Township of Pilesgrove, NJ Agricultural Advisory Committee

The title of the ordinance comprising this chapter is "An Ordinance amending the Code of the Township of Pilesgrove by adding a new Chapter 150 [1] to be entitled Agricultural Advisory Committee."

[1]

Editor's Note: This ordinance was originally adopted as Ch. 150, but renumbered with Township permission to Ch. 3 to maintain the organization of the codification.

§ 3-2 Short title.

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "Agricultural Advisory Committee."

§ 3-3 Establishment and purpose.

There is hereby established, in conformance with N.J.S.A. 4:1C-43.1.b.(2) and N.J.A.C. 2:76-17A.3(a), an Agricultural Advisory Committee to be known as the "Pilesgrove Township Agricultural Advisory Committee," whose members shall be appointed and serve as provided in this chapter. The Pilesgrove Township Agricultural Advisory Committee is a municipal board or commission whose function is advisory in nature, and the establishment of which is discretionary and not required by statute.

§ 3-4 Definitions.

Unless otherwise set forth in this chapter, the words and phrases used in this chapter that are defined in N.J.S.A. 4:1C-11 et seq., as amended, shall have the meanings specified in N.J.S.A. 4:1C-11 et seq., as amended.

§ 3-5 Membership; appointment.

The Pilesgrove Township Agricultural Advisory Committee shall consist of at least three but not more than five members to be appointed by the Mayor with the consent of a majority of the Township Committee. All members must be residents of Pilesgrove Township. A majority of the members must be actively engaged in farming in Pilesgrove Township and must own a portion of the land they farm. Membership on the Pilesgrove Township Agricultural Advisory Committee shall not be considered the holding of a municipal office.

Terms.

(1)

The term of each member shall be three years except as otherwise provided in Subsection B(1)(c) below. The initial members shall be appointed within 30 days following the effective date of this chapter, provided that:

(a)

The terms of at least one but not more than two of the members so appointed shall be designated as having commenced on January 1, 2007, but if only one member is appointed pursuant to this Subsection B(1)(a), then the second membership term pursuant to this Subsection B(1)(a) shall be designated as a vacant unexpired term having commenced on January 1, 2007, and shall be so recorded by the Township Clerk;

(b)

The terms of at least one but not more than two of the members so appointed shall be designated as having commenced on January 1, 2006, but if only one member is appointed pursuant to this Subsection B(1)(b), then the second membership term pursuant to this Subsection B(1)(b) shall be designated as a vacant unexpired term having commenced on January 1, 2006, and shall be so recorded by the Township Clerk; and

(c)

The term of one of the members so appointed shall be designated as having commenced on January 1, 2005.

(2)

Thereafter, all vacant unexpired terms shall be filled by appointment as necessary to complete such vacant unexpired terms and ensure that the Pilesgrove Township Agricultural Advisory Committee consists of not less than three members, and any open expired term may be filled by appointment for a new membership term, with each such new term being deemed to commence as of January 1 of the year in which such appointment is made, provided that no more than two new membership terms may commence in any year.

A member of the Pilesgrove Township Agricultural Advisory Committee or a member of his or her immediate family is prohibited from selling or applying to sell a development easement on his or her property or from selling or applying to sell his or her property in fee simple title pursuant to the Agriculture Retention and Development Act, N.J.S.A. 4:1C-11 et seq., and the Garden State Preservation Trust Act, N.J.S.A. 13:8C-1 et seq. "Member of the immediate family" means a member's spouse, child, parent, or sibling, residing in the same household.

Any person who ceases to meet the qualifications set forth in Subsection A above may continue to serve as a member as long as a majority of the members are actively engaged in farming in Pilesgrove Township and own a portion of the land they farm as required in Subsection A above. Otherwise any member who ceases to meet such Subsection A qualifications, or the qualifications set forth in Subsection C above, shall resign or shall be removed from membership by the Mayor with the consent of a majority of the Township Committee. Upon any resignation or removal of a member, such removed member's term shall be deemed to be, and may be filled by appointment as, a vacant unexpired term.

§ 3-6 Duties.

The Pilesgrove Township Agricultural Advisory Committee shall report to the Pilesgrove Township Planning Board and shall perform such duties as may be requested by the Planning Board or Township Committee, including but not limited to:

Participating in the identification of project areas and/or target farms in the Township suitable for farmland preservation;

Advising Township officials and residents on the different types of farmland preservation programs available to landowners;

Advising the Planning Board on the ranking criteria to be used in the review and selection of farmland preservation applications;

Advising the Township Committee and Planning Board on matters related to agriculture and farmland preservation;

Advising the Township Committee and Planning Board of the potential impact of land use policies and/or development activity on agricultural operations and the mediation of these impacts; and

Participating in the preparation of and/or review of a Township-wide farmland preservation plan element to be adopted by the Planning Board as an element of the Township Master Plan.