It is recognized that the Borough Tenants' Rights
Committee has existed for many years, but now is being formalized
by ordinance and shall forthwith be named and called the "Eatontown
Tenants' Rights Committee."
The members of the Tenants' Rights Committee,
including ex-officio members, shall receive no compensation for their
services as members thereof, but may be reimbursed for reasonable
and necessary appropriations made available therefor, but only upon
request to and approval by the Borough Council. The governing body
may also, in its discretion, allow the employment of clerical assistance
and legal assistance for the Tenants' Rights Committee and annually
appropriate funds for compensation and/or reimbursement of expenses
for said clerical and/or legal assistance (if so assigned by the governing
body).
The powers and duties of the Tenants' Rights
Committee shall be to:
A. Serve as a forum for regular discussions concerning
problems facing and confronting tenants living in apartments and mobile
homes in the Borough of Eatontown.
B. Undertake fact finding investigation to determine
the need to create, continue or amend local regulation that serves
to protect and enhance the lifestyle of tenants in the Borough of
Eatontown.
C. Encourage and serve as a vehicle for dissemination
of information to the public as to protections available both on the
federal, state, County and local level which is of interest to tenants
within the Borough of Eatontown.
D. Monitor and receive input concerning the existing
Rent Control Ordinance and other local regulations that benefit tenants to determine
the need to continue, amend or terminate, where necessary, such regulations.
E. Advise the Borough Council of matters affecting tenants'
rights, including recommendations concerning existing local regulation
and needed regulation that will assist tenants in the Borough of Eatontown.
F. Seek to coordinate, assist, and unify the efforts
of private groups, institutions, and individuals within the Borough
of Eatontown in accord with the purposes of this article.
G. Maintain liaison and communication with the public
and private agencies and organizations of local, state, and national
scope, whose programs and activities have an impact on the protection
of tenants or who can be of assistance to the Tenants' Rights Committee.
H. Carry out other such duties as may be assigned from
time to time by the Borough Council.
The Tenants' Rights Committee, at its annual
meeting, shall designate a Chairperson, who shall serve for a term
of one year. At each annual meeting of the Tenants' Rights Committee,
its members shall elect, from among themselves, all officers of the
Tenants' Rights Committee and establish rules and procedures for its
members to follow. The Tenants' Rights Committee shall keep accurate
records of its meetings and activities and shall file an annual report
with the Borough Council. This report should be coordinated with the
annual report required of the Local Historian. The annual report shall
cover the activities and work of the Tenants' Rights Committee and
include recommendation as may be necessary to fulfill the purposes
of this article.
This article shall be deemed an exercise of
the powers of the Borough Council to protect and preserve the rights
of tenants in the Borough of Eatontown and it shall not be deemed
to impair the powers of the Borough Council, the Planning Board, the
Board of Adjustment, or other committees created by the Borough Council.
It is also the intent that this Tenants' Rights Committee encourage
public participation and education concerning the rights of tenants
and serves as a vehicle for that purpose.