[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Quinton 4-6-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-3. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The municipality of the Township of Quinton Environmental Commission
is hereby established pursuant to Chapter 245 of the Laws of 1968
(N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 to 40:56A-12), as amended by Chapter 35, P.L. 1972.
A.Â
The Commission shall consist of five members appointed by the Mayor,
one of whom shall also be a member of the Planning Board and all of
whom shall be residents of the municipality of the Township of Quinton;
the members shall serve without compensation except as hereinafter
provided. The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve as
chairperson and presiding officer of the Commission. The terms of
the office of the first commissioners shall be for one-, two-, or
three years, to be designated by the Mayor in making his appointments,
and their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years and
until the appointment and qualification of their successors. The first
members of the Commission shall be appointed for the following terms:
B.Â
The Mayor of the governing body may remove any member of the Commission
for cause, on written charges served upon the member and after the
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 expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term in
the same manner as an original appointment.
The Commission is established for the protection, development
or use of natural resources, including water resources, located within
the territorial limits of the municipality of the Township of Quinton.
The Commission shall have the power to 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, and may advertise, prepare, print, and distribute books,
maps, charts, plans and pamphlets that in its judgment it deems necessary
for its purposes. It shall keep an index of all open areas, publicly
or privately owned, including open marshland, swamps and other wetlands,
in order to obtain information on the proper use of such areas and
may from time to time recommend to the Planning Board plans and programs
for inclusion in the Master Plan and the development and use of such
areas.
The Environmental Commission may, subject to the approval of
the governing body, acquire property, both real and personal, in the
name of the municipality, 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 municipality.
The Environmental Commission shall keep records of its meetings
and activities and make an annual report to the governing body.
The Commission may appoint such clerks and other employees and
incur such expenses as it may from time to time require, providing
that the same shall be within the limits of funds appropriated to
it by the governing body or otherwise available to it.
The Environmental Commission shall have 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.