[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Township
of Montclair 12-28-2004 by Ord. No. 04-67. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The Township Council has established as a primary
goal the maintenance of Montclair's economic diversity and seeks creative
housing initiatives to further that goal. The Council believes that
an advisory commission could assist in the pursuit of new housing
strategies in the face of rising property values, increased real estate
market pressures and limited supply of developable land. A housing
commission is one of several strategies recommended by Baird &
Driskell, housing consultants, in the Affordable Housing Strategy
dated June 2004. Therefore, there is hereby created and established
an advisory commission to be known as the "Montclair Housing Commission"
(MHC).
[Amended 6-9-2009 by Ord. No. O-023-09]
The Montclair Housing Commission ("MHC") shall
consist of 13 members appointed by the Township Council to serve staggered
three-year terms, except as set forth below. One member of the Commission
shall be a student from a high school located in the Township and
one member shall be a Montclair State University student. The two
student members shall be considered nonvoting interns and shall serve
for a term of one year. MHC membership should consist of a diverse
group of individuals committed to achieving the Township's affordable
housing goals. All members of the Commission shall be appointed in
accordance with the Township Council's operating practices and procedures
for appointments to advisory boards and commissions, including the
submission of written volunteer forms provided by the Township Clerk.
No person who is a Township employee holding
a managerial or policy-making position shall serve as a voting member
of the Commission.
The MHC shall be advisory to the Council on
housing policies and issues and provide recommendations to the Township
Council and other boards and commissions. The primary responsibility
of the MHC shall be the implementation of affordable housing programs
as described in the Montclair Affordable Housing Strategy, dated June
2004, in conjunction with the Township staff, Council, local nonprofits
and others. The MHC shall submit to the Township Council a strategic
plan within 90 days of its formation, and thereafter on an annual
basis, which details its proposed initiatives and timetable for each.
At the sole and exclusive discretion of the Council, the title of
Township Housing Specialist may be added to the Montclair Salary Ordinance[1], who shall serve as staff to the MHC.
[1]
Editor's Note: The currently effective Salary
Ordinance is on file in the office of the Municipal Clerk.
The Council may grant MHC an annual budget as
is reasonable and proper to enable it to carry out its responsibilities
and shall have the use of adequate space and facilities for the conduct
of its business at 205 Claremont Avenue, Montclair, N.J.
The MHC shall keep records of its meetings and
activities and make an annual report to the governing body. All meetings
and conduct of business shall be subject to the Open Public Meetings
Act., N.J.S.A. 10:4-1 et seq.
The MHC shall have the power to study and make
recommendations concerning any and all issues related to affordable
housing as well as any other appropriate topic upon which the Township
Council seeks advice and study.
