[Adopted 8-4-1997 by Ord. No. 97-2479 as Ch. 20 of the 1996 Township Code]
A. 
The commission known as the "Township of Middletown Environmental Commission," heretofore established, is hereby continued.
B. 
The Environmental Commission has been established for the protection, development and use of natural resources, including water resources, located within the territorial limits of the Township.
A. 
The Commission shall consist of seven regular members and two alternate members appointed to the Mayor. All the members shall be residents of the Township and shall serve without compensation.
[Amended 1-22-1990 by Ord. No. 90-2158]
B. 
One of the members shall be a member of the Planning Board.
C. 
The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve as Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission.
A. 
The full term of office of each Commissioner shall be three years; provided, however, that the terms of the Commissioners first appointed hereto shall be as follows: three members shall be appointed for one year; two members shall be appointed for two years; two members shall be appointed for three years. Thereafter, the successor of each member shall be appointed for the full term of three years and until the appointment and qualification of his successor.
B. 
Alternate members.
[Added 8-4-1997 by Ord. No. 97-2479]
(1) 
Alternate members shall be designated at the time of appointment as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2." The terms of the alternate members shall be for three years, except that the terms of the alternate members first appointed shall be three years for Alternate No. 1 and two years for Alternate No. 2, so that the term of not more than one alternate member shall expire in any one year.
(2) 
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.
C. 
A vacancy occurring otherwise than by an expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term only.
D. 
The Mayor or 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.
The Environmental Commission shall have the following duties:
A. 
To conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas of the Township.
B. 
To coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes.
C. 
To advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which, in its judgment, it deems necessary for its purpose.
D. 
To keep an index of all open areas, publicly and privately owned, including open marshlands, swamps and other wetlands, and to obtain information on the proper use of such areas.
E. 
To recommend, from time to time, to the Planning Board plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan of the Township and the development and use of such areas.
Subject to the approval of the Township Committee, the Environmental Commission may acquire property, both real and personal, in the name of the Township, by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, devise or lease, for any of the purposes of the Commission, and it shall administer the same for such purposes, subject to the terms of such 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, limit the future use of or otherwise conserve and properly utilize open spaces and other land 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 that the same shall be within the limits of funds appropriated to it by the Township Committee.