[Amended 10-16-1995 by Ord. No. 95-15]
The purpose of this article is to create an
Environmental Commission, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq., to
advise the Council of the City of Salem in matters concerning the
protection, development or use of natural resources, including water
resources, located within the territorial limits of Salem, New Jersey.
The Commission shall consist of seven members
appointed by the Mayor, one of whom shall be designated by the Mayor
as the chairperson. One member shall be a member of the Planning Board,
and all members shall be residents of the City of Salem, New Jersey.
All members shall serve without compensation.
Initially, two Commissioners shall be appointed
for one-year terms, two for two-year terms and three for three-year
terms. Thereafter, each appointment shall be for a three-year term.
A vacancy on the Commission occurring otherwise than by expiration
of the term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner
as an original appointment.
The City Council of the City of Salem 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.
The Environmental Commission organized under
this article shall have power to conduct research into the use and
possible use of the open land areas of the City 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. The Commission 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 Board
or, if none, to the Council plans and programs for inclusion in a
City Master Plan and development and use of such areas.
The Environmental Commission may, subject to
the approval of the Council, acquire property, both real and personal,
in the name of the City 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
contractural 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 in other land and water areas in the city.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records
of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report to
the Council.
The Council may appropriate funds for the expenses
incurred by the Environmental Commission. The Commission may appoint
such clerks and other employees as it may from time to time require
and as shall be within the limits of funds appropriated to it.
The Environmental Commission shall have the
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.
When the Environmental Commission has prepared and submitted to the Planning Board and the Board of Adjustment an index of the natural resources of the City pursuant to § 130-40, the Planning Board or the Board of Adjustment shall make available to the Environmental Commission an informational copy of every application for development submitted to either Board, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-27, for the Commission's review, comments and recommendations on said application. Failure of the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment to make such informational copy available to the Environmental Commission shall not invalidate any hearing or proceeding.
