[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Monroe 12-23-2003 by Ord. No. O-54-2003. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby established a special commission to be known and designated as the “Economic Development Commission of the Township of Monroe.”
[Amended 2-22-2016 by Ord. No. O:07-2016]
A. 
The Economic Development Commission shall consist of seven members and two alternate members appointed by the Township Council. The Commission shall be a body corporate and have all of the powers as enumerated in N.J.S.A. 40:55-1 et seq. Each member shall be, for the last five years preceding his appointment, a citizen of the United States and a qualified voter of the State of New Jersey. One member shall be appointed for one year, one member for two years, one member for three years, two members for four years and two members for five years. At the expiration of each of the above terms, the new member or members shall be appointed for a term of three years. The two alternate members shall be appointed for one year. Vacancies in the membership of the Commission, occurring for whatever cause, shall be promptly filled by appointment by the governing body for the unexpired terms thereof. Members shall serve for their respective terms and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Each member shall be chosen with a special view to his/her qualifications and fitness for service on the Commission. He/she shall have had experience in industry or commerce and shall be conversant with the industrial needs and facilities of his Commission's municipality and shall be of known devotion to public service. A member of the governing body of the municipality shall not be appointed as a member of the Commission. There shall be appointed upon said Commission, unless local conditions shall otherwise require, one representative of industry or commerce; a representative of labor; a representative of the clearinghouse of banks of said municipality; a representative of the chamber of commerce; a representative of the service clubs of such municipality; a representative of the legal profession; and a representative of a recognized real estate dealers' association. If, in the event that there are not individuals available for appointment with specific experience in the aforementioned areas, then the appointing authority may appoint individuals with similar or related experience.
[Amended 3-27-2017 by Ord. No. O:15-2017]
B. 
No member, officer or employee of the Commission shall be interested, directly or indirectly, in any contracts for work or materials used by the Commission, or in any sales, leases or agreements in connection with lands, buildings or other property owned or controlled by it, or in any fees or compensation of any kind paid to any broker, architect, engineer, merchant or other person doing business with the Commission or in any other transaction of or with the Commission, or the benefits or profits thereof. Each member and officer of the Commission shall, before assuming office, take and subscribe an oath that he/she will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of his/her office.
C. 
The members and officers of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but each shall receive his/her actual disbursements for his/her expenses in performing his/her duties. The members of the Commission shall choose annually from among its members a Chairman or President and such other officers as it may deem necessary. The Mayor of the municipality and/or his/her designee served by the Commission shall be ex officio a member thereof, but he/she shall not have voting privileges. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum of the Commission. The members and officers may be required to furnish bonds to the Commission, to secure the faithful discharge of their duties, in form, amount and with such surety as may from time to time be required by resolution of the governing body of the municipality served by the Commission.
D. 
The alternate members may participate in all matters but they cannot vote except in the absence and/or disqualification of a regular member.
A. 
The Township Solicitor shall be counsel to the Commission.
B. 
The Township Engineer shall be the engineer of the Commission.
C. 
To the extent that the Commission shall deem necessary to carry on its function and to the extent that it shall consider the services of existing employees of the municipality insufficient for its purposes, it may employ such additional employees or services and at such compensation as may be approved by resolution of the governing body of the municipality. Its requirements in this direction shall be submitted from time to time in writing to the Mayor and the governing body.
The duties of the Economic Development Commission shall be as follows:
A. 
Prepare a commercial use survey and inventory for the Township of Monroe to monitor commercial uses and commercial tax ratables and to attract and assist businesses which are appropriate and will be a contributing part of the Township of Monroe.
B. 
Develop and maintain a perpetual inventory of available vacant or underutilized commercial properties, including property that could be used for economic development according to its adaptability to various types of business, professional and industrial enterprises.
C. 
Coordinate efforts with county and state economic development agencies, as well as any regional, federal or private agencies, in an attempt to foster and perpetuate a positive commercial economic environment for the Township of Monroe.
D. 
Assist Township Administration and/or Township Council, if requested, in the preparation of applications for any grants or funding which would help facilitate efforts and to research the availability of such grants or funding.
E. 
Coordinate with the Small Business Administration and any other federal, state or local agencies which assist or promote business and commerce in order to enable the Commission to give guidance and information to businesses which desire to start up or relocate in the Township of Monroe.
F. 
To encourage expansion of existing industry and business to the best interest to the Township of Monroe.
G. 
To prepare, develop and distribute advertising material and data listing the advantages, opportunities and availability of real estate in the Township of Monroe and encourage and accomplish business, industrial and professional settlement within the Township.
H. 
Confer with the Township Administration, Township Council, Planning Board and other municipal agencies as necessary concerning land use issues, ordinances and resolutions that may have an impact upon commercial and industrial retail use in the Township.
I. 
The Commission shall prepare a quarterly report to the Mayor and Township Council setting forth, in detail, its operations and transactions for the preceding three months. The Commission shall keep complete and accurate records of its accounts and shall not exceed its budget, and monies received from the Township of Monroe shall be expended only for the purposes for which they have been appropriated.
The Commission shall receive from all officials and all authorized boards, departments and offices of the Township of Monroe such assistance as may be required by the Commission in the performance of the duties of the Commission, and the Commission shall also be given access to all municipal records and information which may assist the Commission in the performance of its duties.
There shall be appropriated in each annual budget of the Township of Monroe such sum as may be determined by the Township Council to be necessary for the purpose of advertising the advantages of this municipality, and the Commission herein established is authorized to use and expend said funds for such purposes upon the adoption of the annual budget.
The Commission shall not have any powers other than those set forth, and specifically shall have no power to pledge the credit of the municipality or to enter into contracts or to otherwise create debts except as herein authorized and shall operate within the appropriation made by the Township Council in its annual budget. The Commission shall provide an annual report to the Mayor and Township Council during December of each year setting forth in detail its operations and recommendations for the preceding twelve months and provide a plan for the upcoming year.