[Adopted 3-6-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-2]
There is hereby established an Open Space Advisory
Committee within the Borough of Pennington, which shall be a joint
committee composed of representatives of the Borough of Pennington,
Township of Hopewell and the Borough of Hopewell.
It is the intent of the Borough and its partner
municipalities to embark upon a long-range program in order to acquire
and preserve natural resources in order to manage the pace of growth,
enhance property values and otherwise benefit the health, safety and
welfare of the residents of Pennington Borough, Hopewell Township
and Hopewell Borough.
A.
Membership and appointment. The Open Space Advisory
Committee shall be composed of nine regular members consisting of
two regular members appointed from Pennington Borough, five regular
members appointed from Hopewell Township and two regular members appointed
from Hopewell Borough. The two Pennington Borough regular members
shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the
Borough Council. The appointment of the five Hopewell Township regular
members and the two Hopewell Borough regular members shall be as set
forth by their respective governing bodies.
B.
Alternate members. There shall be one alternate member
appointed by each municipality who shall be appointed in the same
manner as the regular members. The alternate members may participate
in all Committee discussions, 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.
C.
Terms; vacancies. The terms of the two Pennington
Borough regular members first appointed under this article shall be
as follows: one regular member shall serve for a three-year term and
one regular member shall serve for a two-year term. Thereafter, all
future Pennington Borough regular members shall be appointed for a
three-year term. The alternate member shall serve for a term not exceeding
three years. Vacancies shall be filled for any unexpired term in the
same manner as the initial appointment. The terms of the regular and
alternate members from Hopewell Township and Hopewell Borough shall
be as set forth by the governing bodies of Hopewell Township and Hopewell
Borough.
D.
Quorum. The presence of five members, some of whom
may be alternates, shall constitute a quorum, providing that there
be at least one member from each of the three municipalities constituting
the quorum.
E.
Removal. Members of Pennington Borough's delegation
to the Committee may, after a public hearing, if requested, be removed
for cause by a majority vote of the Pennington Borough Council.
A.
Officers. The Open Space Advisory Committee shall
select from its members a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson to serve
as the presiding officer in the absence of the Chairperson. The Committee
shall also select a Secretary whose function shall be to manage minutes
of the Committee's meetings and records of the proceedings of the
Committee.
B.
Initial organization meeting. The Committee shall
hold its initial organization meeting within 60 days after the final
adoption of this article.
C.
Meetings. The Committee shall hold public meetings,
which public meetings shall be held in accordance with the Open Public
Meetings Act.
The Open Space Advisory Committee shall:
A.
Study and determine the existence of farmland and
open space properties within the area.
B.
Make recommendations to the governing bodies of the
three participating municipalities as to those properties which it
has determined meet the criteria for possible acquisition, whether
in fee, by easement or by means of development rights.
C.
Prepare a Farmland and Open Space Plan, which shall
be submitted to the governing bodies of the three participating municipalities
on an annual basis. The plan shall contain an updated inventory of
farmland and open space properties within the area, and include recommendations
for the acquisition or preservation of certain land, whether in fee,
by easement or by means of development rights.
D.
Establish a Farmland and Open Space Tracking Program
to catalog the status of privately owned farmland and open space in
the area and record the progress of the participating municipalities
with respect to farmland and open space preservation.
E.
Provide guidance and support to their governing bodies
and planning boards on issues and matters of farmland and open space.
F.
Perform such other advisory duties as are requested
by the governing bodies and planning boards of the participating municipalities.
