[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Dennis 3-4-2014 as Ord. No. 2014-01. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Editor's Note: Ordinance No. 2014-01 repealed and dissolved the Natural Resources Committee, adopted by Ordinance No. 2012-03 and previously codified herein. Any authority or power any person, or persons, had or was otherwise authorized by the existence of the Natural Resources Committee is hereby revoked. Any and all funds held by the Natural Resources Committee, barring any legal limitations, shall be immediately turned over by the Treasurer of the Natural Resources Committee to the Chief Financial Officer of the Township and the Chief Financial Officer shall place such funds in the general fund of the Township.
There is hereby created in the Township of Dennis an Environmental Commission, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq., with the membership, powers, duties and responsibilities hereafter set forth in this chapter.
A. 
The Commission shall consist of seven regular and two alternate members, appointed by the Mayor. One regular member shall also be a member of the Township Consolidated Land Use Board, and all regular and alternate members shall be residents of the township.
B. 
All members of the Commission shall serve without compensation.
C. 
The Mayor shall designate one regular member to serve as Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission.
D. 
Alternate members shall be designated at the time of their appointment as Alternate No. 1 and Alternate No. 2. An alternate member shall not be permitted to act on any matter in which he has, either directly or indirectly, any personal or financial interest. An alternate member may participate in discussions of the proceedings but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote first.
A. 
Regular members. Initially, two Commissioners shall be appointed for one-year terms, two for two-year terms and three for three-year terms. Thereafter, each appointment shall be for three-year terms. A vacancy of the Commission occurring otherwise than by expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.
B. 
Alternate members. The terms of the alternate members shall be for two years, except that the terms of the alternate members first appointed shall be two years for Alternate No. 1 and one year for Alternate No. 2, so that the term of not more than one alternate member shall expire in any one year. A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled by the appointing authority for the unexpired term only.
A. 
The Mayor or Township Committee may remove any regular member of the Commission for cause, on written charges served upon the member and after a hearing thereon, at which the member shall be entitled to be heard in person or by counsel.
B. 
An alternate member may, after public hearing if he requests one, be removed by the Township Committee for cause.
The Commission shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report to the Governing Body of the municipality.
The meetings of the Commission shall be subject to the Open Public Meetings Act, and its records shall be considered public documents.
A. 
The Township Committee shall, each year, appropriate funds for the expenses incurred by the Commission.
B. 
The Commission may appoint such clerks and other employees as it may from time to time require and within the limits of the funds appropriated to it.
The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
A. 
It shall keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including open marshlands, swamps and other wetlands, in order to obtain information on the proper use of such areas, and it may from time to time recommend to the Consolidated Land Use Board plans and programs for inclusion in the Township Master Plan and for the development and use of such areas.
B. 
The Commission may, as it deems fit, conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas of the municipality and may coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes.
C. 
The Commission may advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which in its judgment it deems necessary for its purposes.
A. 
When the Commission has prepared and submitted to the Consolidated Land Use Board the index of natural resources referred to in the foregoing Section 17-8, the Consolidated Land Use Board shall thereafter make available to the Commission an informational copy of every application for development submitted to the Consolidated Land Use Board.
B. 
The Commission shall review each application and may provide its advice to the Consolidated Land Use Board, which advice shall be conveyed through the delegation of one of its members or staff to testify orally at the hearing on the application and to explain any written report which may have been prepared and/or submitted to the Board.
The Commission may 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.
A. 
The Commission may, subject to the approval of the Township Committee, acquire property, both real and personal, in the name of the township 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.
B. 
Any such 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 of the township.