[Adopted 10-24-1974 by Ord. No. MC-886 (Ch. 46 of the 1987 Code)]
There is hereby created an Environmental Commission for the protection, development or use of the natural resources located within the territorial limits of the City of Camden, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 245 of the Laws of 1968.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq.
The Mayor (or other chief executive officer), in his discretion, shall appoint the members of the Environmental Commission, which shall consist of seven persons, one of whom shall also be a member of the Municipal Planning Board. The Commissioners first appointed shall hold office for terms as follows: two members for one year, two members for two years and three members for three years, respectively, from the date in the year in which said appointments are made and until their successors are duly appointed and have qualified. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for the unexpired term only, in the same manner as an original appointment. The members shall receive no compensation for their services. [Discretion is given to the governing body to appoint a Commission consisting of not less than five nor more than seven members.]
Said Commission shall have the following powers:
A. 
To promote the conservation and development of the environmental quality of the City of Camden.
B. 
To plan, implement and inform the public about local conservation programs.
C. 
To compile and keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including open marshlands, swamps and other wetlands.
D. 
To conduct research into the possible use of resources such as air and water.
E. 
To recommend to the Planning Board (if none, to the Mayor and governing body of the municipality) plans and programs for inclusion in a Municipal Master Plan and the development and use of such areas.
F. 
To advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets, which, in its judgment, it deems necessary for its purpose.
G. 
To manage donated or purchased lands for conservation purposes and to operate conservation programs.
H. 
To act as the coordinating agency of the community on conservation matters and as a liaison between local conservation needs and regional, state and federal agencies ministering to those needs.
Said Commission, with the approval of the Council (or other governing body) of the City of Camden, may, from time to time, acquire property, both real and personal, in the name of the City of Camden by gift or purchase, not limited to use as living museums, sites for scientific study, areas for teaching natural history and conservation, places of historic and prehistoric interest and scenic beauty and habitats for rare and endangered plants and animals, 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 lessor interest, development right, easement including conservation easement, covenant or other contractual right as it 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 City of Camden.
The Environmental Commission may, subject to the approval of the Council (or other governing body of the municipality), have control of lands acquired for the purposes herein stated and may adopt suitable rules and regulations for the use thereof and the conduct of all persons while on or using the same.
Said Commission shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report on or before the first day of October (October 1) and shall submit the same to the Council of the City of Camden, which report shall have comprehensive and detailed coverage of operations, receipts, disbursement and expenditures for the full year.
A. 
The Mayor (or other chief executive officer) shall designate one of the members to serve as Chairman and presiding officer of said Commission.
B. 
Said Commission is authorized to adopt bylaws governing its procedural operation.
The Mayor or the Council of the City of Camden 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 Council of the City of Camden shall annually fix, determine and appropriate a sum sufficient for the care, custody, policing and maintenance of such lands acquired for the uses and purposes herein stated and for the expenses of said Commission, which sum shall be raised by taxation in the same manner as other taxes.
Said Commission may appoint a Secretary or Clerk and such number of custodians, supervisors and assistants for the lands acquired for the uses and purposes herein mentioned as they shall think necessary, but the salaries of all such Clerks, custodians, supervisors and assistants shall be fixed and determined by the Council of the City of Camden, and in addition thereto, the total salaries of all such persons shall be within the limits of funds appropriated to said Commission.