[Adopted 2-9-2006 as Sec. 2-69 of the 2006 Code of the Borough of High Bridge;
amended in its entirety 2-8-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-003]
The High Bridge Historical Committee shall advise the Borough
Council with regard to historic interests within the Borough of High
Bridge. It shall have no authority to act without the authorization
of the Borough Council.
A.
It
shall be the duty of the Historical Committee to maintain and develop
awareness of the Borough's history through sponsoring programs encompassing
the education of children through seniors. The Committee will nurture
the consciousness of the citizenry to the legacy of High Bridge's
past, while collecting and preserving current items and history.
B.
The
Historical Committee shall have the following duties, as well as other
duties consistent with its advisory role, as determined by the vote
of the Historical Committee:
(1)
Submit recommendations for historical and heritage matters for consideration
to Council.
(2)
Identify areas of the Borough where facilities and programs may be
required.
(3)
Conduct historical programs.
(4)
Oversee, in an advisory capacity, the Borough's historic buildings,
structures, spaces, properties, materials and items acquired by, donated
to, purchased by or otherwise determined by the Borough.
(5)
Recommend priorities for historical events and programs and for maintenance
and repair of Borough-owned historic buildings and structures for
budget consideration.
(6)
Provide a yearly budget to Council for specific needs in the historical
areas.
(7)
Identify sources of funding and/or sponsorships and develop a fundraising
program for historic facility and program improvement.
(8)
Maintain a schedule for historic site and building usage for various
groups, including school groups and events.
(9)
Encourage citizen involvement in history and heritage matters.
(10)
Undertake special projects that may be requested by the Borough Council.
(11)
Provide informational resources to private owners of historic properties
who are interested in historic preservation.
A.
The Committee shall consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Borough Council, except for the ex officio members as set forth in Subsection D below.
B.
Committee
members shall be residents of the Borough or own a business in the
Borough.
C.
The
members of the Committee shall be appointed to a three-year term,
except that the terms of the initial members shall be staggered. As
a result, the initial appointments shall be two members to a one-year
term, two members to a two-year term and three members to a three-year
term. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for a three-year term.
D.
The
Mayor, and Borough Council President, and a Borough Councilperson
liaison, who shall be appointed by the Mayor, shall be an ex officio
member of the Committee and may serve for a term concurrent with their
elected office. A Borough Councilperson appointed by the Mayor to
be a liaison to the Committee also shall be an ex officio member of
the Committee and may serve for a term beginning January 1 and expiring
December 31 of that year.
Each Committee member shall be entitled to one vote. The ex
officio members may actively participate in all business and decisions
of the Committee but shall not be voting members of the Committee.
Approval of any matter requires an affirmative vote from the majority
of the members present, provided a quorum of four voting members is
present.
If any voting member misses more than three consecutive meetings
of the Committee without prior authorization from the Chairperson,
the member shall be considered to have resigned from the Committee.
The resignation shall be noted in the Committee minutes, which shall
indicate the reason for the resignation, and the Chairperson shall
notify the Mayor, in writing, about the vacancy. In addition, any
member of the Committee may be removed at any time with or without
cause by a majority vote of the Borough Council.
A.
Regular meetings
of the Committee shall be scheduled at least monthly at a time acceptable
to the Committee. Meetings are closed to the public, except for advertised
open public meetings. Individuals who are not members can be invited
to attend by a member of the Committee with advance invitation by
the Chairperson or acting Chairperson.
B.
Special meetings
may be called at any time by the Chairperson or four members of the
Committee not including the ex officio members; provided, however,
that notification to the public and press is made in accordance with
applicable state laws when meetings are open to the public.
C.
All meetings
shall be held at Borough Hall or, upon approval of the Administrator,
through audio-visual meetings on a platform determined by the Borough.
A.
Duties
of the Chairperson. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings
of the Committee. When appropriate, including but not limited to when
requested by the Mayor, the Chairperson will attend meetings of the
Borough Council.
B.
Duties
of the Vice Chairperson. In the absence, vacancy, or disqualification
of the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson shall assume all the duties
and responsibilities of the Chairperson.
C.
Duties
of the Secretary. The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept a book
of minutes of all meetings of the Committee. The Secretary shall prepare
agendas under the direction of the Chairperson and shall give notice
of regular and special meetings of the Committee. The Secretary shall
forward all approved meeting minutes to the Borough Clerk monthly.
The Chairperson of the Committee may create such ad hoc committees
as the business of the Committee may require, each of which shall
exist for such period of time and perform such duties as the Committee
may determine. The Chairperson shall appoint the members of the ad
hoc committee. Each ad hoc committee will submit a final report to
the Committee upon completion of its event or other assignment.
A.
Members
of the Committee shall serve without compensation.
B.
Members
of the Committee shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in carrying
out the duties of the Committee as approved by the Borough Council.
A request for preapproval of available funds must be made in writing
to the Borough Finance Department prior to the expenditure.
A.
Committee
members shall review and sign any Council-approved code of conduct
documents required for Borough volunteers prior to involvement with
any Borough or other Committee business. Failure to do so shall result
in removal from the Committee.
B.
Council-approved
code of conduct documents shall be furnished by the Clerk and the
signed documents shall be provided by the members to the Clerk.
