Pursuant to the authority vested in the Borough Council of the Borough
of Palisades Park 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."
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 local conservation programs and to inform the
public about those programs.
C. To prepare, print and distribute informational materials,
such as books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets, which in its judgment it
deems necessary for its purposes, 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 Palisades
Park, 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 are reasonably related
to and assigned to carry out the purposes and objectives of the Commission.
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 Palisades Park, 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
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 Palisades Park.
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.
[Added 7-18-1995 by Ord. No. 1224]
A. Alternate members. Two alternate members may be appointed
by the Mayor to serve during the absence or disqualification of any regular
member. Such alternate members shall meet the same qualification of any regular
member. In the event that two alternate members are appointed, the initial
terms of such members shall be one and two years, respectively. All subsequent
appointments of alternates, except to fill vacancies, shall be for a period
of three years and until the appointment and qualification of their successors,
beginning the first day of January of the first year of the term. At the time
of their appointment such alternate members shall be designated by the Mayor "Alternate
No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2." Alternate members may participate in discussions
of the proceedings but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification
of a regular member. In the event that a choice must be made to which alternate
member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote.
B. Associate members. The associate members shall be appointed
for a term of two years. Although associate members shall be encouraged to
attend all meetings and participate in all discussions, they shall not be
entitled to vote on any formal action take at the meetings of the Environmental
Commission. They shall be neither regular nor alternate members of the Commission
and shall be persons with expertise in a special area or special talents.
C. Student members. The Mayor shall appoint two student
members to serve for a term of one year. The student members shall be either
high school, college or graduate school students. Although student members
shall be encouraged to attend all meetings and participate in all discussions,
they shall not be entitled to vote on any formal action take at the meetings
of the Environmental Commission.