If a vacancy of any class shall occur otherwise than by expiration
of a term, it shall be filled by appointment as above provided for
the unexpired term.
The Planning Board shall elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman
from the members of Class IV and select a Secretary, who may be either
a member of the Planning Board or a municipal employee designated
by it.
There is hereby created the office of Planning Board Attorney.
The Planning Board may annually appoint, fix the compensation of or
agree upon the rate of compensation of the Planning Board Attorney,
who shall be an attorney other than the Municipal Attorney. The Board
shall not, however, exceed, exclusive of gifts or grants, the amount
appropriated by the governing body for said position.
The Planning Board may also employ or contract for the services
of experts and other staff and services as it may deem necessary.
The Board shall not, however, exceed, exclusive of gifts or grants,
the amount appropriated by the governing body for its use.
Ancillary powers. Whenever the Planning Board is called upon to exercise its ancillary powers before the granting of a variance as set forth in §
75-12 of this chapter, the Planning Board shall grant or deny approval of the application within 95 days after submission by the developer of a complete application or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant. Failure of the Planning Board to act within the period prescribed shall constitute approval of the application, and a certificate of the administrative officer as to the failure of the Planning Board to act shall be issued on request of the applicant.
The Planning Board shall have the power to review and approve
or deny conditional uses or site plans simultaneously with review
for subdivision approval without the developer being required to make
further application to the Planning Board or the Planning Board being
required to hold further hearings. The longest time period for action
by the Planning Board, whether it be for subdivision, conditional
use or site plan approval, shall apply. Whenever approval of a conditional
use is requested by the developer pursuant to this subsection, notice
of the hearing on the plat shall include reference to the request
for such conditional use.
The Mayor may appoint one or more persons as a citizens advisory
committee to assist or collaborate with the Planning Board in its
duties, but such person or persons shall have no power to vote or
take other action required of the Board. Such person or persons shall
serve at the pleasure of the Mayor.
The Mayor may appoint a site plan review advisory board for
the purpose of reviewing all site plan applications and making recommendations
to the Planning Board in regard thereto.
Whenever the Environmental Commission has prepared and submitted
to the Planning Board an index of the natural resources of the municipality,
the Planning Board shall make available to the Environmental Commission
an informational copy of every application for development to the
Planning Board. Failure of the Planning Board to make such informational
copy available to the Environmental Commission shall not invalidate
any hearing or proceeding.
The Planning Board shall adopt such rules and regulations as
may be necessary to carry into effect the provisions and purposes
of this chapter. In the issuance of subpoenas, administration of oaths
and taking of testimony, the provisions of the County and Municipal
Investigations Law of 1953 (N.J.S.A. 2A:67A-1 et seq.) shall apply.