and coordinated with the State
of New Jersey Historic Preservation Office's statewide inventory;
B. Designation recommendations. To make recommendations to the City
governing body, Planning Board, and Zoning Board of Adjustments for
the designation of historic landmarks and historic districts. The
recommendations shall be based on criteria established for inclusion
on the National Register;
C. Plan recommendations. To make recommendations to the Planning Board
on the historic preservation plan element of the master plan, capital
improvement program, and on the implications for preservation of historic
sites on any other master plan elements;
D. Applications. To advise the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment
on applications referred to the Historic Preservation Commission for
development, alterations, demolition, and new construction affecting
designated landmarks and historic districts by recommending the denial
or grant of an application;
E. Determinations. Review and render determinations regarding applications
for certificates of appropriateness as set forth in this chapter,
including those that are not referred from either the Zoning or Planning
Boards;
F. Advisory role. To act in an advisory role to other officials and
departments of the City government, county Planning Board, and other
agencies as appropriate for preservation of historic resources, design,
and protection of cultural resources regarding the designation and
protection of cultural resources;
G. Liaison. To act as a liaison on behalf of the City to individuals
and organizations concerned with historical preservation;
H. Education. To work toward the continuing education of citizens within
the City regarding historic preservation issues and concerns;
I. Professional experts. To ensure that when a discipline is not represented
on the Historic Preservation Commission and the Commission considers
an action (e.g., development application, National Register nominations)
which is normally evaluated by a professional in that specific discipline,
the Historic Preservation Commission shall obtain professional expertise
before rendering a decision. All professional experts, whether paid
or volunteer, must meet the applicable federal professional qualifications;
J. Workshops. To ensure that all Historic Preservation Commission members
annually attend either a conference or training workshop on historical
preservation issues, land use, or related issues;
K. Historic Registers. To review, monitor, and recommend, to the governing
body, any properties or districts for inclusion in the New Jersey
or National Registers of Historic Places;
L. Grants. To monitor and recommend to the City governing body the submission
of any grants related to historic preservation;
M. Other functions. To carry out such other advisory, educational and
informational functions as will promote historic preservation in the
City;
N. Reports. To report annually to the Planning Board and the City governing
body on the state of historic preservation in the City and recommend
measures to improve same; and
O. Materials. To collect and disseminate material on the importance
of historic preservation and techniques for achieving same.
Fees. The City governing body shall establish by ordinance reasonable
fees necessary to cover the expenses of administration and professional
services to aid the commission in its review of applications and development
reviews. These fees are in addition to any other required under any
portion of this or any other applicable City ordinance.