[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Waterford 2-22-1995
as Ord. No. 95-3. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby established a commission to be known as the Environmental Commission for the municipality of Waterford Township, pursuant to Chapter 245 of the Laws of the 1968 (N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 to 40:56A-12) as amended by Chapter 35, P.L. 1972.
A.
The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed
by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Township Committee. All seven
members shall have equal voting power on the Commission. All members shall
be residents of the municipality of Waterford Township, at least 21 years
of age, and are considered "Friends of the Environment." One of the members
shall also be a member of the Planning Board.
C.
The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve
as chairman, and the Chairman shall serve for a period of one year. Such other
officers shall be elected by the Commission as deemed necessary for the conduct
of the Commission's business. A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration
of a term shall be filled by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of Township
Committee for the unexpired term.
A.
The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Township
Committee, shall also appoint two alternates who will vote only in the absence
of a full member. Those alternate members shall be designated at the time
of appointment as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2." The terms of the
alternate members first appointed shall be two years for Alternate No. 1 and
one year for Alternate No. 2, so that the term of not more than one alternate
member shall expire in any one year. A vacancy occurring otherwise than by
expiration of a term shall be filed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent
of Township Committee, for the unexpired term only.
B.
An alternate member may participate in discussions of
the proceedings, but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification
of a regular member. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member
may vote instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be
made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote first.
Upon the approval of the Mayor and Township Committee, the Commission
has the authority to appoint associate members, who are also considered "Friends
of the Environment," to aid in the Commission's business and operations.
Associate members must be at least 18 years of age and residents of the municipality.
Associate members are nonvoting members, and can be considered for full membership
when a vacancy occurs.
A member of Township Committee shall be appointed by the Mayor and Township
Committee to act as liaison, and to assist in coordinating the Commission's
functions, transactions and operations, and to ensure compliance with township
policies.
A.
No member of the Commission shall be permitted to act
on any matter which he has either directly or indirectly any personal or financial
interest.
B.
The Mayor or Governing Body may remove any member of
the Commission 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. A vacancy on the commission occurring otherwise than expiration
of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as an
original appointment.
Commission members shall serve without compensation, but said members
shall be reimbursed for any expenses incurred in the performance of their
duties. The Commission shall keep complete and accurate records of its accounts
in this regard, and shall not exceed its budget and moneys appropriated from
the township for the performance of their duties.
The Commission is established for the protection, development or use
of natural resources, including water resources, located within territorial
limits of the municipality of Waterford. The 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
for 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 plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan
and the development and use of such areas.
The Environmental Commission may, subject to the approval of the Mayor
and Township Committee, 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
condition or with limitations or revisions), 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.
The 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.
A.
Upon the approval of the Mayor and Township Committee,
the Commission shall have power to seek out and make application in the township's
name for any county, state or federal financial aid, in the form of grants,
to be used for purposes of an environmental nature within the township. All
funds granted shall be in the name of the township and held by the township
and appropriated to the Commission upon approval by the Mayor and Township
Committee.
B.
The Commission, upon approval by the Mayor and Township
Committee, may appoint employees and incur such expenses as it may from time
to time require, provided that the same shall be within the limits of funds
appropriated to it, and in accordance with the terms of the county, state
or federal grant to which it applies and other rules and regulations established
by the township for said employees and fund usage.
C.
The Commission shall be responsible for the completion
and submittal of all required progress reports, completion reports, reports
of expenditures or other documents which may be required to comply with approved
and received grants. The Commission shall be responsible to arrange for a
Commission member to attend any meetings where attendance may be required
to comply with approved and received grants.
The Environmental Commission shall, on a periodic basis, and no less
than on an annual basis, make an annual report to the Mayor and Township Committee,
or the appointed Township Committee member, setting forth in detail its operations
and transactions for the previous 12 months. The Environmental Commission
shall keep records of its meetings and activities.
The Environmental Commission shall have no right to appoint any employees
or to retain professional services without approval from the Mayor and Township
Committee. The Commission shall have no power of condemnation or eminent domain
and shall not be authorized to pledge credit of the township or to create
any debt against it, or in any manner act as the agent of the Township of
Waterford except as authorized by those items contained herein, or as authorized
by the Mayor and Township Committee.
