[Adopted 1-23-1996 by Ord. No. 96-1 (Ch.
25 of the 1985 Code)]
There is hereby created in the Village of Ridgefield
Park an Environmental Commission pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et
seq., with the membership, powers, duties and responsibilities hereafter
set forth in this chapter.
A.
The Commission shall consist of seven regular and
two alternate members, appointed by the Mayor. One regular member
shall also be a member of the Village Planning Board, and all regular
and alternate members shall be residents of the Village.
[Amended 7-13-1999 by Ord. No. 99-6]
B.
All members of the Commission shall serve without
compensation.
C.
The Mayor shall designate one regular member to serve
as Chairman and presiding officer of the Environmental Commission.
D.
Regular members shall not be permitted to act on any
matter in which they have either, directly or indirectly, any personal
or financial interest.
E.
Alternate members shall be designated at the time
of their appointment as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2." 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.
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.
Regular members. Initially, two Commissioners shall
be appointed for one-year terms, two for two-year terms and three
for three-year terms. Thereafter, each appointment shall be for three-year
terms. 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 the original appointment.
B.
Alternate members. The terms of the alternate members
shall be for two years, except that the terms of 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 a term shall be filled by the appointing authority
for the unexpired term only.
A.
The Mayor or the Board of Commissioners may remove
any regular 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.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records
of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report to
the Board of Commissioners of the Village.
The meetings of the Commission shall be subject
to the Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.), and its
records shall be considered public documents.
A.
The Village Board of Commissioners shall, each year,
appropriate funds for the expenses incurred by the Environmental Commission.
B.
The Environmental Commission may, with the consent
of the Board of Commissioners, appoint such clerks and other employees
as it may from time to time require and within the limits of the funds
appropriated to it.
The Environmental Commission shall have the
following powers and duties:
A.
It 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, and
it may from time to time recommend to the Planning Board plans and
programs for inclusion in the Village Master Plan and for the development
and use of such areas.
B.
The Environmental Commission may, as it deems fit,
conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas
of the municipality and may coordinate the activities of unofficial
bodies organized for similar purposes.
C.
The Environmental Commission may advertise, prepare,
print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which,
in its judgment, it deems necessary for its purposes.
D.
The Environmental Commission shall have the power
to study and make recommendations concerning open space preservation,
water resources management, air pollution control, solid waste management,
noise control, soil and landscape protection, environmental appearance,
marine resources and protection of flora and fauna.
A.
When the Commission has prepared and submitted to the Planning Board and the Board of Adjustment the index of natural resources referred to in the foregoing § 23-44, the Planning Board and the Board of Adjustment shall thereafter make available to the Commission an informational copy of every application for development submitted to either Board.
B.
The Environmental Commission shall review each application
and may provide its advice to the appropriate board, which advice
shall be conveyed through the delegation of one of its members or
staff to testify orally at the hearing on the application and to explain
any written report which may have been prepared and/or submitted to
the Board.
A.
The Commission may, subject to the approval of the
Board of Commissioners, acquire property, both real and personal,
in the name of the Village 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.
B.
Any such acquisition may be to acquire the fee or
any lesser interest, development right or easement (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 of the Village.
