[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City
of Northfield as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
[Adopted 7-16-1991 by Ord. No. 14-91 (Ch.
43 of the 1974 Code)]
There is hereby established in the City of Northfield,
County of Atlantic, State of New Jersey, the Northfield Ward Commission.
Compensation of each of the Ward Commissioners
shall be as follows: $100 single stipend, in satisfaction of all services
required.
A.
All regularly incurred expenses of the Ward Commission
shall be reimbursed upon certification by the Municipal Clerk for
expenses incurred by the Ward Commission as a body and upon certification
by the individual Ward Commissioner where incurred by an individual
member. No individual expense nor any Commission expenditure shall
be authorized unless approved by resolution of the Ward Commission.
B.
The Ward Commission is hereby authorized to retain
the services of a licensed professional engineer or a licensed surveyor,
as authorized by law.
The Ward Commission shall act in accordance
with the law. Any portion of this article requiring the expenditure
of funds shall not be effective until the certification by the Chief
Financial Officer of the City of Northfield of the availability of
funds for such purpose is affixed hereto.
[Adopted 4-24-2001 by Ord. No. 5-2001 (Ch.
15 of the 1974 Code)]
There is hereby created and established a Commission
to be known as the "Economic Development Commission of the City of
Northfield." The Commission shall consist of seven members, including
the Chairperson.
A.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed by
the President of City Council. Each member shall have been, for the
last five years next preceding his appointment, a citizen of the United
States and a qualified voter of the State of New Jersey and must reside
in, work or have a place of business in the City. One member shall
be appointed for a term of one year, one member for a term of two
years, one member for a term of three years, two members for terms
of four years and two members for terms of five years. At the expiration
of each of the above terms, the new member or members shall be appointed
for a term of five years. Vacancies in the membership for any cause
shall be filled by the President of City Council for the unexpired
term thereof. Members shall serve for their respective terms and until
their successors are thereafter appointed and qualified. The Mayor
shall serve as an ex officio member of the Commission.
B.
Each member of the Commission shall be selected based
upon his or her qualifications and fitness for service and shall have
had experience in industry and commerce, shall be conversant with
the economic needs and facilities of the City of Northfield, and shall
be known for devotion to public service.
C.
Whenever practicable, there may be appointed to said
Commission a representative of a real estate dealers association,
a representative with a background in banking or finance, and a representative
of the legal profession.
Each member and officer of the Commission shall,
before assuming office, take and subscribe an oath that he or she
will honestly, faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of
his or her office.
It shall be deemed to be a conflict of interest
for any member, officer or employee of the Commission to have any
financial interest, directly or indirectly, in any contracts or other
transactions by, of, or with the Commission 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 the
Commission, or in any fees or compensation of any kind paid to any
broker, architect, engineer, merchant or other person doing business
with the Commission.
The members and officers of the Commission shall
serve without compensation, but each shall receive his or her actual
expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties.
The members of the Commission shall choose annually
from among its members a Chairman or President and such other officers
as they may deem necessary. The President of City Council may choose
a representative from the Council to serve as an ex officio member
of the Commission. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum
of the Commission.
The Commission shall adopt suitable bylaws for
the management of its affairs, shall determine the qualifications
and duties of its employees, and may fix the compensation to be paid
to any of its employees, subject to the budget for the Commission
as adopted by the City Council.
A.
The Commission will be responsible for ways and means
of promoting the City of Northfield's economic development of its
assets, business, industry, resorts, tourism, transportation, governmental
and other economic interests. Recommendations of the Commission to
attract economic development will be forwarded to the Mayor and City
Council for consideration.
B.
The Commission shall not exercise any power of condemnation
or eminent domain and shall not be authorized to pledge the credit
of the City of Northfield or to create any debt against said City.
C.
The Commission shall classify vacant lands according
to their adaptability for the establishment thereon of various types
of business and industrial enterprises.
D.
The Commission shall perform a study of the tax structure
of the township for the purpose of reducing the tax burden of the
residents of the City of Northfield.
E.
During the month of January, the Commission shall
make an annual report to the Mayor and City Council, setting forth
in detail all of its operations and transactions for the preceding
12 months.
F.
The Commission shall keep complete and accurate books
and records of accounts and transactions. The Commission shall not
exceed its budget as appropriated by the Northfield City Council.
These funds shall only be expended for the purposes for which they
have been appropriated.
G.
The Economic Development Commission shall assemble
information regarding opportunities for business and investment in
the City. The Economic Development Commission shall prepare and distribute
pamphlets explaining opportunities in the City, outlining City regulations
affecting businesses and indicating City regulations relating to energy
conservation and environmental protection. The Commission shall be
authorized to raise such funds necessary and sufficient to accomplish
its purposes as set forth herein through advertising and other promotional
means.
H.
The Commission shall administratively establish, operate
and/or oversee all programs and projects relating to economic development
and shall perform other duties as the City Council may from time to
time authorize by resolution.
I.
The Commission shall serve as an ombudsman to business
and community organizations by maintaining liaison with those organizations
which are deemed essential to the success of the various policies,
programs and projects of the City Council.
J.
The Commission shall coordinate programs and projects
whose purpose is the retention of existing businesses as well as the
attraction of new businesses.
K.
The Commission shall, by a majority vote, select one
member who shall act as liaison to the Planning Board of the City
of Northfield. Said member may render nonbinding advice and information
to the Board on matters involving land use generally within the City
or with respect to particular applications brought before such Board
involving commercial development within the City of Northfield. The
liaison member shall also be responsible for providing the Commission
with information as to the status or pendency of applications involving
commercial developments and/or land use matters before the Board relevant
to the economic development of the City of Northfield.
L.
The Commission shall submit a report to the City Council
biannually. Those reports shall be submitted by June 15 and December
15 of each year and shall include Commission activities since the
last report and any results and pending results.
