[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Barnegat 12-14-81 as Ord. No. 1981-39. Amended in its entirety 11-21-94 by Ord. No. 1994-26; amended 3-20-95 by Ord. No. 1995-17; amended 10-2-95 by Ord. No. 1995-45. Amended in its entirety 3-18-96 by Ord. No. 1996-13. Further amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 6-2-14 by Ord. No. 2014-14]
Pursuant to the continuing need to explore ways of improving the economic viability by the Township and further pursuant to the ongoing effort to encourage beneficial investment in both existing and new commercial and residential properties within the Township of Barnegat, the governing body hereby creates the Barnegat Township Economic Development Committee, hereinafter referred to as "EDC." The EDC is a Steering Committee providing advice, guidance and recommendations with options to the Township Committee for their decision process.
The purpose of the Economic Development Committee (EDC) is to advise the Barnegat Township Committee in creating an environment conducive to existing businesses, attracting desirable businesses, and promoting appropriate industries as a key element of the local economy.
[Amended 5-15-00 by Ord. No. 2000-19; 6-2-14 by Ord. No. 2014-14]
The Committee created hereby shall consist of seven (7) members together with four (4) alternate members and shall exist as an advisory committee to the governing body of the Township of Barnegat having the powers hereinafter enumerated. The Community Development Director shall be a nonvoting member for the purposes of advising and discussing matters brought before this Committee.
The Committee shall consist of seven (7) members and four (4) alternates who shall be appointed by the Township Committee of the Township of Barnegat in accordance with the provisions set forth below:
A. 
Three (3) members shall be appointed for two (2) years, two (2) members for three (3) years, one (1) member for four (4) years and one (1) member for five (5) years. At the expiration of each of the above terms, the new member or members shall be appointed for a term of five (5) years. Alternate #1 and #2 one (1) year and Alternate #3 and #4 for two (2) years. At the expiration of initial appointments as alternates, new member or members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years.
[Amended 6-2-14 by Ord. No. 2014-14]
B. 
Vacancies in the membership of the Committee shall be promptly filled by appointment by the governing body for the unexpired term.
[Amended 6-2-14 by Ord. No. 2014-14]
C. 
Members of the Committee shall serve for their respective terms.
D. 
Each member of the Committee shall, before assuming office, take and subscribe to an oath that he/she will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of his/her office.
E. 
A member of the governing body of the township shall not be appointed as a member of the Committee.
F. 
A member of the governing body of the township shall be an ex-officio member of the Committee, but shall not have voting privileges.
To be appointed as a member of the Committee, an individual must meet the following requirements:
A. 
Be a citizen of the United States, a qualified registered voter of the State of New Jersey. One (1) member shall be appointed from a Barnegat Township based banking institution. One (1) member shall be appointed from the Barnegat Township Chamber of Commerce, with a business based in Barnegat Township.
[Amended 7-18-05 by Ord. No. 2005-45]
B. 
Shall be conversant with the industrial, commercial and residential needs and facilities of the Township of Barnegat.
C. 
The governing body shall attempt to appoint representatives of labor, banking, the Chamber of Commerce, service clubs, a member of the legal profession and a representative of the recognized Real Estate Dealers Association and a member of the clergy and shall further attempt to obtain representation of a member of an active seniors group within the township and a resident of a planned adult community within the township. Consideration will be given by the governing body to such representatives of the various professions, etc., mentioned above but there shall be no obligation for all of the above criteria to be met.
No member, officer or employee of the Barnegat Township Economic Development Committee shall be interested directly or indirectly in any contracts for work or material used by the Committee or in any sales, leases or agreements in connection with lands, buildings or other property owned or controlled by the Committee or any fees or compensation of any kind paid to any broker, architect, engineer, merchant or other person doing business with the Committee for the benefits or profits thereof. Members shall be subject to the State of New Jersey Ethics Regulations.
The members and officers of the Barnegat Township Economic Development Committee shall serve without compensation, but each shall receive actual reimbursement for expenses incurred in performance of duties as approved by the "EDC" provided expenses do not exceed the annual budget.
A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum of the Committee. The members of the Committee shall choose annually from among its members a Chairman and such other officers as it may deem necessary, and shall use Robert's Rules of Order as a model guide for said selection.
Insofar as may be practicable, the employees and assistants required by the Committee shall be recruited from the public officers and employees of the municipality served by the Committee. When or if the need be, an attorney and/or engineer will be appointed by the Township Committee. The Township Administrator shall be the Administrator of the Committee. They shall be available to the Committee for the purposes of the Committee's business. Municipal employees service the Committee shall do so without compensation, other than their regular compensation as employees of the municipality. The Committee shall, from time to time, make known to the Township Committee of Barnegat Township its wants in the nature of service by employees of the municipality, and the Administrator shall designate which of the employees, if any, shall render such services.
To the extent that the Committee shall deem it necessary to carry on its function and to the extent that it shall consider the services of existing employees of Barnegat Township, insufficient for its purpose, it may employ such additional employees or services and at such compensation as may be approved by resolution of the Township Committee. Its requirements in this direction shall be submitted from time to time in writing to the Township Committee through the Administrator.
In the event any member of the Committee shall have three (3) consecutive unexcused absences without cause from regular Committee meetings, that member shall immediately forfeit all rights to be a member of the Committee and shall be promptly notified of the same in writing by the Township Administrator.
[Amended 6-2-14 by Ord. No. 2014-14]
Any function and purpose of the Economic Development Committee shall be:
A. 
To inquire into, survey and publicize the extent, advantages and utility of the vacant or occupied lands within the Barnegat Township, whether owned by the Township or otherwise.
B. 
The Committee shall make a study of the tax structure with a view to reducing the tax burden of the municipality.
C. 
To study and analyze various potential sites acceptable for the introduction of commercial, and to the extent deemed appropriate, residential enterprises with Barnegat Township.
D. 
By taking advantage of any outstanding reports, records, statistics and other documents made available by the federal, state, county, or local governments or public agencies.
E. 
The Committee shall make a study of where Barnegat is for current year in terms of Economic Development.
F. 
To advertise the economic advantages and opportunities of Barnegat Township and the availability of real estate within the Township for business, commercial, industrial and residential uses and to encourage and accomplish such settlement with Barnegat Township.
G. 
To seek out industries and businesses to purchase or lease vacant lands from Barnegat Township.
H. 
The Committee shall further review and report to the Township Committee on the use of the State of New Jersey Tax abatement program.
I. 
The Committee shall further review and report to the Township Committee on the use of the State, County and local program(s) and encourage local volunteers.
The Committee shall make a study of the tax structure with a view to reducing the tax burden of the municipality. The Committee shall further review and report to the Township Committee on the use of the State of New Jersey Tax abatement program.
The Committee shall be limited to expending such appropriation as may be made by the Township Committee and shall further make an annual application to the Committee for such funds as may be necessary for operation.