[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Bethlehem 12-29-1972
as Ord. No. 149. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby created an Environmental Commission in the Township
of Bethlehem for the protection, development or use of natural resources,
including water resources, located within the territorial limits of said township
pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1.
A.
The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed
by the Mayor, one of whom shall also be a member of the Municipal Planning
Board and all of whom shall be residents of the Township of Bethlehem. Members
shall serve without compensation, and the Mayor shall designate one of the
members to serve as Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission.
B.
The terms of office of the first Commissioners shall
be for one, two or three years, to be designated by the Mayor in making his
appointments so that the terms of approximately 1/3 of the members will expire
each year, and their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years
and until the appointment and qualification of their successors.
C.
The Mayor or governing body of the municipality 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.
D.
A vacancy on the Commission occurring otherwise than
by expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same
manner as an original appointment.
E.
The Mayor shall appoint two alternate members to the
Commission, the first designated as "Alternate No. 1" and the second as "Alternate
No. 2." The term 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 No. 1 and one year for Alternate No. 2. A vacancy occurring otherwise
than by expiration of the term shall be filled by appointment of the Mayor
for the unexpired term only. An alternate member may, after public hearing
if requested, be removed by the governing body for cause.
[Added 11-2-1995 by Ord. No. 278-95]
The Environmental Commission shall have the 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 likewise have the power to study and make recommendations regarding
open space preservation, water resources management, air pollution control,
solid waste management, noise control, soil and landscape protection, environmental
appearance and protection of flora and fauna. It shall likewise have the power
to manage donated or purchased lands for conservation purposes and the operating
of conservation programs and shall act as the coordinating agency of the township
on conservation matters and a liaison between conservation needs and regional,
county, state and federal agencies and private agencies ministering to those
needs.
The Environmental Commission 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 said areas, and may from
time to time recommend to the Planning Board plans and programs for inclusion
in the Master Plan for the development and use of said areas.
The Environmental Commission may, subject to the approval of the Township
Committee, acquire property, both real and personal, in the name of the Township
of Bethlehem by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, devise or lease for any of
its purposes 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 lesser interest, development right, easement (including conservation
easement), covenant or other contractual right (including a conveyance on
conditions or with limitations or reversions) as 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 township.
The Environmental Commission shall, subject to approval of the Township
Committee, have exclusive 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.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records of its meetings and
activities and shall make semiannual reports on or before the first days of
June and December of each year and submit the same to the Township Committee
of the Township of Bethlehem, which reports shall be comprehensive and detailed,
covering operations, receipts, disbursements and expenditures for the full
year.
[Amended 11-2-1995 by Ord. No. 278-95]
A.
The Environmental Commission shall adopt bylaws governing
its procedural operation.
B.
The bylaws of the Commission shall provide that any action
on the part of the Commission be undertaken by the affirmative vote of not
less than a majority of its members. An alternate member may participate in
Commission proceedings but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification
of a regular member. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate
member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote first.
D.
All members of the Commission shall serve without compensation.
The Township Committee 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 shall be raised by taxation in the same manner as other
taxes.
The Environmental Commission may appoint a clerk and other employees
as it may from time to time require and as shall be within the limit of funds
appropriated to it The salaries of all such employees shall be fixed and determined
by the Township Committee.
