There is hereby established in and for the Borough of Rockaway
an Environmental Commission for the protection, development or use
of natural resources, including water resources, located within territorial
limits of the Borough of Rockaway.
The terms of the office of the first commissioners shall be
for one, two, or three years, to be designated by the Mayor in making
his appointments so that the terms of approximately 1/3 of the members
will expire each year, and their successors shall be appointed for
terms of three years and until the appointment and qualification of
their successors. 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 the
expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term only in
the same manner as an original appointment.
The Commission shall have the power and duty to:
A. Conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas
of the municipality.
B. Keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including
open marshland, 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.
C. Study and make recommendations 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.
D. Keep records of its meetings and activities and make an annual report
to the governing body.
Nothing in this chapter is intended to grant to the Environmental
Commission any powers or duties other than those expressly mandated
by statute.