[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Hanover 1-28-2016 by Ord. No.
1-16. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The governing body hereby establishes a new Chapter 63 under Part I of the Code of the Township of Hanover entitled "Stoney Brook Community Farm and Garden Advisory Committee."
A.
Purpose and intent. The purpose and intent of this chapter is twofold:
first, to develop, operate and maintain a community farm and garden
to permit residents to grow local produce for themselves and to provide
an additional source of fresh vegetables to the Interfaith Food Pantry
and other food pantries; and, secondly, to create a steering committee
that will be responsible for the overall administration of operating
the community farm and garden.
B.
Appointment of members; terms of office; vacancies.
(1)
The Township Committee shall appoint up to nine regular members to
the Stoney Brook Community Farm and Garden Advisory Committee (hereinafter
referred to as the "Advisory Committee") one of whom shall be a member
of the governing body and serving as Mayor. These individuals shall
represent a cross section of the Township comprised of residents and
members of the corporate sector and nonprofit service organizations
such as the Interfaith Food Pantry. Each regular member shall have
one vote in the decisionmaking process.
(2)
To assist the Advisory Committee with the development, implementation
and maintenance of the community farm and garden, the governing body
shall designate members of the Township's professional staff
to serve as advisors in performing any services required by the Advisory
Committee. These staff members shall serve as ex-officio nonvoting
members.
(3)
In addition, with the approval of the Business Administrator, the
Advisory Committee may request the assistance of the New Jersey Land
Conservancy in providing technical services.
C.
Terms of office. The members of the Advisory Committee shall serve
two-year terms of office commencing on January 1 and ending on December
31 of the second year.
D.
Vacancies. In the event a regular member seat becomes available,
other than by expiration of a member's term, it shall be filled
by the Township Committee for the balance of the two-year term.
E.
The regular members shall serve without remuneration.
[Amended 9-22-2016 by Ord. No.
22-16]
A.
Election of officers and organization.
(1)
Upon its formation, following the adoption of this chapter, the Advisory
Committee shall meet to organize. The regular members shall elect
a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. In addition, the Chairperson shall
designate from among its regular or ex-officio members a Recording
Secretary and a Financial Secretary. These four officers shall serve
one-year terms of office. It shall be the responsibility of the Chairperson
to set the meeting schedule after conferring with the members, establish
an agenda for each meeting and conduct the meetings in an orderly
and timely fashion. The Advisory Committee shall prepare and adopt
bylaws and such other rules and regulations to govern its procedural
operations and the operations of the community farm and garden.
(2)
The Recording Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining correspondence
and preparing written minutes of all Advisory Committee meetings.
However, in accordance with Township policy, before any correspondence
or memoranda is sent to a third party under the auspices of the Advisory
Committee, any draft letter or memoranda shall be submitted to the
Business Administrator for his review and approval.
(3)
The Financial Secretary shall be responsible in maintaining the financial
records of the Advisory Committee as it pertains to any annual or
seasonal plot rental fees or other charges that are collected for
the operation of the community farm and garden. The Financial Secretary
shall submit all deposits to the Township's Chief Municipal Finance
Officer and provide him/her with any financial documents or records
that may be needed by the Finance Department.
(4)
In order to assist the Advisory Committee with adequate supervision
over the operation of the community farm and garden, the Advisory
Committee may designate one or more volunteer or paid garden managers
who will provide supervisory, technical and administrative assistance.
The garden manager(s) will report directly to the Advisory Committee
concerning all community farm and garden activities.
(5)
Subsequent to its initial formation, the Advisory Committee shall
meet in January of each year to reorganize and to determine when it
shall meet and how often. In accordance with the Open Public Meetings
Act at N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq., the Advisory Committee shall publish
a notice in two local newspapers, posted on the Township's official
bulletin board and website and filed with the Municipal Clerk. The
annual notice shall contain the dates, times and locations of each
meeting to be held during the forthcoming years.
B.
Duties and responsibilities:
(1)
To prepare rules, regulations and procedures governing the development,
implementation, use and maintenance of the Stoney Brook Community
Farm and Garden by members of the public including but not limited
to the establishment of fees, the size of plots, access, environmental
management practices and any other requirements deemed necessary and
appropriate for the operation of the farm and garden.
(2)
The Advisory Committee shall meet at least once a month but may meet
more often as issues warrant. A majority of the voting members shall
constitute a quorum in order to conduct business.
(3)
The Advisory Committee shall have no authority to enter into contracts
on behalf of the municipality, or in any way obligate the municipality
legally or financially. In this regard, the Committee may make recommendations
to the Township's Business Administrator who, under his authority
as the Township's Qualified Purchasing Agent, may act on such
recommendations or, in the alternative, submit the recommendations
to the governing body when a policy decision must be rendered.
(4)
Before assuming office, each member of the Advisory Committee shall
take an oath of office that he/she will faithfully and impartially
discharge the duties of his/her office.
The Township Committee may appropriate such sum of money as
may be determined in each year's Current Fund Operating Budget
in order for the Advisory Committee to discharge its duties and responsibilities.
The Chairperson of the Advisory Committee, following consultation
with its members, shall submit a request for funding to the Business
Administrator no later than January 10 of each year or sooner. Any
approved out-of-pocket expenses shall be charged against the Advisory
Committee's approved calendar year budget if such budgetary appropriation
is granted by the Township Committee.
