[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of East Amwell 12-30-2019 by Ord. No. 19-24.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 31, Ringoes Village Advisory Committee, adopted 9-13-2018 by Ord. No. 18-17.
There is hereby established in the Township of East Amwell an advisory committee known as the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee.
As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:
RINGOES VILLAGE
The area within East Amwell Township designated as the "Village District" on the July 2006 version of the Zoning Map of East Amwell Township.
RINGOES VILLAGE BUSINESS OWNER
An individual who owns or co-owns, directly or through an entity, actively manages and is regularly present at a business located within the Ringoes Village and open to the public, or one or more commercial or residential rental properties located within the Ringoes Village.
The Ringoes Village Advisory Committee will consist of the following members, each of whom will be appointed by the Mayor:
A. 
Regular members. Seven regular members, each of whom will be a voting member.
B. 
Youth members. Up to two youth members, who must be between 15 and 18 years old at the time of their appointment, each of whom will be a nonvoting member.
A. 
Regular members. Each regular member of the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee must be, at the time of their appointment and throughout their term, a resident of East Amwell Township, an employee of East Amwell Township and/or a Ringoes Village business owner. The regular members may be a member of any other committee(s) or board(s) of East Amwell Township. The term of each regular member will be three years, except that:
[Amended 3-12-2020 by Ord. No. 20-06]
(1) 
The term of a regular member will end on the date such member is no longer a resident of East Amwell Township, a Ringoes Village business owner, or an employee of East Amwell Township; and
(2) 
The terms of the regular members first appointed pursuant to this § 31-4 will be as follows:
(a) 
Two regular members will initially have a one-year term;
(b) 
Two regular members will initially have a two-year term; and
(c) 
Three regular members will initially have a three-year term.
B. 
Youth members. Each youth member must be a resident of East Amwell Township. The term of each youth member will be one year.
C. 
Vacancies. If a vacancy occurs with respect to any member other than by expiration of that member's term, the vacancy will be filled by an appointment by the Mayor for the balance of that member's term.
At each annual reorganization meeting of the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee, the regular members of the Committee will elect, by a majority vote, a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson. There is no limit on the number of times, consecutively or nonconsecutively, that a person may serve as Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson.
The Ringoes Village Advisory Committee will hold public meetings on a regular basis.
A quorum of the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee will consist of at least four regular members; provided, however, that if on any date the total number of regular members on the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee is less than seven, then a quorum of the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee on that date will consist of at least a majority of the actual number of regular members on the Committee on that date. Approval of any matter will require the affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum.
The Mayor will have the right to remove any regular member or youth member of the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee for cause. Absent a clear showing of bad faith, a determination by the Mayor that there was cause for removal shall be conclusive and final. It is expected that each regular member will regularly attend the meetings of the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee. Unexcused absence from three or more of the regularly scheduled meetings in any calendar year is grounds for removal and replacement by the Mayor.
Each year, the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee will prepare an annual budget, and will submit that budget to the Township Committee for its approval. The budget may, but will not be required to, include costs of obtaining legal advice, or advice from a municipal planner or other qualified professionals, regarding proposals for improving the Ringoes Village, costs of seeking and applying for grants to improve the Ringoes Village, and costs of an administrator for the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee. Approval of any such budget will be in the sole discretion of the Township Committee. The Township Committee will have the right to modify any budget that is proposed by the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee.
No member of the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee will receive any compensation for serving on the Committee.
Each year, the Mayor will appoint one member of the Township Committee as its liaison to the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee, the Planning Board Chairperson will appoint one member of the Planning Board as its liaison to the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee, and if East Amwell Township has a Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Zoning Board of Adjustment Chairperson will appoint one member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment as its liaison to the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee. Each other committee and board in the Township will have the right, but not any obligation, to appoint a liaison to the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee. No liaison will have any voting rights on the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee.
The purpose of the Ringoes Village Advisory Committee is to carefully study the Ringoes Village and identify practical and economically viable ways to improve the Ringoes Village, including, but not limited to:
A. 
Improving the aesthetic appearance of the Ringoes Village, focusing in particular on the properties within the Ringoes Village that have fallen into extreme disrepair.
B. 
Determining whether it is desirable to increase commercial activity within the Ringoes Village and, if it is, whether the focus should be on certain type of businesses, such as antique shops and art galleries, whether the increased commercial activity will require more parking than is currently available in the Ringoes Village, whether existing residences in the Ringoes Village should be converted to commercial use, whether the infrastructure of the Ringoes Village, particularly the septic systems, can accommodate the increased commercial activity and whether, in connection with any of the foregoing, the permitted uses within the Ringoes Village should be changed.
C. 
Determining whether it is desirable to convert any of the existing residences in the Ringoes Village to affordable housing, either rental or owner-occupied, to assist the Township in satisfying its affordable housing obligations.
D. 
Examining the success, economically and otherwise, of the existing multi-family housing and affordable housing in the Ringoes Village.
E. 
Determining whether there are ways to improve pedestrian, vehicular and bicycle circulation within the Ringoes Village.
F. 
Determining whether to preserve any of the historic structures within the Ringoes Village.
G. 
Determining whether government or private grants are available to assist with the funding of any recommendations.
H. 
Determining whether there are economically viable ways for East Amwell Township to assist with the funding of any recommendations.
The Ringoes Village Advisory Committee will report directly to the Township Committee. The Ringoes Village Advisory Committee is solely an advisory committee and therefore will not have any legislative or judicial authority or enforcement powers.