[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Rochelle Park 4-22-1991 by Ord. No. 612. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Land use and development — See Ch. 185.
A.
The Commission known as the "Environmental Commission
of the Township of Rochelle Park," heretofore established, is hereby
continued.
B.
The Environmental Commission has been established
for the protection, development and use of natural resources, including
water resources, located within the territorial limits of the Township.
A.
The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed
by the Mayor and associate members, if in the discretion of the Township
Committee or upon recommendation of the Commission as deemed reasonable.
B.
One of the members shall be a member of the Rochelle
Park Planning Board, and one of the members may be an official of
some other board, body or agency of the Township. All of the members
shall serve without compensation.
[Amended 6-16-2010 by Ord. No. 1015-10; 8-17-2011 by Ord. No.
1038-11]
C.
Associate members (people who wish to serve as technical
advisers) shall not have a vote and need not be residents of the municipality.
D.
The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve
as Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission.
A.
The full term of office of each Commissioner shall
be three years; provided, however, that the terms of the Commissioners
first appointed pursuant hereto shall be as follows: three members
shall be appointed for one year; two members shall be appointed for
two years; and two members shall be appointed for three years. Thereafter,
the successor of each member shall be appointed for the full term
of three years and until the appointment and qualification of his
successor.
B.
A vacancy occurring otherwise than by an expiration
of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term only.
C.
The Township Committee 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.
The Environmental Commission shall have the
following duties:
A.
To conduct research into the use and possible use
of the open land areas of the Township.
B.
To coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies
organized for similar purposes.
C.
To advertise, prepare, print and distribute 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, including open marshlands, swamps and other wetlands, 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 Township
for the development and use of such areas.
[Amended 6-16-2010 by Ord. No. 1015-10; 8-17-2011 by Ord. No.
1038-11]
F.
To do such other acts and things as are reasonably
related to and designed to carry out the purposes and objectives of
the Commission, including, without limitation, the payment of such
clerks or other employees as the Commission may from time to time
require, within the limits of the funds appropriated to the Commission.
G.
To keep records of the meetings and activities of
the Commission and to make an annual report to the Township Committee.
H.
After consultation with the Township Committee, to
apply for grants and other sources of financial aid to promote environmental
activities, education, Earth Day events and other purposes related
to the duties of the Commission.
[Added 3-25-1992 by Ord. No. 628]
I.
After consultation with the Township Committee, to
communicate with other entities, organizations and persons to promote
the purposes and duties of the Environmental Commission, provided
that they are issues that have been studied by the Commission and
found to have an impact on Rochelle Park.
[Added 3-25-1992 by Ord. No. 628]
[Amended 6-16-2010 by Ord. No. 1015-10; 8-17-2011 by Ord. No.
1038-11]
Subject to the prior approval of the Township
Committee after favorable recommendation by the Planning Board, the
Environmental Commission may acquire property, both real and personal,
in the name of the Township, by gift, pledges, grants, bequests, devises
or lease, for any of the purposes of the Commission, and it shall
administer the same for such purposes, subject to the terms of such
conveyance or gift. The interest so acquired may be 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 Township.