Pursuant to the authority found in N.J.S.A, 40:56A-1 et seq.,
the Borough Council of the Borough of Woodstown and the Township Committee
of the Township of Pilesgrove hereby establish a Joint Environmental
Commission. This Commission is created by the adoption of this chapter
and by a similar ordinance adopted by the Township Committee of the
Township of Pilesgrove.
A Joint Environmental Commission shall consist of 10 members
plus two alternates. The Mayor of the Borough of Woodstown shall appoint
five members, one of whom shall also be a member of the Planning Board
plus one alternate and all of whom shall be residents of the municipality
of the Borough of Woodstown. The Mayor of Pilesgrove Township shall
appoint five members, one of whom shall also be a member of the Planning
Board plus one alternate and all of whom shall be residents of the
municipality of Pilesgrove Township. The members shall serve without
compensation except as hereinafter provided. The Borough of Woodstown
and Pilesgrove Township Joint Environmental Commission shall elect
one of its members to serve as Chairman and presiding officer of the
Joint Commission. The term of the Chairman shall be one year. The
terms of office of the first commissioners shall be for one, two or
three years, to be designated by the Mayor in making their appointments
and their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years and
until appointment and qualification of their successors. The alternates
shall be appointed for a term of one year. The first members of the
Joint Commission shall be appointed for the following terms:
Two members, one from the Borough of Woodstown, one from Pilesgrove
Township for the one-year term expiring December 31, 2003.
Four members, two from the Borough of Woodstown, two from Pilesgrove
Township, for the two-year term expiring December 31, 2004.
Four members, two from the Borough of Woodstown, two from Pilesgrove
Township, for the three-year term expiring December 31, 2005.
Two alternates, one from the Borough of Woodstown, one from
Pilesgrove Township, for a one-year term expiring December 31, 2003.
The Mayors or governing bodies may remove a member of the Joint
Commission, from their own municipality, for cause, on written charges
served upon the member and after the hearing thereon at which the
member shall be entitled to be heard in person or by counsel. A vacancy
on the Joint Commission occurring otherwise than expiration of a term
shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as an original
appointment.
The Joint Commission is established for the protection, development
or use of natural resources, including water resources, located within
territorial limits of the municipalities of Pilesgrove Township and
the Borough of Woodstown. The Joint Commission shall have power to
conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas
of the municipalities and may coordinate the activities of unofficial
bodies organized for similar purposes, and may advertise, prepare,
print, and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which
in its judgment it deems necessary for its purposes. It shall keep
an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including
open marshland, 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 Boards plans and programs for inclusion in the Master
Plan and the development and use of such areas.
The Joint Environmental Commission may, subject to approval
of the governing bodies, acquire property, both real and personal,
in the name of the municipalities by gift, purchase, grant, bequest,
devise or lease for any of its purposes and shall administer the same
for such purposes subject to the terms of the conveyance or gift.
Such an acquisition may be to acquire the fee or any lesser interest,
development right, easement (including conservation easement), covenant
or other contractual right (including a conveyance on conditions or
with limitations or reversions), 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
municipalities.
The Joint Environmental Commission shall keep records of its
meetings and activities and make an annual report to the governing
bodies.
The Joint Commission may appoint such clerks and other employees
and incur such expenses as it may from time to time require, providing
the same shall be within the limits of funds appropriated to it by
the governing bodies or otherwise available to it.
[Amended 11-28-06 by Ord. No. 2006-636]
The Joint 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 shall also have the power to create an environmental impact statement worksheet, and to amend same from time to time, which worksheet shall be utilized and submitted with a development application when such application requires an environmental impact statement pursuant to Section
67-57 of the Municipal Code.
The Joint Environmental Commission shall continue indefinitely
on a year-to-year basis unless terminated by either the Borough of
Woodstown or the Township of Pilesgrove adopting an ordinance prior
to September 1st withdrawing its municipality from said Joint Environmental
Commission effective December 31st of that same year and after advance
written notice to the other municipality prior to September 1st for
the termination on December 31st of the same year.