[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Lebanon 11-7-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-10[1]; amended in its entirety 9-16-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-10. Subsequent amendments
noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance was originally adopted as Ch.
83 but was renumbered to maintain the organization of the Code.
A.
A Historian Committee for the Township of Lebanon is hereby established.
It is recognized that a Historian Committee has existed for many years,
but now is being formalized by ordinance and shall forthwith be named
the "Lebanon Township Historian Committee," hereinafter called the
"Historian Committee."
B.
The purpose of the Historian Committee is to advise the Township
on preserving the knowledge and artifacts of history pertinent to
Township residents, as well as to conduct activities to educate the
public on such history in order to improve the quality of life for
all involved.
A.
The Historian Committee shall consist of nine members, designated
as Historians. Such members shall be Township residents and be appointed
by the Mayor and approved by the Township of Lebanon Committee for
terms of one year with no limit on reappointment to additional terms.
Terms shall commence on January 1 and end on December 31, or until
a successor is appointed and qualified.
B.
In addition to resignation or death of an appointee or an appointee's
moving his or her residence to outside of the Township, any appointee
who shall fail to attend three successively called meetings of the
Historian Committee without just cause shall be deemed to have vacated
after review of the situation and discretion of the Historian Committee.
C.
Removal of any appointee shall be for cause, only on written request
from the Historian Committee, and after a hearing before the Mayor
and Township Committee.
D.
In the event of any vacancies on the Historian Committee, the Mayor
may, with the approval of the Township Committee, fill such vacancies
for the unexpired portion of the term only.
Members of the Historian Committee shall serve without compensation.
A.
Meetings of the Historian Committee shall be open to the public,
held monthly on such dates as determined by the Historian Committee
at its annual reorganization meeting and as notified to the public.
B.
Following the Township annual reorganization meeting, the Historian
Committee will hold a reorganization meeting when it shall elect a
Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary from its members for one-year
terms.
C.
The Historian Committee shall have the power to establish its own
bylaws with such bylaws to be approved by the Township Committee.
D.
A majority of the Historian Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Passage of any motion requires an affirmative vote by a majority of
the members present.
The Historian Committee shall be responsible for providing guidance
concerning the following matters:
A.
Encourage the protection and preservation of historical landmarks
and points of interest within the Township of Lebanon, and to advise
the Township Committee on matters affecting the historical landmarks
and points of interest.
B.
Encourage maintenance of an updated inventory or index of all historical
documents, records, or relics held by the Township, especially those
held at the Township Museum, as well as landmarks and points of interest
within the Township of Lebanon.
C.
Encourage the acquisition and preservation of documents, records
and relics of the Township of Lebanon, and whatever other documents
or things that may relate to the history of the State of New Jersey
and the United States of America. The Historian Committee will establish
policy for advising on accepting donations of historical artifacts
for the Museum collection, but donations of real estate or items with
estimated value in excess of $2,000 will require Township Committee
approval.
D.
Public education of history related to the Township of Lebanon including
making all information of the Historian Committee available to the
public. The Historian Committee may advertise, prepare, print and
distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which in its judgment
it deems necessary for its purposes.
E.
[1]Maintain liaison and communication with public and private
agencies and organizations of local, county, state and national scope
whose programs and activities have an impact on the protection and
preservation of the history and historical points of interest of the
Township of Lebanon, or who can be of assistance to the purpose of
the Historian Committee. Such activities include pursuing grants or
other funding from such agencies or organizations, subject to approval
of the Township Committee prior to any grant application.
F.
Recommendations for the annual budget for the Township Museum and
the activities of the Historian Committee.
G.
Carry out other such duties as may be assigned from time to time
by the Township Committee.
A.
The Township of Lebanon occasionally receives cash donations or bequests
designated for the Township Museum or Historians, and all such monies
received shall be kept in a special fund created by the Township's
Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), designated as the "Reserve for Museum
Donations Trust Fund." This fund shall be used for purposes related
to the operation, improvement or maintenance of the Museum or Museum
property, including the acquisition or restoration of historical artifacts,
or for materials and activities that will educate residents about
history. It may also be used for the operation, maintenance, or acquisition
of other real estate of a historic nature in the Township of Lebanon.
Expenditures from this fund will be proposed by the Historian Committee
subject to majority approval and approved by the Township Committee.
Any balance in the fund at year's end will be carried over into the
fund for the next calendar year.
B.
Funds in this account may not be used for any other Township expenses
without the consent of a majority of the Historian Committee.
C.
[1]The Township's CFO will provide the Historian Committee,
upon request, with a quarterly accounting of the Reserve for Museum
Trust Fund and monthly income and expense statements of the fund.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection C, regarding donations made
to private groups, was repealed 12-6-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-11. This ordinance also
renumbered former Subsection D as Subsection C.
The Museum Curator or another designated municipal employee
shall be empowered by the Township Committee to schedule use of the
Museum facilities, subject to informing the Township Committee of
all usage, but the hours set for the Museum to be open to the public
will be set by the Township Committee. It is understood that events
by community organizations that add to the quality of life for residents
will not be charged a rental fee for use of the Museum, but a fee
for use may be imposed for private use with approval of the Township
Committee. The Curator or designated employee will provide the Historian
Committee with a monthly usage report for the Museum and calendar
of events in paper or electronic format. Any monies received for the
use of the Museum will first be credited to the Township general funds
to offset the costs of operating the Museum, with any additional monies
provided to the Township CFO for deposit into the Reserve for Museum
Trust Fund.
The Historian Committee shall keep records of its meetings and
activities and shall make an annual report to the Township Committee
comprised of the records.
The Historian Committee may be dissolved at any time by a majority
vote of the Township Committee.
