[Amended 3-3-1983 by Ord. No. 6-83]
There is hereby created in the Borough of Hopatcong a Commission of the Borough to be known and designated as the "Environmental Commission," instituted for the protection, development or use of the natural resources located within the territorial limits of the Borough of Hopatcong and pursuant to the provisions of Chapter
245 of the Laws of New Jersey, 1968.
Said Commission shall have the following powers:
A. The promotion of conservation, antipollution, beautification
and development of the natural resources of the Borough of Hopatcong.
B. The planning and implementing of and informing the
public about local conservation, antipollution and beautification
programs.
C. The compiling and keeping of an index of all scenic
historic park recreation open areas, publicly or privately owned,
including open marshlands, swamps and other wetlands.
D. The power to conduct research into possible use of
the open areas of the Borough of Hopatcong.
E. Recommend to the Borough Land Use Board plans and
programs for inclusion in a Municipal Master Plan and the development
and use of such areas.
[Amended 9-5-2012 by Ord. No. 22-2012]
F. Advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps,
charts, plans and pamphlets which, in its judgment, it deems necessary
for its purposes.
G. Manage donated or purchased lands for conservation
purposes and operate conservation programs.
H. Act as the coordinating agency of the community on
conservation matters and a liaison between local conservation needs
and regional, state and federal agencies ministering to those needs.
I. The Commission, with the approval of the Council of
the Borough of Hopatcong, may from time to time acquire property,
both real and personal, in the name of the Borough of Hopatcong, by
gift, purchase, grant, bequest, devise or lease, for any of its purposes,
including, but not limited to, use as living museums, sites for scientific
study, areas for teaching of natural history, and conservation, places
of historic or prehistoric interest, and beauty and habitat for rare
and endangered plants and animals, 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 condition 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 Hopatcong.
[Amended 3-3-1983 by Ord. No. 6-83]
The Environmental Commission shall, subject
to approval of the Council, have exclusive control of lands acquired
for the purposes herein stated and may adopt suitable rules and regulations
for the use thereof and the conduct of all persons while on or using
the same.
The Commission shall keep records of its meetings
and activities and shall make an annual report on or before the first
day of January and submit the same to the Council of the Borough of
Hopatcong, which report shall be comprehensive and detailed, covering
operation, receipts, disbursements and expenditures for the full year.
[Amended 3-3-1983 by Ord. No. 6-83]
The Commission is authorized to adopt bylaws
governing its procedural operations. The Mayor shall designate one
of its members to serve as Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission.
The Mayor or Council of the Borough of Hopatcong
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.
[Amended 3-3-1983 by Ord. No. 6-83]
The Environmental Commission shall expend no
funds and shall incur no expenses, except to the extent and for the
items and purposes specified in the annual Borough budget approved
by the governing body.
[Amended 3-3-1983 by Ord. No. 6-83]
The Environmental Commission may appoint a Secretary
or Clerk and such number of custodians, supervisors and assistants
for the lands acquired for the uses and purposes herein mentioned
as they shall think necessary, but the salaries of all such Clerks,
custodians, supervisors and assistants shall be fixed and determined
by the Council of the Borough of Hopatcong, and, in addition thereto,
the total salaries of all such persons shall be within the limits
of the funds appropriated to the said Commission.