If a vacancy of any class shall occur otherwise
than by expiration of a term, it shall be filled by appointment as
above provided for the unexpired term.
The Planning Board shall elect a Chairman and
Vice Chairman from the members of Class IV and select a Secretary,
who may or may not be a member of the Planning Board or a municipal
employee designated by it.
There is hereby created the office of Planning
Board Attorney. The Planning Board may annually appoint, fix the compensation
of or agree upon the rate of compensation of the Planning Board Attorney,
who shall be an attorney other than the Municipal Attorney.
The Planning Board may also employ or contract
for the services of experts and other staff and services as it may
deem necessary. The Board shall not, however, exceed, exclusive of
gifts or grants, the amount appropriated by the governing body for
its use.
The Board shall adopt bylaws governing procedures,
together with such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this
chapter, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions and purposes
of this chapter. In the issuance of subpoenas, administration of oaths
and taking of testimony, the provisions of the County and Municipal
Investigations Law of 1953 (N.J.S.A. 2A:67A-1 et seq.) shall apply.
Prior to the adoption of a development regulation
or revision or amendment thereto, the Planning Board shall make and
transmit to the governing body, within 35 days after referral, a report
including recommendations concerning the proposed development regulation,
revision or amendment. The governing body, when considering the adoption
of a development regulation or revision or amendment thereto, shall
review the report of the Planning Board and may disapprove or change
any recommendation by a vote of a majority of its full membership
and shall record in its minutes the reasons for not following such
recommendation. Failure of the Planning Board to transmit its report
within the thirty-five-day period provided herein shall relieve the
governing body from the requirements of this section in regard to
the proposed development regulation or revision or amendment thereto
referred to the Planning Board.
The Mayor may appoint one or more persons as
a Citizens' Advisory Committee to assist or collaborate with the Planning
Board in its duties, but such person or persons shall have no power
to vote or take other action required of the Board. Such person or
persons shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor.
Whenever the Environmental Commission has prepared
and submitted to the Planning Board an index of the natural resources
of the Borough of Palisades Park, the Planning Board shall make available
to the Environmental Commission an informational copy of every application
for development to the Planning Board. Failure of the Planning Board
to make such informational copy available to the Environmental Commission
shall not invalidate any hearing or proceeding.