[Amended 3-3-2010 by Ord. No. 10-006; 9-16-2025 by Ord. No. 25-020]
The Township Environmental Advisory Commission is hereby established pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 through 40:56A-5.
A. 
The Environmental Advisory Commission shall consist of not more than seven members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council, one of whom shall also be a member of the Planning Board and all of whom shall be residents of the Township. The members shall serve without compensation. The Mayor shall annually designate one of the members to serve as Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission. 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 or her appointments. Their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years and until the appointment and qualification of their successors. The Mayor or Council 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.
B. 
The Mayor may appoint four associate members for a term of one year. Each year all four terms shall expire. The associate members shall not be entitled to vote with the Commission.
C. 
The Mayor shall appoint two alternate members, designated as Alternate No. 1 and Alternate No. 2, to serve for terms of two years. 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 appointing authority for the unexpired term only. An alternate member shall not be permitted to act on any matter in which he or she has either directly or indirectly any personal or financial interest. An alternate member may, after public hearing if he or she requests one, be removed by the governing body for cause. An alternate member may participate in discussions of the proceedings 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 Environmental Advisory Commission is established for the protection, development or use of natural resources, including water resources, located within the territorial limits of the Township. 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 Planning Board plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan and the development and use of such areas. The Commission shall have such additional powers as are conferred by N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.
The Environmental Advisory Commission shall keep records of its meetings and activities and make an annual report to the Mayor and Council.
The Environmental Advisory Commission may appoint such clerks and other employees as it may from time to time require, provided that such appointments shall be within the limits of funds appropriated to it by the Council in the Council's discretion.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Ch. 2, Art. V, Division 9, Human Relations Advisory Commission, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 3-19-2013 by Ord. No. 13-012.
A. 
Purpose. The Green Team is a sub-committee of the Environmental Advisory Commission and was established in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq. The Green Team shall focus the Township's efforts to improve its environmental sustainability and shall pursue local green initiatives and actions that will maintain the Township's Sustainable Jersey Municipal Certification. It shall be responsible for advising the Mayor and Council through the Mayor's Liaison of the Environmental Advisory Commission.
B. 
Membership. Green Team membership will consist of members of the Environmental Advisory Commission and interested residents of Hamilton Township appointed by the Mayor, subject to Council's advice and consent.
C. 
Officers. The members of the Green Team shall choose annually from among its members a Chairperson and such other sub-chairs as they may deem necessary.
D. 
Term of office. Members shall serve for three years. Any appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired term of that member only.
E. 
Meetings. The Green Team shall meet at least quarterly at a time and place determined by the membership.
F. 
Funding. There shall be appropriated in each annual budget of the Township within the Environmental Advisory Commission's budget such sum as may be determined by the Mayor and Council to be necessary for the purposes of providing the sole source of funding to administer the Green Team.
G. 
Reports and recommendations. The Green Team shall make an annual report of its activities to the Chair of the Environmental Advisory Commission and periodically make such recommendations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes set out in this chapter.