[Adopted 3-13-1972 by Ord. No. 703 (Ch. 22 of the 1982 Code)]
Pursuant to the authority vested in the Borough Council of the Borough of Leonia under and by virtue of N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq., there is hereby established an Environmental Commission to be known as the "Environmental Commission."
A. 
The Environmental Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council, one of whom shall also be a member of the Planning Board and all of whom shall be residents of the Borough of Leonia.
B. 
The members shall serve without compensation.
C. 
The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve as Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission.
D. 
The terms of the first Commissioners shall be for one, two or three years, to be designated by the Mayor in making his appointments so that the terms of approximately 1/3 of the members will expire each year, and their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years.
E. 
The Council of the Borough 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.
F. 
A vacancy on the Commission, occurring otherwise than by expiration of a term, shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as an original appointment.
G. 
Alternate members. There shall be appointed pursuant to the provision of this Subsection A two additional members to the Environmental Commission who shall be deemed alternate members of the Environmental Commission. These members shall sit with the regular members of the Environmental Commission. In the event a regular member of the Environmental Commission is not present or otherwise unable to perform their duties, then these alternates may sit in their stead and exercise their full duties and obligation as a member of the Environmental Commission. Each alternate member shall serve for a term of one calendar year. Each alternate shall be designated "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2." There shall be no restrictions on the amount of terms an alternate may have.
[Added 3-29-1993 by Ord. No. 1159]
[Amended 2-20-1980 by Ord. No. 869]
The Environmental Commission shall have the following duties:
A. 
To study and make recommendations to the Mayor and Council in areas of conservation and environmental protection, which shall include but not be limited to pollution control of all types, waste disposal, including sewage, garbage and solid waste, open space preservation with emphasis on outdoor recreation needs, aesthetic flora and fauna preservation and beautification and water resources.
B. 
To plan programs and, upon approval of the governing body, to inform the public about those programs.
C. 
To prepare and, upon approval of the governing body, print and distribute informational materials such as books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which are determined and deemed necessary for the purposes of this chapter within the limits of funds appropriated to the Commission.
D. 
To keep an index of all open areas, publicly and privately owned, in order to obtain information on the proper use of such areas.
E. 
To recommend, from time to time, to the Planning Board plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan of the Borough of Leonia for development and use of such areas.
F. 
To act as the coordinating agency of the community on conservation matters with appropriate federal, regional, state and other agencies concerned with such matters.
G. 
To do such other acts and things as may be, from time to time, delegated and assigned to it by the governing body of Leonia to carry out the purposes and objectives of the Commission.
[Amended 2-20-1980 by Ord. No. 869]
The Environmental Commission may, subject to the approval of the Borough Council, acquire property, both real and personal, in the name of the Borough of Leonia 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 of gift. Such an acquisition may be to acquire the fee or any lesser interest, development right, easement, including a conservation easement, covenant or other contractual right, including a conveyance on conditions or with limitations or reversions, 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 Borough of Leonia.
A. 
Regular meetings of the Commission shall be established.
B. 
At all meetings a quorum shall consist of a majority of the members of the Commission.
C. 
The Commission shall keep records of its meetings and shall make an annual report to the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Leonia on or before the 15th day of December.
The Council, in its discretion, may annually fix, determine and appropriate sums sufficient for the care, custody, leasing and maintenance of such land acquired for these uses and purposes herein stated, if necessary, and for the expenses of said Commission.