[Adopted 11-5-1979 as §§ 7-1
to 7-6 of the 1979 Revised General Ordinances]
A.
Pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et
seq., an Environmental Commission of seven members, as heretofore
created, is hereby continued.
B.
The purpose of this Commission is for the protection,
development or use of natural resources, including water resources,
located within the Township.
[Amended by Ord. No. 4-2000]
A.
A Commission shall consist of seven members appointed
by the Mayor, one of whom shall also be a member or alternate member
of the Planning Board, and all of whom shall be Township residents.
The members shall serve without compensation except as hereinafter
provided. The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve as
Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission.
[Amended 2-6-2006 by Ord. No. 4-2006]
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 appointment, and their successors shall be appointed for terms
of three years and until the appointment and qualification of their
successors.
C.
Subject to
completing the Township's application process, if any, the Mayor may
appoint one or more high school students as student members. Such
student members may be involved in Commission matters as assigned
by, and under the supervision of, the Commission Chairperson. The
term of a student member shall be one year. Student members shall
be either: i) Livingston High School Students; or ii) residents of
the Township currently enrolled in an accredited high school program.
[Added 2-27-2023 by Ord. No. 2-2023[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former Subsection
C as Subsection D.
D.
The Mayor or Council 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. 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.
[Added by Ord. No. 5-2000]
A.
The Mayor shall provide for the appointment of not
more than two alternate members to the Commission. At the time of
appointment by the Mayor, the alternate members shall be designated
as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2."
B.
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 No. 1 and one year for Alternate
No. 2 so that the term of not more than one alternate member shall
expire in any one year. A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration
of term shall be filled by the Mayor for the unexpired term only.
C.
An alternate member shall not be permitted to act
on any matter in which he has either directly or indirectly any personal
or financial interest.
D.
An alternate member may, after public hearing if he
requests one, be removed by the Mayor or Council for cause.
E.
An alternate member may participate in discussions
of the proceedings but may not vote except in the absence or 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 No. 1 shall vote first.
A.
The 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.
B.
The Commission may advertise, prepare, print and distribute
books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which, in its judgment, it
deems necessary for its purposes.
C.
The 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
such areas.
D.
The Commission may from time to time recommend to
the Planning Board plans and programs for inclusion in a Township
Master Plan and the development and use of the open areas of the Township.
The Commission may, subject to the approval
of the Council, acquire property, both real and personal, in the name
of the Township 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 Commission shall keep records of its meetings
and activities and shall make an annual report to the Council.
The Council may appropriate funds for the expenses
incurred by the Commission. The Commission may appoint such clerks
and other employees as it may from time to time require, and payment
for the same shall be within the limits of funds appropriated to the
Commission.
