[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Somerville 4-5-76 as Ord. No. 776. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Borough of Somerville Environmental Commission is Hereby
Established Pursuant to the Provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq.
A.
The Environmental Commission shall consist of seven (7) members appointed
by the Mayor with Councilmanic approval, one (1) of whom shall also
be a member of the Planning Board and all of whom shall be residents
of the Borough of Somerville. The members thereof shall serve without
compensation. The Commission shall designate one (1) of the members
to serve as Chair-person and presiding officers of said Commission.
The term of office of each of the first Commissioners shall be designated
by the Mayor and Council in making the appointment, and their successors
shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years and until the appointment
and qualifications of their successors. The first members of the Commission
shall be appointed for the following terms:
[Amended 4-20-82 by Ord. No. 929]
B.
The Mayor or Borough Council may remove any member of the Commission
for cause, on written charges served upon the member and after a hearing
thereon at which the member shall be entitled to be heard in person
or by counsel. A vacancy on the Commission occurring otherwise than
by expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term in
the same manner as an original appointment.
C.
The Environmental Commission shall also consist of two (2) alternate
members to be appointed in the same manner as regular members. The
alternate members shall be designated at the time of appointment as
"Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2". The terms of the alternate
members shall be for two (2) years, except that the terms of the alternate
member first appointed shall be two (2) years for Alternate No. 1
and one (1) year for Alternate No. 2 so that the terms of not more
than one (1) alternate member shall expire in any one year.
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.
[Added 12-6-93 by Ord. No. 1161]
A.
The Environmental Commission shall have authority to conduct research
into the use and possible use of the open land area of the borough
and may advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts,
plans and pamphlets which in its judgment it deems necessary for its
purposes, upon authorization by the Mayor and Council. 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 plans and programs for inclusion in the Master
Plan and the development and use of such areas.
B.
The Environmental Commission may recommend that Borough Council acquire
property, both real and personal, by gift, purchase, grant, bequest,
devise or lease, for any of the Commission's or Council's
purposes, subject to the terms of the conveyance or gift.
C.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records of its meetings and
activities and make an annual report to the Borough Council at the
first regular meeting of the Borough Council in January of each year.
Other reports will be furnished by the Commission whenever requested
by the Mayor and Council.
D.
The Environmental Commission shall have 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.
The Commission may appoint such clerks and other employees as
it may from time to time require, provided the same shall be within
the limits of funds appropriated to it by the Borough Council, with
the approval of the Mayor and Council.
