[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Township of Pohatcong 10-21-2025 by Ord. No. 25-09.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 55,Open Space Committee, adopted 12-19-2017 by Ord. No. 17-18.
There is hereby established a Farmland Preservation Advisory Committee which shall be an advisory committee consisting of three members whose terms and powers are hereinafter set forth.
A. 
The Farmland Preservation Advisory Committee shall be comprised of the following persons:
(1) 
The Mayor or Council Member designated by the Mayor
(2) 
Two citizens of the Township. Township employees and members of other boards and commissions shall be eligible to serve on the Farmland Preservation Advisory Committee.
B. 
Two of the three members of the Committee shall be active farmers within the Township owning a portion of the land they farm.
C. 
The Mayor may appoint up to two alternate members, with the advice and consent of Council.
A. 
The Mayor's term shall be co-extensive with the Mayor's elected term of office.
B. 
Any Township Council Member shall be appointed annually for a one year term, by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council.
C. 
All non-Council appointees shall have three year terms except for the first year.
D. 
The Mayor shall appoint a new member to fill any vacancy, which newly appointed member shall serve for the unexpired term of the vacancy.
E. 
Members shall serve without remuneration.
A. 
The Farmland Preservation Advisory Committee shall make recommendations to the Township Council with regard to the Farmland Preservation Advisory needs of the Township. In furtherance of same, the Farmland Preservation Advisory Committee shall:
(1) 
Prepare an initial list of eligible Farmland Preservation Advisory properties in the Township.
(2) 
Submit to the Mayor and Township Council annually or on a more frequent basis, a prioritized list of properties which it recommends that the Township acquire and/or properties for which it recommends that permanent easements or development rights be acquired. The Mayor and Township Council shall review the list as submitted and make a determination as to which property acquisitions, easements or development rights should be funded and appropriate the necessary funds accordingly.
(3) 
Periodically review its initial list of potential farmland preservation properties, adding or deleting properties as necessary.
(4) 
Have the authority to receive inquiries from landowners seeking information about the Farmland Preservation program, and shall also have authority to solicit information from owners of properties that might be potential candidates for acquisition or other easements under the Farmland Preservation Program.
(5) 
Undertake such other duties related to the Farmland Preservation Advisory needs of the Township as may be delegated to it by the Township Council.
The Farmland Preservation Advisory Committee shall hold public meetings, which public meetings shall be held in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq., and shall annually fix its meeting dates and give appropriate notice of the time and place of its meetings and shall not conduct any meeting except in compliance with the law.
The Farmland Preservation Advisory Committee shall select from among its members a Chairman and a Vice Chairman to serve as the presiding officer in the absence of the Chairman. The Committee shall also select a Secretary whose function shall be to maintain minutes of the Committee's meeting and records of the proceedings of the Committee.