City of East Orange, NJ Article XIII Municipal Recreation and Open Space Advisory Board

[Adopted 3-25-2013 by Ord. No. 3-2013]

§ 14A-61 Purpose.

A. A referendum was overwhelmingly approved by the citizens of the City of East Orange on November 6, 2012, whereby the governing body of the City of East Orange shall establish a Municipal Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:12-15.7, which shall be funded through the collection of property tax at a rate not to exceed $0.04 per $100 of total municipal equalized real property valuation.

B. The Municipal Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund shall be used for any or all of the following purposes, or any combination thereof, as determined by the governing body:

(1) Acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes;

(2) Preservation of historic properties, structures, facilities, sites, areas or objects, and the acquisition of such properties, structures, facilities, sites, areas or objects for historic preservation purposes;

(3) Maintenance of lands acquired for recreation and conservation purposes;

(4) Acquisition of farmland for farmland preservation purposes; and

(5) Payment of debt service on indebtedness issued or incurred by the City of East Orange for any of the above purposes, except for Subsection B(3) above.

§ 14A-62 Advisory Board established.

In order to facilitate the goals of the aforesaid Trust Fund, a Municipal Recreation and Open Space Advisory Board is hereby established, and said Board will consist of 16 members, five of which will be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of City Council, as follows:

A. Director of Public Works.

B. City Council Chair.

C. Mayor or his/her designee.

D. Council Liaison to Public Works.

E. Director of Recreation.

F. Director of Parks Maintenance.

G. City Administrator.

H. Director of Planning.

I. Representative of Planning and Grants.

J. Representative from the Historical Society.

K. Representative from the YMCA.

L. Five East Orange residents.

§ 14A-63 Terms.

A. The initial resident members of the Board shall serve as follows:

(1) One member shall serve for one year;

(2) Two members shall serve for two years; and

(3) Two member shall serve for three years.

B. Thereafter all resident members shall be appointed for three-year terms.

§ 14A-64 Powers and duties.

The Board shall have the following powers and duties:

A. Make recommendations to the Mayor regarding the overall administration of the Municipal Recreation and Open Space Trust Program pursuant to Public Law 1989, Chapter 30.

B. Develop and recommend to the Mayor and City Council a system to prioritize the selection of open space areas for acquisitions.

C. Review or prepare the present or proposed parks, recreation and open space master plan for the purpose of making recommendations to the Mayor.

D. Identify and recommend to the City grants and other funding sources to maintain, expand and promote the existing open space.

E. Make recommendations concerning the expenditure of funds as well as personnel where applicable in regards to the maintenance and preservation of said open spaces.

F. Make recommendations concerning the selection of land for acquisition as part of the Municipal Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.

G. Make recommendations as to historic preservation of historic properties, structures, facilities, sites, areas or objects, and the acquisition of such properties, structures, facilities, sites, areas or objects for historic preservation purposes.

§ 14A-65 Compensation; recreation.

A. All Advisory Board members shall serve without compensation.

B. This Board should not be construed as a Board of Recreation pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:12-1 et seq.

§ 14A-66 Administration.

The Municipal Recreation and Open Space Program shall be administered by the Municipal Administrator as determined by the Mayor. The Administrator is to provide staff support to the Board and shall publish an annual report at the end of the fiscal year which shall be made available to the general public.