Editor's Note: Former Chapter 15, Personnel Policies, previously codified herein and containing portions of Ordinance Nos. 85-3, 88-6 and 91-16 was repealed in its entirety by Ordinance No. 93-23.
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Editor's Note: This section shall take effect upon final passage and publication according to law; provided, however, that the inspection fees shall not be imposed and collected until the 1999 Farmland Assessment applications are submitted to the township tax assessor.
[Ord. #97-20, S 2]
All applications to the township tax assessor concerning the eligibility of land for valuation, assessment and taxation under the Farmland Assessment Act of 1964 shall be accompanied by a fee of $25 to cover the cost of on-site inspection of the property which is the subject of such application. Contiguous parcels of land owned by the same owner will be subject to a single fee. The failure by an applicant to submit such payment at the time of application (filing deadline is August 1 of the pre-tax year) shall result in the denial of the application.
[Ord. #97-20, S 2]
In the event that the assessor shall determine that an on-site inspection is not required in order to review any particular annual application, the fee paid with that annual application pursuant to subsection 15-1.1 shall be refunded to the applicant.
[Ord. #98-01, S 1; Ord. #2013-007; Ord. #2017-002]
At the election of November 8, 2016, the voters of the Township of Bedminster approved the use of the Open Space Trust Fund to include maintenance of Township open space.
There is hereby established a reserve in the General Capital Fund which shall be noted and designated as the "Open Space Trust Fund". A separate bank account shall be established and maintained therefor entitled "Bedminster Township Open Space Trust Account". As directed by the Township Committee, funds from the Open Space Trust Fund may be utilized (1) to acquire all types of interests in real property, including, not by way of limitations, fee simple acquisitions, easements, development rights, or any other lesser interests in real estate which will further the goal of open space acquisition and preservation; (2) to develop and improve lands acquired for recreation and conservation purposes; (3) for the maintenance of lands acquired by the Township for recreation and conservation purposes; (4) for the historic preservation of historic properties, structures, facilities, sites, areas or objects, and the acquisition of such properties, structures, facilities, sites, areas or objects for historic preservation purposes; and (5) towards the payment of debt service on indebtedness issued or incurred by the Township for any of the purposes set forth in (1), (2), (3) and (4) above. The lands in which such interests may be acquired shall include undeveloped land as well as land containing improvements at the time of acquisition provided the principal purpose of the acquisition is to preserve open space. The Township Committee shall have the option of paying for land acquisitions with improvements upon them either solely through the Open Space Trust Fund or by apportioning the cost thereof by charging the Open Space Trust Fund for the land portion and the capital account for the improvement portion. It is understood that such acquisition may occur via gift, purchase or by eminent domain proceedings pursuant to N.J.S.A. 20:3-1 et seq. In addition, the Township Committee may authorize the disbursement of monies from the Open Space Trust Fund to assist any recognized public or recognized private entity in acquiring interests in real property, located within the Township, for the purposes stated herein, provided that suitable arrangements are made to assure (i) that such lands are made subject to restrictions substantially similar to those imposed by this ordinance, and (ii) that in the event such interests subsequently are sold, the net proceeds of such disposition will be paid over to the Township's Open Space Trust Fund in the same proportion that the Township's contribution bore to the original price.
[Ord. #98-01, S 1]
Beginning in 1998, a special tax rate shall be added to the total township tax rate in the amount of two ($0.02) cents per $100 of the annual assessed valuations and tax rate, the revenue from which shall be deposited into the Open Space Trust Fund. In subsequent years the township committee, annually by resolution, after a public hearing, will establish the rate, not to exceed two ($0.02) cents per $100 of the assessed valuation for the new year. The Open Space Trust Fund shall also be permitted to accept donations and testamentary bequests. The funds accumulated within the Open Space Trust Fund shall be utilized for the acquisition of real estate and interests in real estate as more fully delineated in subsection 15-2.1 hereinabove. In connection with such acquisition, the funds may be utilized for appraisals and other items of expense permitted by law in connection with the acquisition or as a down payment for the issuance of bonds or for debt service for the same purpose at the discretion of the township committee. Any and all interest accruing shall remain in the Open Space Trust Fund and may be utilized for the above described purposes. In no eventuality shall the township pay more than fair market value for the land to be acquired. The township shall obtain a minimum of one appraisal from a certified appraiser plus the appraisal of the tax assessor, as a guide to the fair market value. The cost of such appraisal may be paid out of the Open Space Trust Fund.
[Ord. #98-01, S 1]
No real property or interest herein acquired with these funds from the Open Space Trust Fund shall be sold, conveyed, leased or otherwise alienated unless it is needed for another public use or otherwise furthers the purposes of the Trust. If such a sale, lease or conveyance is made, the township committee shall be required to (1) place the monies received into the Open Space Trust Fund and (2) in due course, replace such property or interest with property or an interest of at least equal fair market value and of reasonably equivalent usefulness, size, quality, and location. The deed of any property acquired with funds from the Open Space Trust Fund shall contain a specific notation reflecting that the property was acquired with funds from the Open Space Trust Fund.
[Ord. No. 98-01, § 1; Ord. No. 2000-24, § 1; Ord. No. 2004-05, § 2; Ord. No. 2007-023]
This section will be in effect until December 31, 2017; then, the Township Committee shall conduct a review, and, if it deems appropriate, amend this section to continue the Open Space Trust Fund for a further period of time.