[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Winslow 2-23-77 as Ord. No. 0-6-77 as Ch. 8 of the 1970 Code of the Township of Winslow. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Land use procedures — See Ch. 40.
Flood damage prevention — See Ch. 145.
Natural resources — See Ch. 179.
[Amended 2-16-93 by Ord. No. 0-2-93]
An Environmental Commission shall be established in the Township of Winslow which shall consist of seven (7) members and two (2) alternate members, all of whom shall be township residents and appointed by the Mayor, at least one (1) of which shall be a member of the Planning Board of the Township of Winslow. The Mayor shall designate one (1) of the members to serve as Chairperson and presiding officer.
The initial appointments shall be made by the Mayor within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this chapter. However, all subsequent appointments shall be made at the annual reorganization meeting or as soon thereafter as practicable.
A. 
The terms of the members shall be as follows:
(1) 
One (1) member shall serve for one (1) year from the date on his initial appointment.
(2) 
Two (2) members shall serve for two (2) years from the date of their initial appointment.
(3) 
Two (2) members shall serve for three (3) years from the date of their initial appointment.
(4) 
Thereafter, all members shall serve for three-year terms after the expiration of their original terms.
B. 
All members appointed after the adoption of this chapter shall serve an initial term only until December 31, 1976, or until their successor qualifies.
C. 
The above-mentioned scheme of one-, two- and three-year appointments shall begin on January 1, 1977, at which time the above-mentioned initially staggered terms shall commence.
D. 
A vacancy occurring on the Commission other than by expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. Whether a vacancy has occurred shall be determined in accordance with § 8-6 of Chapter 8 of the Township Code, entitled "Citizen Service and Leadership."
[Amended 4-23-13 by Ord. No. O-2013-011]
E. 
Commencing with the January 1993 meeting, two (2) additional members of the Commission shall be appointed. They shall serve for three-year terms.
[Amended 2-16-93 by Ord. No. 0-2-93]
F. 
Commencing with the January 1993 meeting, two (2) alternate members shall be appointed. They shall be designated as "Alternate Number 1" and "Alternate Number 2." The terms of the alternate members shall be for two (2) years, except that the terms of the alternate members first appointed, shall be two (2) years for Alternate Number 1 and one (1) year for Alternate Number 2, so that the term of not more than one (1) alternate member shall expire in any one (1) year.
[Amended 2-16-93 by Ord. No. 0-2-93]
[Amended 5-17-94 by Ord. No. 0-12-94]
An Environmental Commission organized under this chapter shall have the power to conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas of the municipality 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. It shall keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including open marshlands, 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, or, if none, to the Mayor and Township Committee of the municipality, plans and programs for inclusion in a Municipal Master Plan and for the development and use of such areas. Within the Pinelands Area, all applications for development approval shall be referred to the Environmental Commission for review and comment.
The Environmental Commission may, subject to the approval of the Mayor and Township Committee, acquire property, both real and personal, in the name of the municipality, 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 municipality.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report to the Mayor and Township Committee of the municipality.
The Mayor and Township Committee may appropriate funds for the expenses incurred by the Environmental Commission. The Commission may appoint such clerks and other employees as it may from time to time require and as shall be within the limits of funds appropriated to it.
The Environmental Commission shall have the power 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.