[Adopted 8-10-1974 (Ch. 14 of the 1978 Code)]
The Township of Mantua Environmental Commission
is hereby established pursuant to Chapter 245 of the Laws of 1968
(N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq.).
A.
The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed
by the Mayor, one of whom shall also be a member of the Planning Board
and all of whom shall be residents of the Township of Mantua; the
members shall serve without compensation. The Mayor shall designate
one of the members to serve as Chairman and Presiding Officer of the
Commission for a term concurrent with the Mayor's term of office.
The terms of office of the first Commissioners shall be for one, two
or three years, to be designated by the Mayor in making his appointments,
and their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years and
until the appointment and qualification of their successors. The first
members of the Commission shall be appointed for the following terms:[1]
[Amended 2-23-1982 by Ord. No. 2-1982]
(1)
Two members for a one-year term.
(2)
Two members for a two-year term.
(3)
One member for a three-year term.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 2-1982, adopted 2-23-1983,
provided for an increase from five members to seven members, Section
2 of Ord. No. 2-1983 provides as follows:
"Section 2. (Temporary) The two additional
members appointed to the Commission in 1982 shall serve terms with
the following expiration dates:
(a) One term expiring December 31, 1982.
(b) One term expiring December 31, 1982."
B.
The Mayor or 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. 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.
The Commission is established for the protection,
development and use of natural resources, including water resources,
located within the territorial limits of the Township of Mantua. The
Commission shall have power to conduct research into the use and possible
use of the open land areas of the Township, may coordinate the activities
of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes and may advertise,
prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets
which in its judgment it deems necessary for its purposes. It shall
keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including
open marshlands, in order to obtain information on the proper use
of such areas and may from time to time recommend to the Planning
Board plans and programs for inclusion in the master plan on the development
and use of such areas.
The Commission may, subject to the approval
of the Township Committee, acquire property, both real and personal,
in the name of the Township, 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 Township.
The Environmental Commission shall meet on a
regular basis at such time as deemed desirable by it and may provide
for its own rules of organization with the exception of the Chairman's
appointment, which shall be made by the Mayor. The Commission shall
keep records of its meetings and activities and make an annual report
to the Township Committee not later than the last Township Committee
meeting of each calendar year.
The Commission may appoint such clerks and other
employees as it may from time to time require, provided that the same
shall be within the limits of funds appropriated to it by the Township
Committee.
The Environmental Commission shall have power
to study and make recommendations concerning open space preservation,
water resources management, air pollution control, solid waste management,
noise control, soil and landscape protection, environmental appearance,
marine resources and protection of flora and fauna.
