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.
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.
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.
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.