[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Bridgewater
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-15-1999 by Ord.
No. 99-20]
This article may be cited as the "Deer Control Ordinance of the Township
of Bridgewater."
The Mayor and Council of the Township of Bridgewater find that there
exists an unchecked increase in the population of deer within the Township
and that the unchecked population of deer often results in excessive damage
to property and an increase in the frequency of motor vehicle accidents, and
there exists potential for increased incidence of Lyme disease and personal
injury from deer/vehicle collisions. Therefore, it is in the best interests
of the people of Bridgewater to adopt measures targeted at controlling the
deer population of the Township through safe and effective means.
There is hereby established within the Office of the Mayor and Administration
a system for the control and management of the deer population via:
A.
Research. A program of monitoring and participation in
experimental procedures for the nonlethal control of deer population, and
the control of propagation and movement by the use of chemicals, drugs and
mechanical devices.
B.
Hunting. Use of controlled hunting on Township and other
public land.
C.
Government cooperation. Cooperation among counties and
municipalities for a regional approach to deer herd management.
A.
Wildlife Management Oversight Advisory Committee. The
Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council, shall appoint for staggered
three-year terms, so that 1/3 would expire each year, the members of
the Wildlife Management Oversight Advisory Committee, composed of not more
than nine persons, who volunteer to serve on the Committee without compensation.
All members of the Wildlife Management Oversight Advisory Committee shall
be residents of Bridgewater Township. The Wildlife Management Oversight Advisory
Committee shall meet at least quarterly and shall report to the Mayor and
the Township Council at regular Council meetings regarding deer management
in the Township and deer management techniques including hunting. The Committee
shall serve at the will and pleasure of the Council.
B.
Agreement with the state. The Mayor, with the assistance
of the Health Department, Police Department, Township Planner and Township
Attorney, is hereby authorized to negotiate and execute a memorandum of understanding
with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish,
Game and Wildlife, and the Fish and Game Council, for the issuance of a special
deer management permit to reduce the deer population in Bridgewater Township,
pursuant to the Community Based Deer Management Plan, which will provide for
hunting in public land areas, all as provided within this article, and with
such modifications as may be required by state law and regulation, and with
such changes in the bag limits and seasons for hunting as may be allowed by
the state. In the event of any inconsistency between such agreement with the
State and the provisions of this article, the Mayor shall advise the Council
on such amendments to this article as may be necessary to resolve or eliminate
such inconsistency.
C.
Public lands. Subject to the conditions herein specified
and to the provisions of a memorandum of understanding with the State of New
Jersey as hereafter provided, hunting by the use of firearms is hereby permitted
on specifically designated Township-owned land and such lands owned by the
County of Somerset or the State of New Jersey with appropriate authorization
from those governments.
[Amended 6-18-2001 by Ord.
No. 01-21]
D.
Annual budgeting. Upon adoption of this article, and
annually thereafter, the Mayor, with the appropriate members of the administrative
staff, shall develop a budget of costs and expenses associated with the implementation
of this article and memorandum of understanding as authorized by this article.
The Mayor shall report thereon to the Council along with recommendations for
modifications to achieve savings in costs and expenses along with recommendations
for funding resources and proposed appropriations.
A.
Committee responsibilities. The Wildlife Management Oversight
Advisory Committee shall have responsibility to:
(1)
Make policy recommendations to the Mayor and Council
for the management of wild animals, including deer.
(2)
Coordinate with other municipal and county activities
undertaken to control wild animals.
(3)
Review and make recommendations regarding the use of
hunting within the Township, specifically on Township, county and state owned
lands.
B.
Monitoring. The Wildlife Management Oversight Advisory
Committee shall monitor programs involving research and development in the
management of deer herds through nonlethal methods of deer population control;
controls for the prevention of property damage, personal injury and disease
caused by or related to the presence of deer; the use of drugs and the use
of electrical, chemical and mechanical devices for deer management, including
but not limited to roadside reflectors; and shall search out grants to finance
participation by the Township in such programs as the Committee may recommend
to the Mayor and Council.
The Wildlife Management Oversight Advisory Committee shall, upon adoption
of this article, establish an initial estimate of the deer population in Bridgewater
by any means reasonable and thereafter shall arrange for an annual survey,
review and estimate of the deer population to determine the effectiveness
of the efforts undertaken to control the population and to reduce the damage
caused by deer. The Committee shall recommend what additional actions, if
any, should be taken to control the deer population and to reduce the damage
caused by deer.
