[Adopted 3-27-1972 (Sec. 2-6 of the 1985 Revised General Ordinances)]
There is hereby established an environmental commission for
the protection, development and use of natural resources, including
water resources located within the territorial limits of the Township.
The commission shall be known as the "Environmental Commission
of Delaware Township."
The Commission shall consist of seven regular members and two
alternate members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent
of the Township Committee. All of the members shall be residents of
the Township. One of the members shall be a member of the Township
Planning Board; one of the members shall be an official of some other
board, body or agency of Township. The remaining seven members shall
be citizens who hold no other elective or appointive office under
the Township. All of the members shall serve without compensation.
The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve as Chairman
and presiding officer of the Commission. The full term of office of
each regular commissioner shall be three years, and the full term
of each alternate member shall be two years, and until the appointment
and qualification of his successor. A vacancy occurring otherwise
than by an expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired
term only. The Committee 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.
The Environmental Commission shall have the following duties:
A.
To
conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas
of the municipality.
B.
To
coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar
purposes.
C.
To
advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans,
and pamphlets which in its judgment it deems necessary for its purposes,
within the limits of funds appropriated to the Commission.
D.
To
keep an index of all open areas, publicly and privately owned, including
open marshlands, swamps and wetlands, in order to obtain information
on the proper use of such areas.
E.
To
recommend, from time to time, to the Planning Board, plans and programs
respecting such open areas for inclusion in the Master Plan of the
Township and for the development and use of such areas.
F.
To
recommend, from time to time, to the Township Committee, plans and
activities related to the environmental quality of the community.
G.
To
do such other acts and things as are reasonably related to and designed
to carry out the purposes and objectives of the Commission, including,
without limitation, the payment of such clerks and other employees
as the Commission may require, within the limits of the funds appropriated
to the Commission.
H.
To
keep records of the meeting and activities of the Commission and to
make an annual report to the Township Committee.
Subject to the prior approval of the Township Committee, the
Environmental Commission may acquire property, both real and personal,
in the name of the Township of Delaware, by gift, purchase, grant,
bequest, device or lease for any of its purposes and it shall administer
the same for such purposes, subject to the terms of the conveyance
or gift. The interest so acquired may be 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 revisions), 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.
[Added 10-12-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]
A.
Establishment. Current members of the Environmental Commission who
are dedicated to the sustainability of the community and known as
the Green Team shall be appointed by the Township Committee annually
at their reorganization meeting.
B.
Purpose.
(1)
To educate and encourage all Township employees, residents, and businesses
to participate in green initiatives.
(2)
To collaborate with public and private green committees to ensure
the replication of best practices and to ensure a coordinated effort
within Delaware Township and with neighboring communities.
(3)
Provide suggestions for further research and action to the Township
Committee.
(4)
To facilitate the successful completion of the requirements for certification
of Sustainable Jersey and manage Delaware Township's participation
in the Sustainable Jersey program.
C.
Membership; terms.
(1)
The Green Team will consist of members of the Delaware Township Environmental
Commission and can also have one Township Committee member and one
representative from the Department of Public Works.
(2)
The regular members of the Green Team shall be persons who reside
in Delaware Township, who hold no other elective or appointed office
under the Township, and are members in good standing on the Environmental
Commission.
(3)
The Chairman of the Environmental Commission shall serve as Chairman
and presiding officer.
(4)
The full term of office for each regular member shall coincide with
the term on the Environmental Commission.
(5)
A vacancy occurring otherwise than by an expiration of a term shall
be filled for the unexpired term only.
(6)
The Township Committee may remove any member 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.
