Township of Saddle Brook, NJ Article XX Municipal Housing Commission

[Adopted 1-8-2004 by Ord. No. 1306]

§ 206-112 Establishment of Housing Commission.

There is hereby established a Municipal Housing Commission consisting of seven members appointed by the Mayor to serve without compensation. This Commission shall not serve as a Municipal Housing Authority as defined by statute.

§ 206-113 Membership; terms.

A. The Commission shall consist of the Mayor, one member of the Township Council, one member of the Planning Board who is not a member of the Township Council, the Township Clerk, and three citizens of the municipality.

B. Terms of office:

(1) The terms of Commission members who are members of the Township Council or Planning Board shall be for a period of two years or shall terminate at termination of his/her respective term of office, whichever comes first.

(2) The term of the Mayor shall be for his/her term of office.

(3) The term of the Township Clerk shall be for his/her term of office.

(4) The terms of the citizens at large shall be for a period of three years with the initial appointments being staggered terms of one, two, and three years.

§ 206-114 Purpose.

The Municipal Housing Commission is an advisory board organized with the purpose of advising and making recommendations to the Township Council, Planning Board, and other boards and agencies.

§ 206-115 Duties.

The specific duties of the Municipal Housing Commission shall be:

A. To review and comment upon any applications for development of low- and moderate-income housing referred to the Commission by any other municipal agency or department.

B. To monitor the implementation of low- and moderate-income housing development within the municipality and to recommend municipal action if low- and moderate-income developments are not constructed or operated under the terms of approval.

C. To evaluate the housing needs of the municipality and the region and specifically to evaluate the existing low- and moderate-income housing programs in the municipality and to make periodic reports to the Township Council and Planning Board regarding these evaluations at a minimum on a yearly basis.

D. To act as liaison between the municipality and any other governmental or private agencies seeking to provide housing in the municipality.

E. To provide public relations and outreach services for housing opportunities within the municipality.

F. To recommend changes to the Planning Board and Township Council regarding modifications of the municipal housing plan, Master Plan, or Land Use Regulations, so as to meet municipal housing plan goals.

§ 206-116 Employment of staff and experts.

The governing body may employ or assign at the request of the Housing Commission such personnel or experts and other staff as the governing body deems necessary, provided such obligations do not exceed the municipal budgetary allocation available to the Housing Commission for such use.

§ 206-117 Housing Trust Fund.

A. There is hereby created an interest-bearing housing trust fund in (bank)[1] for the purpose of receiving development fees from developers. All fees paid by developers pursuant to the Township's ordinances regarding affordable housing[2] shall be deposited in this fund. No money shall be expended from the Housing Trust Fund unless the expenditure conforms to a spending plan approved by COAH. This fund shall be set up by the Township Clerk.

[1] Editor's Note: As designated by the Township Council.

[2] Editor's Note: See § 206-9.41.

B. Use of funds.

(1) Money deposited in a housing trust fund may be used for any activity approved by COAH for addressing Saddle Brook's low- and moderate-income housing obligation. Such activities may include, but are not necessarily limited to, housing rehabilitation, new construction, regional contribution agreements, the purchase of land for low- and moderate-income housing, extensions and/or improvements of roads and infrastructure to low- and moderate-income housing sites, assistance designed to render units more affordable to low- and moderate-income households and administrative costs necessary to implement Saddle Brook's housing element. The expenditure of all money shall conform to a spending plan approved by COAH.

(2) At least 30% of the revenues collected shall be devoted to render units more affordable. Examples of such activities include, but us not limited to, downpayment and closing cost assistance, low-interest loans and rental assistance. Expenditures for rehabilitation, municipal new construction, and RCAs are exempt from this requirement.

(3) No more than 20% of the revenues shall be expended on administrative costs necessary to develop, revise, or implement the housing element. Examples of eligible administrative activities include personnel, consultant services, space costs, consumable supplies and rental or purchase of equipment directly associated with plan development or implementation.

(4) Fee revenues shall not be expended to reimburse Saddle Brook for housing activities that preceded a first or second round substantive certification.