Township of Lumberton, NJ Chapter 13 Environmental Preservation

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Lumberton 1-20-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-2; amended in its entirety 3-2-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-02.[1] Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]

[1] Editor's Note: Prior amendments included Ord. Nos. 2004-6 and 2020-10.

§ 13-1 Establishment of Green Team.

It is hereby established that the Township's Open Space and Environmental Preservation Council shall be known as the "Lumber Township Green Team."

§ 13-2 Membership; appointment; volunteers.

A. The Green Team shall consist of five members appointed by the Township Committee who shall be residents of the Township. Two members of the Township Committee shall serve on the Green Team. Each member shall serve without compensation. No member of the Green Team may also simultaneously serve as a Class II member of the Land Development Board. The Mayor shall appoint one member of the Green Team to act as a Chairperson to preside over meetings, and said member shall also serve as a liaison with the Township Committee concerning all activities of the Green Team. The members first appointed shall hold office for terms as follows: two members for three-year terms; two members for two-year terms; and one member for a one-year term, from the date of appointment and qualified. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for a term of three years. Vacancies shall be filled for any unexpired term.

B. The Green Team members shall be permitted to recruit and encourage volunteers to assist with Green Team projects. The names of the Green Team volunteers shall be submitted quarterly to the Township Administrator.

§ 13-3 Powers and duties.

A. The Green Team shall assist the Township Committee and elected and appointed officials in the completion of their duties with respect to the protection, development, and use of natural resources within the Township, including advising on matters regarding the impact of actions or inactions on the environmental quality of community life. The Green Team shall manage and assist the Township's participation in the Sustainable Jersey program.

B. The Green Team shall have the following powers and duties, subject to the Township Committee's review and approval:

(1) Advocating for the preservation and conservation of open space and other natural resources within the Township;

(2) The planning, implementing and informing of the general public about local preservation and conservation programs and issues;

(3) The compilation and maintenance of an index of all open spaces and other natural resources within the Township, both publicly and privately owned, including marshlands, swamps and other wetlands;

(4) The conducting of appropriate research into the possible use of remaining open space within the Township;

(5) Recommending to the Land Development Board appropriate plans and programs for inclusion in the Township's Master Plan for general development and use of remaining open spaces and environmentally sensitive areas;

(6) The preparation and distribution of advertisements, books, maps, charts and other appropriate materials necessary to the discharge of the Council's duties;

(7) Acting as a coordinating agency in the community with respect to conservation matters and as a liaison between local conservation needs and the regional, state and federal agencies responsible for administering those needs;

(8) Review and report to the Land Development Board on environmental matters with respect to any site plan or subdivision as requested by the Planning Board or Township Committee;

(9) Assume the responsibilities and requirements of a Green Team subcommittee as otherwise required by the Sustainable Jersey program designation; and

(10) Commencing of any other such duties as the Township Committee may, from time to time, assign.

C. The Green Team shall operate within the limits of the funds appropriated to it for such purposes by the Township Committee.

§ 13-4 Recommended property acquisitions.

The Green Team may, from time to time, recommend to the Township Committee acquisition of property, both real and personal, in the name of the Township by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, devise or lease for any conservation purposes, including but not limited to living museums, sites for scientific study, areas for teaching of conservation, natural history, places of historic or prehistoric interest, scenic beauty and habitat for rare or endangered plants and animals. Such recommended acquisitions may be accomplished by conveyance of any interest, including fee simple title, development right, easement (including conservation easement), covenant or other contractual right, including conveyance on condition or with limitations or reservations 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 acquisitions of property shall be by the Township Committee and in accordance with the Local Lands and Buildings Law.

§ 13-5 Records; annual report.

The Green Team shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make a comprehensive annual report of its operations on or before the first day of February to the Township Committee. In addition, a report of the Council's receipts, disbursements and expenditures for the full year shall be submitted by the Township Administrator and attached to the Council's report.

§ 13-6 Removal of members.

The Township Committee may, by a simple majority vote, remove any member from the Green Team for any reason the Township Committee deems appropriate. Notwithstanding that Green Team members serve for terms outlined in § 13-2 above, all members serve at the pleasure of the Township Committee and may be removed with or without cause.