[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Long Branch 7-11-1972 by Ord. No. 651 (Sec. 2-25 of the 1971 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks — See Ch. 247.
[Amended 10-27-1998 by Ord. No. 36-98; 1-25-2011 by Ord. No. 2-11]
The City of Long Branch hereby establishes an Environmental Commission for the protection, development or use of natural resources, including water resources located within its territorial limits. The Commission shall consist of five to seven members and up to two alternate members appointed by the Mayor or other Chief Executive Officer of the municipality, one of whom shall also be a member of the Municipal Planning Board and all of who shall be residents of the municipality of the City of Long Branch. Members shall serve without compensation.
An Environmental Commission shall have power to 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 from similar purposes, and may advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which in its judgment it deems necessary for its purposes. 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 may from time to time recommend to the Planning Board or, if none, to the Mayor and governing body of the municipality plans and programs for inclusion in a Municipal Master Plan and the development and use of such areas.
An Environmental Commission may, subject to the approval of the governing body, acquire property, both real and personal, in the name of the municipality 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. Such an 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 in the municipality.
An Environmental Commission shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report to the governing body of the municipality.
The governing body may appropriate funds for the expenses incurred by the Environmental Commission. The Commission may appoint such clerks and other employees as it may from time to time require and as shall be within the limits of funds appropriated to it.
An Environmental Commission shall have power to 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.