[Adopted 3-14-1985 by Ord. No. 0-3-85]
There is hereby created an Environmental Commission
for the protection, development, or use of the natural resources located
within the territorial limits of the Township of South Harrison pursuant
to the provisions of Chapter 245 of the Laws of New Jersey, 1968 (N.J.S.A.
40:56A-1 to 40:56A-5).
A.
A Commission shall consist of seven members appointed
by the Mayor, one of whom shall also be a member of the Planning/Zoning
Board and all of whom shall be residents of the Township of South
Harrison; the members shall serve without compensation except as hereinafter
provided. The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve as
Chair and presiding officer of the Commission. The terms of office
of the first Commissioners shall be for one, two or three years, to
be designated by the Mayor in making the appointments, and their successors
shall be appointed for terms of three years and until the appointment
and qualification for their successors. The first members of the Commission
shall be appointed for the following terms:
B.
The Mayor and 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 or use of natural resources, including water resources,
located within the territorial limits of the Township of South Harrison
The Commission shall have power to conduct research into the use and
possible use of the open land areas of the Township and 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, swamps and other wetlands, in order
to obtain information on the proper use of such areas, and may from
time to time recommend to the Planning/Zoning Board, plans and programs
for inclusion of the Master Plan and the development and use of such
areas.
The Environmental 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 purposes subject to the terms of the
conveyance or gift. Such an acquisition may be to acquire the fee
or any lesser interest, covenant or other contractual right (including
a conveyance on conditions or with limitations or reversions), as
may be necessary to acquire, maintain, improve protest, limit the
future use or otherwise conserve and properly utilize open spaces
and other land and water areas in the Township.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records
of its meetings and activities and make an annual report to the Township
Committee.
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.
