[Adopted 2-9-2006 as Sec. 2-70 of the 2006 Code of the Borough of High Bridge]
A. 
A committee is hereby established as the Economic Development Committee to advise the Borough Council on the economic and commercial needs of the Borough of High Bridge.
B. 
Its seven appointed members represent the entire Borough, and have special interests and awareness in business, industry, commerce and merchant goods and sales.
It shall be the duty of this Committee to:
A. 
Make continuous study and survey of the opportunities of the Borough of High Bridge for economic development.
B. 
Analyze business, industry and trade worldwide with a view to ascertain the type of commerce best suited to the economic and social improvement of the Borough.
C. 
Prepare an annual report to the Mayor and Council as to the development of the commercial and merchant districts, including but not limited to business needs, improvements to Borough infrastructure, construction capacity, sewer capacity, labor, taxes and property assessment and improvements for business retention.
D. 
Recommend to the Mayor and Council and Planning Board reasonable and desirable restrictions and improvements concerning commercial areas.
E. 
Recommend to Mayor, Council and Planning Board changes to zoning establishing a desirable commercial ratable base for an area for business and trade.
F. 
Prepare and sponsor events to improve merchant trade and commerce in downtown business areas. Sponsor educational symposiums to improve business knowledge of commercial owners.
G. 
The Committee may prepare and distribute material and data advertising the advantages of the Borough for the purpose of attracting business.
H. 
The Committee shall receive from all officials and all authorized boards, departments and offices of the Borough such assistance as may be required by the Committee in performing its duties, and the Committee shall also be given access to all municipal reports and information which may assist the Committee in the performance of its duties.
A. 
The Economic Development Committee shall consist of seven members and two alternates appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Borough Council.
[Amended 3-8-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-5]
B. 
Committee members shall be residents of the Borough or own a business in High Bridge.
C. 
The term of membership for regular and alternate members shall be three years.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
D. 
A Borough Councilperson or his/her designee shall be a nonvoting member of the Committee and shall serve as liaison and Council advisor.
[Amended 6-23-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-20]
E. 
The Mayor or President of the Borough Council shall be an ex officio member of the Committee and shall serve for a term concurrent with their elected office.
[Amended 2-24-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-1]
Each Committee member shall be entitled to one vote with the exception of the Mayor and Council liaison who shall not be voting members. Approval of any matter requires an affirmative vote from the majority of the members present, provided a quorum of four is present and voting.
If any member misses more than three consecutive meetings of the Committee, without prior authorization from the Chairperson, such members shall be considered to have resigned from the Committee. In addition, any member of the Committee may be removed at any time and without cause by a majority vote of the Borough Council.
A. 
Regular meetings of the Committee shall be scheduled at least monthly, with the exception of August and December, at a time and place acceptable to the Committee members and Council liaison or designee. The Committee shall provide for two yearly meetings convenient for the public in order to encourage community involvement.
[Amended 6-23-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-20]
B. 
Special meetings may be called at any time by the Chairperson or four or more members; provided, however, that notification to the public and press is made in accordance with applicable state laws.
C. 
Special meetings or formation of workshop groups may be requested by the Chairperson or four or more members at any time to conduct and/or further the goals of Economic Development Committee responsibilities to the Borough Council.
[Added 6-23-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-20]
In accordance with the State of New Jersey Administrative Code, the Economic Development Committee members shall be required to file disclosure statements as required by the Local Government Ethics Law.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
The officers of the Committee shall be Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary. Other officers may be appointed as necessary to carry out the work of the Committee.
[Amended 3-8-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-5]
B. 
The officers shall be appointed annually by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of Council, and nominated by the Committee. The term for officers shall be one year, and any officer may be reelected to succeed himself/herself for one additional term only.
C. 
The term of office shall run from January 1 and expire December 31 of each year.
A. 
Duties of the Chairperson. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Committee and provide instructions to all ad hoc committee chairpersons. When appropriate, the Chairperson will attend meetings of the Borough Council. In his/her absence the Vice Chairperson will attend and make appropriate reports to the Committee at their next regular meeting.
B. 
Duties of the Vice Chairperson. In the absence 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 keep a book of minutes of all meetings of the Committee. The Secretary shall prepare agendas under direction of the Chairperson and shall give notice of regular and special meetings of the Committee. The Secretary shall forward meeting minutes to the Borough Clerk monthly.
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.
A. 
Members of the High Bridge Economic Development Committee shall serve without compensation. However, members shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the Committee as approved by the Borough Council.
B. 
Appropriation. There shall be appropriated in each annual budget of the Borough such amount as, in the opinion of the Mayor and Council, may be necessary or available for the purpose of advertising the advantages of the Borough or to support the efforts and cooperation of the individuals or organizations encouraging economic development.