[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Cranbury 5-22-1972;
amended 4-28-1980. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
An Environmental Commission is hereby established in Cranbury Township
for the protection, development or use of natural resources, including water
resources, located within the territorial limits of Cranbury Township.
[Amended 7-25-1983; 5-21-2001
by Ord. No. 05-01-15]
The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor
of Cranbury Township, one of whom shall be a member of the Cranbury Township
Planning Board, and all of whom shall be residents of Cranbury Township. The
Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve as Chairman and presiding
officer of the Commission. Terms of office of the first Commissioners shall
be one, two or three years, to be designated by the Mayor in making his appointments,
and their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years and until
the appointment and qualification of their successors. In addition to the
regular members, there shall be two alternate members to the Environmental
Commission, also to be appointed by the Mayor. The terms of the alternate
members shall be for two years except that the terms of the alternate members
first appointed shall be two years for Alternate Number 1 and one year for
Alternate Number 2 so that the term of not more than one alternate member
shall expire in any one year. At the time of the appointment, the Mayor shall
designate the individual being appointed as Alternate Number 1 or Alternate
Number 2. An alternate member may participate in discussions of the proceedings
but may not vote except in the absence or the disqualification of a regular
member. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote
instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be made as
to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate Number 1 shall vote first.
The Environmental Commission shall have power to conduct research into
the use and possible use of the open land areas of the Township 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. It 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 Cranbury Township
Planning Board plans and programs for inclusion in the Township Master Plan
and the development and use of such areas.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records of its meetings and
activities and make an annual report to the governing body of the Township.
The Cranbury Township Environmental Commission shall have all powers
granted environmental commissions by the Laws of New Jersey with specific
reference to N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq.
