[Adopted 7-20-2010 by Ord. No. 10-07]
There is hereby established in the Borough of Raritan an Historic and Cultural Committee, which shall have the duties and powers hereinafter set forth. The members shall be appointed by the Mayor in accordance with the provisions of this article.
The objectives of the Historic and Cultural Committee shall be as follows:
A. 
To preserve the history and cultural heritage of the Borough for future generations.
B. 
To gather historic documents, photographs and artifacts; preserve and archive records; and educate residents about the rich history and cultural heritage of the Borough through publications, displays or other forms of communication.
C. 
To organize community programs and events that help promote, preserve and protect the Borough's history and cultural heritage.
D. 
To encourage participation in these efforts from educational institutions, community groups and other interested individuals.
The Historic and Cultural Committee shall be comprised of seven members, who shall be either residents of the Borough or individuals who have demonstrated a significant degree of familiarity with the history and culture of the Borough. The Committee shall be constituted as follows:
A. 
Except for the initial term periods, as provided for in Subsection B, six of the appointments shall be for a term of three years. Vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms only. Members shall serve until their respective successors are appointed and qualify and shall receive no compensation for their services. At least one member of the Historic and Cultural Committee shall also be a member of the Borough Council and shall serve a one-year term. The Historic and Cultural Committee shall designate one of the members of the Committee to serve as Chairman, one to serve as Vice Chairman, and one to serve as Secretary.
B. 
The terms of office of the first Historic and Cultural Committee shall be for one, two or three years, to be designated by the Mayor in making each appointment so that the terms of approximately 1/3 of the members will expire on December 31 of each year. Succeeding members shall be appointed for terms of three years; provided, however, those members shall serve until the appointment and qualification of their successors.
C. 
The Borough Council may remove any member of the Historic and Cultural Committee for cause on written charges served upon the member and after a hearing thereon at which the member shall be entitled to be heard in person or by counsel.
D. 
The Historic and Cultural Committee shall have up to four alternate members, to be appointed to the Historic and Cultural Committee by appointment by the Mayor. Any such appointment shall be for a term of one year, and the alternate(s) so appointed shall have the same duties as are designated for regular members herein.
E. 
Any meeting convened by the Historic and Cultural Committee to transact business shall require a quorum of four members, who may be regular or alternate members or any combination thereof.
F. 
No Committee member shall be permitted to act on any matter in which he or she has, either directly or indirectly, any personal or financial interest.
The Historic and Cultural Committee shall work with the Borough Council and other boards, agencies and groups, whether or not connected with the municipal government, in order to provide a historical resource for the community. The Historic and Cultural Committee shall:
A. 
Undertake research, review historical surveys and evaluate historical documents in order to identify historically or culturally significant public and private sites, including both areas and structures within the Borough.
B. 
Maintain a Raritan Borough historical resource document that designates historically or culturally significant sites. The documents shall include detailed information about each site justifying the reason for the designation. The document shall be reviewed annually and updated as required.
C. 
Provide guidance to the Raritan Planning Board during the preparation of any historic preservation plan elements of the Master Plan.
D. 
Provide guidance to the Raritan Planning Board in determining the likely impact of proposed projects on historically or culturally significant sites, as well as suggest ways to minimize any potential impact.
[Amended 7-26-2011 by Ord. No. 11-07]
E. 
Provide guidance to the Borough Council on the relative merits of Borough projects involving publicly owned historically or culturally significant sites.
F. 
Assist the Borough Council in securing state, federal and other grants for historic preservation and cultural projects.
G. 
Secure voluntary assistance from individuals and organizations in support of the Borough's historic preservation and cultural projects.
H. 
Work with local, county, state and national historic societies and government entities to maximize the Borough's historic preservation and cultural efforts.
I. 
Act as a resource for property owners and other persons and groups interested in the historic preservation and cultural history of the Borough of Raritan.
J. 
Undertake educational programs which may include the preparation of publications aimed at stimulating interest in the Borough's history; organization of events to enhance public awareness of the Borough's history; and placing of and maintenance of historic markers identifying the Borough's historically or culturally significant sites.
K. 
Undertake such other efforts, at the direction of the Borough Council, to acquire, manage and preserve documents or artifacts that fall within the mandate of the Historic and Cultural Committee.
The Historic and Cultural Committee herein established shall not be, nor shall it be deemed to be, a Historic Preservation Commission pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-107 et seq., but such Historic and Cultural Committee shall have only those powers and duties as may be set forth herein or as may be more particularly provided by resolution of the Borough Council; provided, however, that in no event shall the Historic and Cultural Committee have, or be given, any powers or duties not otherwise established by this article.
A. 
The Borough Council is hereby authorized to appropriate public funding as it deems appropriate for the benefit of or use by the Historic and Cultural Committee for the following purposes:
(1) 
To enable the Borough to obtain liability insurance coverage, covering the approved activities of the Historic and Cultural Committee and protecting the Borough, the Historic and Cultural Committee and its individual members.
(2) 
To provide any pay for surety bonds covering the Historic and Cultural Committee and/or its members in the handling of funds which it may receive from any source whatsoever.
(3) 
To provide for annual budgetary requirements of the Historic and Cultural Committee as it may deem appropriate.
B. 
Neither the Historic and Cultural Committee nor any member thereof shall have the power or the right, expressed or implied, to bind or obligate the Borough or the Borough Council, directly or indirectly, for any financial undertaking.
The Historic and Cultural Committee may secure additional funding by arranging events and collecting admission fees or other reasonable charges and by soliciting and receiving donations from private sources.
This article shall take effect immediately upon final passage, except that the tax provisions of this article shall take effect on the first day of the first full month occurring 30 days after the date of transmittal to the State Treasurer.