[Amended 8-27-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-12]
The Township of Eagleswood Environmental Commission is hereby established pursuant to Chapter 245 of the Laws of 1968 (N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq.), as amended and supplemented.
[Adopted 5-18-1979 by Ord. No. 4-79 (Ch. 7 of the 1977 Township Code)]
[Amended 1-27-1987 by Ord. No. 2-87]
A.
The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor (Chairman of the Township Committee), one of whom shall also be a member of the Land Use Board, and all of whom shall be residents of the Township of Eagleswood; the members shall serve without compensation. The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve as Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission annually. The terms of office of the first Commissioners shall be for one, two or three years, to be designated by the Mayor in making his appointments, and their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years and until the appointment and qualification of their successors.
B.
The Mayor and Township Committee may remove any member of the Commission 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. A vacancy on the Commission occurring otherwise than by expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as an original appointment.
[Added 8-27-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-12]
A.
The Township Committee shall appoint two alternate members to the Environmental Commission. The alternate members shall be designated as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2." The alternate members shall serve for a term of two years, except that the terms of the alternate members first appointed shall be two years for Alternate No. 1 and one year for Alternate No. 2, so that the term of not more than one alternate member shall expire in any one year. A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled by the Township Committee for the unexpired term only.
B.
An alternate member may participate in discussions of the Environmental Commission but may not vote, except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote first.
The Commission is established for the protection, development or use of natural resources, including water resources, located within the territorial limits of the Township of Eagleswood. The Commission shall have power to conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas of the Township and may coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes and may advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which in its judgment it deems necessary for its purposes. It shall keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including open marshlands, swamps and other wetlands, in order to obtain information on the proper use of such areas, and may from time to time recommend to the Land Use Board plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan and the development and use of such areas.
The Environmental Commission may, subject to the approval of the Township Committee, acquire property, both real and personal, in the name of the Township, by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, devise or lease, for any of its purposes and shall administer the same for such purposes subject to the terms of the conveyance or gift. Such an acquisition may be to acquire the fee or any lesser interest, development right, easement (including conservation easement), covenant or other contractual right (including a conveyance on conditions or with limitations or reversions), as may be necessary to acquire, maintain, improve, protect and limit the future use or otherwise conserve and properly utilize open spaces and other lands and water areas in the Township.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records of its meetings and activities and make an annual report to the Township Committee.
The Commission may appoint such clerks and other employees as it may from time to time require, provided the same shall be within the limits of funds appropriated to it by the Township Committee in its (the Township Committee's) discretion.
[Added 1-27-1987 by Ord. No. 2-87]
The Environmental Commission is hereby authorized to hire a Secretary for the Commission. The Secretary shall perform such secretarial and clerical duties as are assigned by the Environmental Commission. The Secretary to the Environmental Commission shall be paid a salary authorized by the Township Committee and included in the salary ordinance of the Township of Eagleswood.
[Added 3-28-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-6]
The Environmental Commission may hire such professionals, to include attorneys, engineers, environmentalists, etc., as deemed appropriate and necessary for the review of land use applications before the Commission. The Township shall be reimbursed for such professional costs from the escrows posted by applicants pursuant to §§ 285-37 and 295-39.[1]