[1]
Editor's Note: See the Comprehensive Land Management Code for the establishment of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment.
[1978 Code § 2-1.3]
Unless otherwise specified by law, this Code, or the pay plan ordinance, all persons appointed under the terms of the administrative code shall:
a. 
Be residents or nonresidents;
b. 
Serve without compensation;
c. 
Be appointed by the Township Manager; and
d. 
Serve for a period of one year beginning July 1 of each year or until their successors are appointed and qualified.
Unless otherwise provided by law or ordinance, any vacancy in office (where a term of office is provided) shall be filled for the unexpired term of the individual replaced.
[Added 11-13-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-17]
a. 
A municipal advisory beautification committee which shall be known and designated as the "Sparta Beautification Committee," is hereby created and established. The Committee shall be composed of nine members to be appointed by the Township Council, and one member shall be selected from the membership of the Township Environmental Commission. All other municipal committees heretofore functioning in the field of beautification are hereby dissolved.
b. 
In addition to the nine members provided for in Subsection 2-37.1a, the Mayor may appoint a member of the Township Council to serve as liaison between the Committee and the Township Council. The Councilperson appointed to serve as liaison shall have no voting privileges in the deliberations of the Committee and shall serve during the term of the Mayor.
c. 
In addition to the nine members provided for in Subsection 2-37.1a, and the Councilperson designated to serve as liaison as hereinabove provided, the Mayor, during the term of office, shall be an ex officio member of the Committee. The Mayor shall have no voting privileges in the deliberations of the Committee.
[Added 11-13-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-17]
All members of the Committee, excepted as otherwise provided for in this § 2-37, shall be appointed for three-year terms, effective from the date of appointment
[Added 11-13-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-17]
If any vacancy shall occur on the Committee, the Township Council shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.
[Added 11-13-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-17]
The Committee shall:
a. 
Seek out, initiate and encourage civic beautification projects.
b. 
Obtain and disseminate on a Township-wide basis information pertaining to civic beautification.
c. 
Serve as an advisory committee to the Township Council on questions of beautification and related programs and activities beneficial to the Township and shall, from time to time, report its findings and recommendations to the Township Council for its consideration and action. The findings and recommendations of the Committee shall not bind the Township Council.
d. 
Institute, foster and support such programs, undertakings and projects as shall cause, within the citizens of the Township of Sparta, a sense of pride in the aesthetic aspects of their community.
e. 
Be authorized to raise funds and receive charitable donations, in accordance with all laws, to offset its operational costs. All expenditures shall first be approved by the Township Council and all moneys so raised turned over to the Township’s Finance Department.
[Added 11-13-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-17]
The Committee may, in its discretion, adopt rules of procedure governing the conduct of its meetings and activities and shall elect such officers from among its membership as it may deem necessary.
[1978 Code § 2-19.1]
The free Public Library of the Township under the management of a Board of Trustees is hereby created.
[1978 Code § 2-19.2]
The Board of Library Trustees shall consist of seven members; one of whom shall be the Mayor; one, the Local Superintendent of Schools; and five citizens appointed by the Mayor. The appointments shall be for terms as prescribed by general law.
[1978 Code § 2-19.3]
The Board of Library Trustees shall have such powers and perform such duties as shall be prescribed by law and in addition shall adopt proper rules and regulations for the government of the library. They shall have the power to appoint a Director and such staff as may be required and shall have the power to exclude from the use of the library and the reading room any and all persons who shall willfully violate the rules and regulations. The Board shall fix the compensation of Directors and other personnel.
[1978 Code § 2-19.4]
The Board of Trustees shall annually make a report of its transactions and accounts and report the condition of the library to the Council.
[1978 Code § 2-22.1; amended 9-26-2023 by Ord. No. 23-19]
a. 
There is hereby established an Environmental Commission for the protection, development and use of natural resources. The Commission shall be known as the "Environmental Commission of the Township of Sparta."
[1978 Code § 2-22.2; Ord. No. 03-09 § 1; amended 9-26-2023 by Ord. No. 23-19; 1-19-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-01]
a. 
The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor, one of whom shall also be a member of the Township's Planning Board, and all of whom shall be residents of the Township of Sparta.
b. 
The members shall serve without compensation except as hereinafter provided.
c. 
The Mayor shall appoint one of the members to serve as Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission.
d. 
The terms of office of the first Commissioners shall be for one, two, or three years, to be designated by the Mayor in making the appointments, and their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years and until the appointment and qualification of their successors.
e. 
Alternate Members. The Mayor may also appoint not more than two alternate members to the Environmental Commission, who shall be designated at the time of appointment as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2".
1. 
Alternate members shall have the same qualifications as regular members.
2. 
The term of the alternate members shall be for two years, except that the term for those initially appointed as Alternate No. 1 shall be for one year.
3. 
Vacancies occurring for reasons other than expiration of the term shall be filled by Mayoral appointment for the unexpired term only.
4. 
Alternate member may be removed for cause by the Township Council, but shall be entitled to a public hearing beforehand upon request.
5. 
Alternate members shall be permitted to participate in Commission discussions but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member, and voting shall not be delayed so that a regular member might vote instead of the alternate member.
f. 
The Commission may, in its discretion, appoint a Student Liaison member from one of the high schools serving Sparta Township. The Student Liaison shall be:
1. 
Preferably be a member of the environmental or ecology club at their high school;
2. 
An uncompensated volunteer;
3. 
A Sparta resident;
4. 
A nonvoting member;
5. 
16 years of age or older;
6. 
Appointed by the Mayor; and
7. 
Serve for no longer than one year.
The term of membership for the Student Liaison shall be for one year, from September 1 to August 31.
The Commission's Chairperson shall determine the process for the student liaison submission and selection, along with such other applicable details.
[1978 Code § 2-22.3; Ord. No. 03-09 § 2; amended 9-26-2023 by Ord. No. 23-19]
A vacancy occurring otherwise than by an expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term only. The Mayor or the Township Council may remove any member of the Commission for cause, on written charges served upon the member and after hearing thereon at which the Members shall be entitled to be heard in person or by counsel. "Cause" for removal of any member, may include, but is not limited to, excessive absences (missing more than six meetings in any twelve-month period) from regularly scheduled meetings; ongoing lack of participation in Environmental Commission meetings, matters, activities, events, projects and/or subcommittee activities.
[1978 Code § 2-22.4; Ord. No. 03-09 § 3; amended 3-8-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-03; 9-26-2023 by Ord. No. 23-19]
a. 
The Commission shall meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m., if needed, and at such other days and times as determined by the Commission and/or times and dates as requested by the Township Council.
b. 
The Commission shall keep records of all of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual written report to the Township Council no later than July 1st of each year.
[1978 Code § 2-22.5]
The duties of the Commission are as follows:
a. 
To conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas of the Township.
b. 
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.
c. 
Coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes.
d. 
To advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which in its judgment it deems necessary for its purpose, within the limits of funds appropriated to the Commission.
e. 
To keep an index of all open areas, publicly and privately owned, including open marsh lands, and to obtain information on the proper use of such area.
f. 
To recommend to the Planning Board plans and programs for development and use of such areas for inclusion in the master plan of the Township.
g. 
To serve as a liaison between local conservation needs and regional, State and Federal agencies ministering to those needs as authorized by the Township Council.
h. 
To do such other acts and things as are reasonably related to and designed to carry out the purposes and objectives of the Commission.
[1978 Code § 2-22.6]
Subject to the prior approval of the Planning Board and Township Council, the Environmental Commission may acquire property both real and personal in name of the Township, by gifts, pledges, grants, bequests, devises or lease, 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, 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 Township.
[Ord. No. 03-09 § 4]
The Township Council at its sole discretion may appropriate funds for the expenses incurred by the Environmental Commission. The Commission may appoint a secretary or clerk. Salaries for such positions shall be fixed and determined by the Township Council and shall be within the limits of the funds appropriated to the Commission.
[Ord. No. 2016-04]
Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:56-21, et seq., there is hereby created the Township of Sparta Assessment Commission, the members of which shall be appointed by the Township Council.
[Ord. No. 2016-04]
a. 
The Assessment Commission shall consist of three members, all of whom are residents of the Township, who shall be designated Commissioners.
b. 
The Commissioners shall be appointed for a term of three years. There shall also be two Alternate Commissioners appointed for a term of three years. All terms shall be computed from July 1 of the year of appointment. The Commissioners and Alternate Commissioners shall serve until their successors are appointed and shall qualify.
c. 
Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term only.
d. 
Alternate Commissioners shall serve as Commissioners in those cases where a Commissioner is unable to serve in connection with a specific project or projects.
[Ord. No. 2016-04]
In the event that any Commissioner shall be in any way interested in any local improvement, such Commission shall be disqualified from exercising the powers hereinabove conferred with respect to that improvement; and the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Township Council, shall appoint an Alternate Commissioner or, if the Alternate Commissioner shall not qualify, some other qualified person or persons to act in their place with respect to that improvement only.
[Ord. No. 2016-04]
The Assessment Commission shall be and hereby is charged with the duty of making assessments for benefits for local improvements within the Township of Sparta in accordance with the duties imposed upon it by virtue of N.J.S.A. 40:56-21 et seq., inclusive, and shall, in addition, have and exercise all of the powers authorized by the aforesaid statutes.
[Ord. No. 2016-04]
a. 
The Commissioners shall be required to:
1. 
Examine the subject property after completion of the improvement.
2. 
Schedule a time, date and location for a hearing to be held in connection with assessment and shall notify all owners of all real estate affected directly by mail and by publication in the appropriate newspaper, all pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56-25.
3. 
Conduct a hearing with a quorum of at least two Commissioners, all in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:56-26.
4. 
Determine what, if any, incidental damages to the property owner(s) should go toward reducing the amount of the assessment.
5. 
Certify the amount of the assessment to the Mayor and Council by a written report duly signed and accompanied by a map showing the subject real estate.
b. 
The Assessment Commission shall report to the Mayor and Council as to its determination, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56-30, within 45 days of the Commission being notified that assessments are required. The Commission shall conduct a hearing before issuing its report, and the property owners who may be assessed shall have the opportunity to address the Assessment Commission at the hearing.
c. 
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56-30, the report may be considered by the Mayor and Council at any meeting after receipt, provided that the Township Clerk gives at least two weeks' prior notice, which notice shall have been posted in five public places in the Township; or published in a newspaper circulating in the Township, once in each week for two weeks prior to the meeting; and by mailing a copy of the notice to the owner or owners named in the report, directed to the last known post-office address of said owner or owners. The affidavit of the Township Clerk shall be conclusive to evidence such mailing. The notice shall briefly state the object of the meeting with reference to the assessment. At that or any subsequent meeting, the Mayor and Council, after considering the report and map, may adopt and confirm the report with or without alteration, as may seem proper, and/or may refer the matter to any committee of the Council or to the Commission for revision or correction before taking final action.