The Township of Mount Olive Environmental Commission (hereinafter the "Commission") is hereby established pursuant to Chapter
245 of the Laws of 1968 (N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 to 40:56A-7).
[Amended 9-25-1990 by Ord. No. 40-90; 11-24-1992 by Ord. No. 22-92]
A. The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor,
one of whom shall also be a member of the Planning Board and all of
whom shall be residents of the Township of Mount Olive. The members
shall serve without compensation, except as hereinafter provided.
The Mayor shall 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 appointments, and their successors shall
be appointed for terms of three years and until the appointment and
qualification of their successors.
B. Alternate members.
(1) The Mayor may provide by appointment not more than two alternate
members. Alternate members shall be designated at the time of appointment
by the Mayor as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2." An alternate
member must be a resident of the Township.
(2) The terms of the alternate members shall be for 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 Mayor for the unexpired term only. An alternate
member can, after a public hearing, if he requests one, be removed
by the Mayor for just cause.
(3) 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.
[Amended 2-13-2007 by Ord. No. 3-2007]
C. The Mayor or the Township 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.
[Amended 11-24-1992 by Ord. No. 22-92]
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 Mount Olive. The Commission
shall have the power to conduct research into the use and possible
use of the open 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.
The Commission may, subject to the approval of the Township
Council, 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,
limit the future use of or otherwise conserve and properly utilize
open spaces and other land and water areas in the Township.
[Amended 9-25-1990 by Ord. No. 40-90]
The Commission shall keep records of its meetings and make an
annual report to the Township Council.
The Commission may appoint, with the approval of the governing
body, 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 Council.
The Commission shall have the power to study and make recommendations
to the Township Council concerning open-space preservation, water
resources management, air pollution control, solid waste management,
noise control, soil and landscape protection, environmental appearance,
marine resources and protection of flora and fauna.
[Added 11-24-1992 by Ord. No. 22-92]
The Mount Olive Environmental Commission may appoint associate
members. These members have no vote but are to act as advisory members.
These members may have special areas of expertise and will act as
volunteer consultants to the Commission. The purpose of associate
members will be to form a valuable cadre of sophisticated replacements
for regular members.