Township of Edgewater Park, NJ Chapter 19 Committees and Commissions

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Edgewater Park as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]

Article I Advisory Committee on Municipal Facilities for the Handicapped

[Adopted as Title 2, Ch. 2.64, of the 1998 Township Code]

§ 19-1 Committee established.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III)]

The Township Committee creates and establishes a Section 504 Advisory Committee, to be known as "Municipal Facilities for the Handicapped," pursuant to the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq., as regulated in 28 CFR 35.101 et seq., which Committee shall be concerned with the accessibility of municipal facilities for the handicapped and compliance with Section 504 regulations.

§ 19-2 Terms of members; compensation and expenses.

A. The three Committee members first appointed shall hold office for terms as follows: one member for one year, and one member for two years, and one member for three years, respectively, from the date in the year in which the appointments are made until their successors are duly appointed and have qualified. Thereafter, all subsequent appointments shall be for a term of three years, and vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term only and in the same manner as the original appointment was made.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Original Sec. 2.64.020A of the 1998 Township Code, regarding membership of the Advisory Committee, which immediately preceded this subsection, was repealed 9-22-2003 by Ord. No. 11-2003. See now § 19-5B.

B. Committee members shall receive no compensation for their services but may receive reimbursement for proper and authorized out-of-pocket expenses in accordance with existing Township regulations.

§ 19-3 Duties.

The Committee shall have the following duties:

A. Examine Township programs and services to determine compliance with Section 504 regulations;

B. Evaluate policies and practices concerning employment for qualified handicapped persons;

C. Examine Township facilities for accessibility for the handicapped;

D. Determine structural alterations to be made to comply with Section 504 regulations;

E. Devise a transition plan to bring all Township facilities into full structural compliance by October 17, 1985; and

F. Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Township Committee.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III)]

§ 19-4 Meetings.

The Committee shall hold meetings as necessary to accomplish the duties set forth herein.

§ 19-5 Organization; membership; residency.

A. The Township Administrator shall be the Section 504 coordinator.

B. The Section 504 Advisory Committee shall consist of five members to be composed of the Township Administrator, the Construction Official and three citizens and residents of the Township to be appointed by the Township Committee. The three citizen members shall be residents of the Township and shall remain residents of the Township during their terms. A member who, subsequent to his appointment, shall maintain an address as his or her principal primary residence that is not an Edgewater Township address shall immediately vacate and forfeit his membership on the Advisory Committee and, until a subsequent appointment shall be made by the Township Committee, the post shall be deemed vacant. The Township Committee may remove any member of the Advisory Committee for cause on written charges served upon the member and after a hearing thereon in which the Advisory Committee member may be entitled to be heard in person or by counsel.

[Added 9-22-2003 by Ord. No. 11-2003; amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III)]

§ 19-6 Grievance procedure.

A. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

GRIEVANCE

A complaint by a member of the public that there has been to him a loss, injury or inconvenience resulting from handicapped discrimination.

B. Rights of representation. Any person may be represented at all stages of the grievance procedure by himself or, at his option, by a representative of his own choosing.

C. Procedure.

(1) Level One. Any grievant who has a grievance shall first present his grievance, in writing, to the Section 504 coordinator. Said grievance shall be granted or denied, in writing, by the coordinator within 10 days of receipt of the grievance.

(2) Level Two. The grievant, no later than 10 days after receipt of the decision of the coordinator, may appeal the decision to the Township Committee.

(a) The appeal to the Township Committee shall be made in writing specifying:

[1] The nature of the grievance;

[2] The nature and extent of the injury, loss or inconvenience;

[3] The results of previous discussions; and

[4] Grievant's dissatisfaction with the decision previously rendered.

(b) The Township Committee, or a committee thereof, shall review the grievance and shall, at the option of the Township Committee, or at the request of the grievant, hold a hearing with the grievant; a decision shall be rendered, in writing, within 30 calendar days of receipt of the appeal or, if a hearing is held, within 20 calendar days of the date of the hearing. This referred to hearing shall be held within 20 days after receipt of the appeal notice.

(3) If the decision of the Township Committee does not resolve the grievance to the satisfaction of the grievant, the grievant may further appeal the matter to the Director, office of the Secretary of the Treasury, provided that such appeal is filed within 20 days of the date the grievant receives notice of the decision of the Township Committee.

Article II Environmental/Shade Tree Advisory Committee

[Adopted 4-19-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-2]

§ 19-7 Membership; appointment; terms; vacancies.

A. The Environmental/Shade Tree Advisory Committee shall consist of a maximum of five members and two alternate members to be selected by the Mayor of the Township Committee of the Township of Edgewater Park. The Mayor shall select a Township Committee member as liaison; the liaison shall be a full member with the right to vote.

B. Appointments shall be made to staggered three-year terms. The term of the Township Committee liaison shall be for one year. Any vacancy occurring during the term of the appointment shall be filled for the unexpired term only. The Mayor shall designate one member of the Environmental Committee as Chairman and presiding officer of the Committee. Alternate appointments shall be made to staggered two-year terms.

C. Any vacancy occurring during the term of the appointment shall be filled for the unexpired term only.

D. The Committee members shall be residents and/or property owners of the Township of Edgewater Park and shall remain residents and/or property owners of the Township during their terms. A member who, subsequent to his appointment, does not maintain residency or continue be a property owner within the Township shall immediately vacate and forfeit his/her membership on the Committee and, until a subsequent appointment shall be made, the post shall be deemed vacant. The Committee is advisory only and shall have no right or ability to spend money or incur any debt without prior Township Committee approval.

[Amended 12-6-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-10]

§ 19-8 Purpose of Committee; duties.

A. The Environmental/Shade Tree Advisory Committee is created for the protection, development and use of the natural land, air and water resources located within the Township and shall have the following duties:

(1) To conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas of the Township;

(2) To coordinate the activities of the unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes;

(3) Upon approval from the Township Committee, to advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which, in its judgment, it deems necessary for its purposes;

(4) 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;

(5) To recommend, from time to time, to the Planning Board plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan of the Township for development and use of the Township's natural resources;

(6) To 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;

(7) To review and submit recommendations concerning those actions and policies of the Municipal Planning Board, Recreation Advisory Committee, Sewage Authority and Board of Health as they affect the quality of life and natural resources of the Township;

(8) To perform such other acts as are reasonably related to and designed to carry out the purposes and objectives of the Committee;

(9) To keep records of the meetings and activities of the Committee and to make an annual report to the Township Committee of the Township of Edgewater Park; and

(10) To make recommendations for the regulation, planting, care and control of shade and ornamental trees and shrubbery upon and along the streets, highways, public places, parks and parkways of the Township, except county parks or parkways, recommendations shall be made upon consultation with the Superintendent of Public Works.

B. The Environmental/Shade Tree Advisory Committee shall not have the voting authority to expend funds, and any recommendations must be submitted to Township Committee.