[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Orange 12-3-2002 by Ord. No. 25-2002; amended in its entirety 1-28-2014 by Ord. No. 55-2013. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The Revised General Ordinances of the City of Orange Township is hereby supplemented for the establishment of an Environmental Commission for the protection, development or use of natural resources, including water resources, located within the territorial limits of the township, as permitted by N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq.
The Commission shall consist of seven (7) regular members appointed by the Mayor subject to confirmation of the City Council. One (1) of the appointees shall be a member of the Planning Board and two (2) of the appointees shall be members of the Orange City Council of the City of Orange Township and all of the members shall be residents of the City of Orange Township. Best efforts shall be utilized to have each Ward of the City represented by at least one (1) member. The members shall serve without compensation except as otherwise provided by ordinance. The Mayor shall designate one (1) of the members to serve as Chairperson and presiding officer of the Commission. Best efforts shall be utilized to appoint at least one (1) member who is a professional environmental scientist, geologist, toxicologist, botanist or other environmental specialist. The full term of office of each regular member shall be three (3) years and until appointment and confirmation of a successor, except that the terms of the regular members first appointed pursuant hereto shall be as follows:
A. 
Three (3) members shall be appointed for one (1) year.
B. 
Two (2) members shall be appointed for two (2) years.
C. 
Two (2) members shall be appointed for three (3) years.
Thereafter the successor of each regular member shall be appointed for the full term of three (3) years and until the appointment and qualification of a successor. A vacancy occurring, otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term only. The Mayor or Municipal Council may remove any regular member of the Commission for cause upon written charges served upon a member and after a hearing thereon at which the member shall be entitled to be heard and represented by counsel. At least one (1) of the appointments who are members of the City Council shall have a term which is greater than one (1) year.
A regular member shall not be permitted to act on any matter in which he/she has either directly or indirectly any personal or financial interest.
The Mayor shall appoint two (2) alternate members of the Commission. The alternate members shall also serve without compensation except as otherwise provided by ordinance, and must also be residents of the City of Orange Township.
The Mayor shall designate one (1) alternate member, at the time of appointment, as "Alternate No. 1" and the remaining alternate member as "Alternate No. 2." The full term of each alternate member shall be two (2) years except that terms of the alternate members first appointed pursuant hereto shall be as follows:
A. 
"Alternate No. 1" shall be for a term of two (2) years.
B. 
"Alternate No. 2" shall be for a term of one (1) year.
Thereafter the successor of each alternate member shall be for the full term of two (2) years. A vacancy occurring, otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term only.
An alternate member shall not be permitted to act on any matter in which he/she has either directly or indirectly any personal or financial interest.
The Mayor or Municipal Council may remove any alternate member of the Commission for cause upon written charges served upon a member and after a hearing thereon at which the member shall be entitled to be heard and represented by counsel.
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.
The Environmental Commission shall:
A. 
Conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas of the City of Orange Township.
B. 
Coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes.
C. 
Advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets, which in its judgment it deems necessary for its purposes within the limits of funds appropriated to the Commission.
D. 
Keep a Natural Resources index from all open areas, publicly and privately owned, included open marsh land, swamps and other wetlands and to obtain information on the proper use of such areas.
E. 
Recommend, from time to time, to the Planning Board, plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan of the township for the development and use of such lands.
F. 
Do such acts and things as are reasonably related to and designed to carry out the purposes and objectives of the Commission, including without limitation, the payment of such clerks and other employees as the Commission may require within the limits of the funds appropriated to the Commission subject to the budgeting and availability of funds as determined by the City Council.
G. 
Keep records of the meetings and activities of the Commission and make an annual report to the Mayor and the Municipal Council.
H. 
Study and make recommendations concerning open space preservation, water resource management, air pollution control, solid waste management, noise control, environmental appearance, marine resources, protection of flora and fauna and any other environmental concerns which affect the enjoyment and health of the public.
I. 
Refer matters to the proper City authorities whenever violations of environmental law come to its attention.
J. 
Coordinate and/or respond to volunteer neighborhood efforts to solve environmental problems. This includes convening at least every two (2) years a conference at which municipal officials and citizens shall discuss the status of environmental services and the means to improve them.
K. 
Assist in the formulation of funding plans submitted to the Green Acres/Green Trust program of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
L. 
Delegate an Environmental Commission member to be a permanent member of the Local Emergency Planning Council (per federal P.L. 99-499) and delegate other Commission members to be members of other municipal environmental bodies as government creates from time to time.
Subject to the prior approval of the Planning Board and Municipal Council, the Environmental Commission may acquire property, both real and personal, in the name of the township, by gift, purchase, grants, bequests, devices or leases, 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. The interest so acquired may be the fee or any lesser interest, development right, easement (including conservation easements), covenant or other contractual right (including a conveyance on conditions or with limitations or revisions), 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 City of Orange Township.