Township of Mantua, NJ Recreation Committee

There is hereby established in the Township of Mantua a Recreation Committee, which shall have the duties and powers hereinafter more particularly set forth and the members of which shall be appointed by the Township Committee in accordance with the provisions of this article.

§ 7-32 Membership; terms; liaison; filling of vacancies.

The Recreation Committee shall be composed of up to 15 members who shall be citizens and residents of the Township of Mantua. Such members shall be appointed by the Township Committee to serve three-year terms; provided, however, that the initial appointments shall be made in the following manner: five members for initial one-year terms, five members for initial two-year terms, five members for initial three-year terms. Initial appointments shall specify the respective one-, two-, or three-year term to which the appointment is being made. All initial terms whether filled by Township Committee shall commence January 1, 2019. After the conclusion of the initial terms as herein provided, all terms shall be for three years.

In addition to the aforementioned members, the Township Committee shall appoint a member of the Township Committee to serve as a liaison to the Recreation Committee each year, who shall be permitted to participate in discussions of the proceedings of the Committee but who shall not be permitted to vote. Such members of the Township Committee shall serve a one-year term.

All appointments shall expire on December 31. Initial appointments as above provided shall be made for the balance of the one-, two-, or three-year term designated, ending on December 31 of the applicable year.

Vacancies shall be filled by the Township Committee for the unexpired term only. The members shall serve until their respective successors are appointed, found qualified, and take office.

§ 7-33 Relation to Township Committee.

The Township Committee shall cooperate with the Recreation Committee to coordinate and provide equipment for recreational activities, as well as to coordinate the development, operation and maintenance of parks, public places, playgrounds and recreational areas in the Township of Mantua in order to provide for the maximum benefit and planned development for the residents of the Township of Mantua.

The Township Committee may, from time to time, by resolution, place activities, parks, public places, playgrounds and recreational areas under the jurisdiction of the Recreation Committee for development, operation or maintenance thereof, or for such purposes as may be specified in any such resolution. The Township shall continue to be responsible for the care, custody and policing of any such parks, public places, playgrounds and recreational areas, which from time to time may be placed under the jurisdiction of the Recreation Committee, unless such responsibilities or any others shall be specifically assigned in any such resolution.

The Recreation Committee herein established shall not be deemed to be a park or recreation commission pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:12-1 et seq., but such Recreation Committee shall have only those powers and duties as may be set forth herein or as may be more particularly provided by resolution of the Township Committee.

There shall be no appropriation of public funds to the Recreation Committee, except as may be provided by the Township Committee for designated purposes consistent with the intent of this article. The Recreation Committee shall recommend to the Township Committee proposals from time to time as may be consistent herewith.

The Township Committee shall obtain liability insurance coverage covering the approved activities under the jurisdiction of the Recreation Committee, the participants in those activities, the Township of Mantua and individual members of the Recreation Committee.

Neither the Recreation Committee nor any member or members thereof shall have any power or right, express or implied, to bind or obligate the Township of Mantua or the Township Committee, directly or indirectly.

§ 7-34 Duties.

The primary purpose of the Recreation Committee shall be to:

Assist in providing equipment as needed to programs concerned with the recreation of the residents of the Township of Mantua.

Provide recommendations for the orderly development of parks or other public lands in the Township of Mantua.

Cooperate with the Gloucester County Department of Parks and Recreation in coordinating and advising on activities to be held on county-owned recreational land should such aid be requested by the Gloucester County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Suggest improvements needed for orderly development and to undertake such improvements as it is authorized to carry out pursuant to this article or hereafter by resolution of the Township Committee.

Operate and maintain such parks or other public lands over which it is given jurisdiction in any resolution of the Township Committee and shall do so pursuant to any standards set forth in any such resolution.

Handle other specific programs which may be assigned or authorized by the Township Committee by resolution from time to time in accordance with the general purposes of the Recreation Committee and the provisions of this article and subject to the limitations contained herein.

§ 7-35 Limitations.

The Recreation Committee shall not act in any manner which would cause a forfeiture of any lands of the Township of Mantua. The Township Committee reserves the right to limit the jurisdiction, purposes or programs of the Recreation Committee at any time by resolution of the Township Committee.

§ 7-36 Organization.

The Recreation Committee may organize as it sees fit, choosing a Chairperson and such other officers from among its members as it may deem advisable, adopt rules and bylaws for the proper administration of its functions and formulate committees for the administration and handling of its programs.

Members shall attend 1/2 of all public meetings in each calendar year and shall not be absent from three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings. The Committee may petition the Township Committee for removal and replacement of any member with attendance below this standard and it shall be within the Committee's sole discretion as to whether to remove such member.

A quorum of the Recreation Committee for the purposes of conducting a meeting shall be four members. Recreation Committee Members may attend Recreation Committee meetings telephonically. Members attending Recreation Committee Meetings telephonically shall be counted towards a quorum.

§ 7-37 Park Director.

The Park Director appointed by the Township Committee shall serve as a nonvoting member of the Recreation Committee.

§ 7-38 Grievance procedure; appeals.

Any recognized recreational group who feels or believes it is aggrieved by any of the actions of the Park Director shall have the right to appeal any of the Park Director's actions and/or recommendations in the first instance to the Recreation Committee. Said appeal shall be filed not later than 10 days from the date of any action or recommendation taken by the Park Director and shall be in writing to the Recreation Committee Chairperson.

The Recreation Committee Chairperson shall thereafter set the matter down for a hearing and consider the testimony of witnesses and other evidence to be presented and at the conclusion of which the Recreation Committee shall render a decision as soon as is practicable.

Any party may appeal the action of the Recreation Committee to the Township Administrator within five days of the Recreation Committee's decision in writing to the Township Administrator.

Any party may appeal in the final instance the decision to the Township Administrator to the Township Committee within five days of the Township Administrator's decision in writing to the Township Clerk.