[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Editor's Note: Ordinance No. 2014-01 repealed and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.