Village of Ridgefield Park, NJ: Beautification Committee

§ 93-1 Establishment; purpose.

There is hereby established a Beautification Committee for the Village of Ridgefield Park to be known as the "Beautification Committee of the Village of Ridgefield Park."

The Beautification Committee shall make recommendations to the Commissioner of Parks and Public Property concerning aesthetic and decorative aspects throughout the Village, and particularly in its parks. The Beautification Committee may also make recommendations regarding desired projects and ideas, and to promote projects which will make the Village a more aesthetically beautiful place to live and work.

§ 93-2 Membership; appointment; terms.

The Beautification Committee shall consist of up to, but not exceeding, 13 members who shall be residents of the Village of Ridgefield Park or owners of businesses located within the Village, except that no more than one member shall be a nonresident.

An ex officio member of the Committee will represent the Department of Public Works, who shall be designated by the Superintendent of the Department of Public Works.

Members of the Beautification Committee shall be recommended by the Commissioner of Parks and Public Property, and approved by the Board of Commissioners, for terms of one year, to serve without a salary.

The Commissioner of Parks and Public Property shall serve as a nonvoting liaison to the Committee.

50% plus one of the current members shall constitute a quorum.

Alternate/auxiliary members may be appointed without numerical limit, but shall not contribute to establishment of a quorum.

§ 93-3 Vacancies; removal.

Any vacancy occurring for any reason shall be filled for the unexpired term by the same terms as regular appointments.

The Board of Commissioners may remove any member of the Committee 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.

The Board of Commissioners may, by resolution, remove any or all members of the Committee with or without cause at any time and written charges served upon the member and after a hearing thereon at which the member will be entitled to be heard in person or by counsel.

§ 93-4 Rules and organization.

The Beautification Committee shall organize annually and elect a Chair from its members within 30 days of January 1.

The Committee shall have the right to make reasonable rules and procedures.

§ 93-5 Powers and duties.

The Committee shall report to the Commissioner of Parks and Public Property and to the full Board of Commissioners when requested. It shall have the following duties:

To advise the Commissioner of Parks and Public Property and the Board of Commissioners on any items pertaining to the maintenance of public and private properties.

To make recommendations to enhance and preserve the aesthetics of the Village's private and public properties.

Cooperate with the Board of Commissioners in organizing seasonal plantings on public properties.

Meet with residents, property owners, and business representatives in the Village to develop plans and projects for the aesthetic improvement of the Village.

Assist the Village with the implementation of small-scale projects, including, but not limited to, plantings, painting, and minor repairs.

Make recommendations regarding any projects which the Committee has determined to be in the best interest of the Village.

Make recommendations concerning the abatement of any unsightly property conditions.

Make recommendations, and consult with relevant departments, concerning specific recommendations for upgrading and beautifying Village property.

Conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas of the Village.

At the specific direction of the Commissioner of Parks and Public Property, coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes and advertise, prepare, print, and distribute materials which it has deemed necessary for its purposes.

Keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, in order to obtain information on the proper use of such areas.

Recommend plans and programs for inclusion in a Village master plan and the development of such areas.

Study and make recommendations concerning open space preservation, water resource management, soil and landscape protection, environmental appearance, and protection of flora and fauna.

Any and all other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Commissioners.

§ 93-6 Meetings.

Meetings must be held in each quarter of the year, the minutes of which must then be sent to the Board of Commissioners.

Meetings may be called/scheduled by the Chair of the Committee, or by the Commissioner of Parks and Public Property, as necessary.

§ 93-7 Funding; compensation.

Members of the Committee shall serve without compensation.

The annual budget of the Village may appropriate such funds as the Board of Commissioners deems necessary for the proper operation and functioning of the Committee; and the Committee is authorized, subject to the approval of the Board of Commissioners, to use and expend such funds for such purposes upon the adoption of the annual budget. All payments for services rendered to the Beautification Committee shall be on standard Village vouchers and shall be approved by the Board of Commissioners before payment.

There shall be an amount budgeted for beautification purposes within the Parks Department for the purpose of implementing the recommendations of the Beautification Committee.

The Village may establish a dedicated fund for receipt of monetary donations solicited by the Beautification Committee specifically for beautification purposes. The Beautification Committee may also solicit and receive donated material and in-kind services. All donations must be approved by the Board of Commissioners.

§ 93-8 Reports and records.

The Beautification Committee shall keep complete and accurate records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report to the Board of Commissioners, and reports to the Commissioner of Parks and Public Property as requested.

The Committee shall present an annual plan to the Board of Commissioners, by February 1 of each year, with recommendations to enhance and preserve the aesthetics of private and public properties, and reporting on all activities in which the Committee was involved in the previous year.