[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Hazlet as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Open Space Advisory Council — See Ch. 11, Art. IV.
[Adopted 2-6-2007 by Ord. No. 1387-07]
There is hereby established an account which
shall be known and designated as the "Hazlet Township Open Space Trust
Fund," which shall be maintained in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:4-1
and N.J.S.A. 40A:5-1, as amended and revised from time to time.
Beginning with the 2007 tax year, a special
tax rate shall be added to the total Township tax rate in the amount
of $0.01 per $100 of ratable for each and every taxable property located
within the Township. The Open Space Trust Fund is also permitted to
accept donations, gifts, testamentary bequests, federal and state
grants, or any other funding sources of any lands or unrestricted
funds. Under the direction of the Township Committee, the monies collected
for the Open Space Trust Fund will be used to acquire, preserve and
improve lands for open space, conservation, recreation, farmland preservation,
historic preservation purposes, and for payment of debt services issued
or incurred by the Township. The Mayor and the Township Committee,
annually, after the holding of one public hearing thereon, shall apportion
and allocate the use of the Open Space Trust Fund among the purpose
or purposes set forth in N.J.S.A. 40:12-15.7.
The Township Finance Officer shall establish
an interest-bearing account separate from all other Township budgeted
items, all costs in connection therewith, and all funds collected
pursuant hereto. Any interest or other income earned on monies deposited
into the account shall be credited to the Open Space Trust Fund to
be used for the same purposes as the principal.
The Township Finance Officer, together with
the Tax Assessor and Tax Collector, shall create a separate line item
on the Township tax bills forwarded to all Township taxpayers identifying
the Open Space Trust Fund as the "Municipal Open Space Trust Fund"
and inserting opposite such separate line item, the amount to be collected
as calculated by the special tax rate.
All property acquired by the Open Space Trust
Fund shall be set aside and directed for open space and all deeds
and other applicable documents shall indicate its open space designation.
