[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Pilesgrove 4-8-2003 by Ord. No. 0213. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Township of Pilesgrove and the Borough of Woodstown Joint Environmental Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "Joint Commission") is hereby established pursuant to Chapter 245 of the Laws of 1968 (N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 to 40:56A-12), as amended by Chapter 35, P.L. 1972.
A. 
The Joint Environmental Commission shall consist of 10 members, plus two alternate members. The Mayor of Pilesgrove Township shall appoint five members, one of whom shall also be a member of the Planning Board, plus one alternate, and all of whom shall be residents of the Township of Pilesgrove. The Mayor of the Borough of Woodstown shall appoint five members, one of whom shall also by a member of the Planning Board, plus one alternate, and all of whom shall be residents of the Borough of Woodstown. The members shall serve without compensation except as hereinafter provided. The Joint Commission shall elect one of its members to serve as Chairman and presiding officer of the Joint Commission. The term of the Chairman shall be one year. The terms of the office of the first Commissioners shall be for one, two or three years, to be designated by the Mayors in making their appointments and their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years and until the appointment and qualification of their successors. The alternates shall be appointed for a term of one year. The first members of the Commission shall be appointed for the following terms:
(1) 
Two members, one from Pilesgrove Township, one from the Borough of Woodstown, for the one-year term expiring December 31, 2003.
(2) 
Four members, two from Pilesgrove Township, two from the Borough of Woodstown, for the two-year term expiring December 31, 2004.
(3) 
Four members, two from Pilesgrove Township, two from the Borough of Woodstown, for the three-year term expiring December 31, 2005.
(4) 
Two alternates, one from Pilesgrove Township, one from the Borough of Woodstown, for a one-year term expiring December 31, 2003.
B. 
The Mayors or governing bodies may remove any member of the Joint Commission from their own municipality, for cause, on written charges served upon the member and after the hearing thereon at which the member shall be entitled to be heard in person or by counsel. A vacancy on the Joint Commission occurring otherwise than expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as an original appointment.
The Joint Commission is established for the protection, development or use of natural resources, including water resources, located within territorial limits of the municipalities of the Township of Pilesgrove and the Borough of Woodstown. The Joint Commission shall have power to conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas of the municipalities 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 marshland, 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 Board plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan and the development and use of such areas.
The Joint Commission may, subject to the approval of the governing bodies, acquire property, both real and personal, in the name of the municipalities 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 municipalities.
The Joint Commission shall keep records of its meetings and activities and make an annual report to the governing bodies.
The Joint Commission may appoint such clerks and other employees and incur such expenses as it may from time to time require, providing the same shall be within the limits of funds appropriated to it by the governing bodies or otherwise available to it.
The Joint 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.