[Ord. No. 11-2017]
There is hereby established an Historic Preservation Commission, consisting of five regular members and two alternates, with the purpose being to develop and implement the official local historic preservation plan for the City of South Amboy.
A. 
Regular members: At least one member shall be appointed from each of the following classes, including no fewer than a total of three members from Classes A and B:
Class A: a person who is knowledgeable in building design and construction or architectural history and who may reside outside the City.
Class B: a person who has demonstrated a knowledge of or who has displayed an interest in local history and who may reside outside the City.
Class C: a person who is a citizen of the City, who holds no other municipal office, position or employment, and who professes an interest in local history and/or historic preservation.
B. 
Alternate members: Two alternate members shall also serve on the Commission. They must qualify as Class C members and shall be designated as "Alternate No. 1" or "Alternate No. 2" at the time of appointment. Alternate members may participate in all Commission discussions during proceedings but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member.
[Chapter 83 adopted 8-16-2017 by Ord. No. 11-2017]
A. 
The Mayor shall appoint all members of the Commission and shall designate at the time of appointment the regular members by class and the alternate members as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2." The City Council shall appoint a full membership, including regular and alternate members, of the Commission within 60 days from the effective date of this Chapter.
The terms of the members first appointed shall be so determined that, to the greatest practicable extent, the expiration of the terms shall be distributed, in the case of regular members, evenly over the first four years after their appointment and, in the case of alternate members, evenly over the first two years after their appointment, provided that the initial term of no regular member shall exceed four years and that the initial term of no alternate member shall exceed two years. Thereafter, the term of a regular member shall be four years, and the term of an alternate member shall be two years.
B. 
A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of a term shall be filled within 60 days for the unexpired term only.
C. 
The presence of four members, which may include alternate members filling vacancies of regular members, at a meeting shall constitute a quorum.
D. 
A member of the Commission may, after a public hearing if he or she requests it, be removed for cause by a majority vote of the City Council.
[Ord. No. 11-2017]
A. 
The officers of the Commission shall be as follows:
The Commission shall elect a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from its members.
B. 
The Commission shall employ, designate or elect a person to serve as Secretary, who need not be a member of the Commission. The Secretary shall keep the minutes and records of all meetings and proceedings of the Commission, including voting records, attendance, resolutions, findings, determinations and decisions.
[Ord. No. 11-2017]
A. 
The Commission shall have the authority to adopt all rules and regulations necessary to carry out its functions under the provisions of this Chapter, including but not limited to maintenance of records and procedures, subject to the following:
(1) 
No Commission member shall be permitted to act on any matter in which he or she has, either directly or indirectly, any personal or financial interest, as herein defined.
(2) 
The Commission shall establish a regular schedule of meetings monthly based on pending agenda items. Additional meetings may be called by the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson as required to fulfill its obligations under this Chapter.
(3) 
All Commission minutes and records shall be public records.
(4) 
All rules and regulations adopted by the Commission shall be subject to the approval of the City Council.
[Ord. No. 11-2017]
A. 
The City Council shall make provision in its budget and appropriate funds for the expenses of the Commission. The Commission may employ, contract for and fix the compensation of experts and other staff and services as it shall deem necessary. The Commission shall obtain its legal counsel from the Law Director at the rate of compensation determined by the City Council, unless the Council has, by appropriation, provided for separate legal counsel for the Commission. Expenditures pursuant to this section shall not exceed, exclusive of gifts or grants, the amount appropriated by the City Council for the Commission's use.
B. 
The City's Planning and Construction Officials shall provide such technical assistance as the Commission shall require.
[Ord. No. 11-2017]
A. 
The Historic Preservation Commission shall:
(1) 
Survey buildings, structures, objects, sites and districts located within the City and to research and evaluate them for their significance in accordance with the criteria established as set forth in this article. Compile an inventory of properties of historic, archaeological or architectural significance.
(2) 
Establish an Official Local Register of Historic Places and transmit such information to the New Jersey Office of Historic Preservation for possible inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
(3) 
Coordinate local preservation activities and act as spokesman for the City in dealing with state and federal agencies on matters affecting the City's historic resources.
(4) 
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.
(5) 
Recommend to the Planning Board, from time to time, plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan of the City for development and use of such historic places.
(6) 
Make recommendations to the Planning Board, the Mayor and the City Council in the preparation and periodic updating of the historic preservation element of the Master Plan for the City, including but not limited to the addition or deletion of historic sites and districts identified in the City's Master Plan.
(7) 
Propose to the Mayor City Council those buildings, structures, objects, sites and districts located within the City which it has found to be worthy of landmark designation and hence should be subject to the provisions and of this article. Actual nomination to, a finding of eligibility for or listing on the National or State Register of Historic Places is not necessary for the provisions of this article to take effect once a property has been designated as significant by the Commission.
(8) 
Advise and assist City officers, employees, boards and other bodies, including those at the county, state and federal levels, on all matters which have potential impact on the historic buildings, structures, objects, sites or districts in the City or on the physical character and ambience of any portion of the City or region.
(9) 
Advise the Mayor, the City Council and the Planning Board on the relative merits of proposals involving the use of public funds to restore, preserve and protect historic buildings, structures, objects and sites, including the preparation of the long-range plans therefor; to secure state, federal and/or other grants or assistance in support of such projects; and to monitor such projects once underway.
(10) 
Approve or disapprove applications for certificates of appropriateness pursuant to the provisions of this article.
(11) 
Increase public awareness of the value of historic, architectural and cultural preservation by developing and participating in public information programs.
(12) 
Cooperate with local, county, state or national historical societies, governmental bodies and organizations to maximize the contributions of the Commission in accordance with the intent and purposes of historic preservation.
(13) 
Make information available to residents of historic buildings or districts concerning guidelines for rehabilitation and design criteria for new construction established under this article.
(14) 
Seek any benefits which may be granted under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, or any other state or federal legislation, including but not limited to the benefits which flow to communities under the certified local government program with regard to training, grant funding and technical assistance; and, in furtherance thereof, to take any steps necessary to assist the City of South Amboy in the preparation and submission of any documents needed for certification of the City as a certified local government under said National Historic Preservation Act.
(15) 
Keep records of the meetings and activities of the Commission and make an annual report to the Council.
(16) 
Do such other acts and things as are reasonably related to and designed to carry out the purposes and objectives of the Commission.
(17) 
Acquisition of historic places. Subject to the prior approval of the Mayor, and then the Planning Board and Council, the Historic Preservation Commission may acquire property, real and personal, in the name of the City, by gift, pledges, grants, bequests, devices 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 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 historic places and other land and water areas in the City.
(18) 
Nominate buildings, structures, objects, sites and districts for inclusion in the local, National and/or the State of New Jersey Register of Historic Places.
[Ord. No. 11-2017]
The Commission members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of official business.