Borough of Madison, NJ Chapter 47 Utility Advisory Committee

[[1]HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Madison 9-8-2014 by Ord. No. 43-2014. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Utilities Authority — See Ch. 48.

[1] Editor's Note: Former Ch. 47, Standing Finance Committee, adopted 8-10-2009 by Ord. No. 42-2009, was repealed 4-1-2013 by Ord. No. 4-2013.

§ 47-1 Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

UTILITIES or UTILITY

The Borough of Madison's water and electric utilities.

§ 47-2 Powers limited.

The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Mayor and Council. As such, the Committee does not have the power to enter into agreements, set utility rates, or to transact any business on behalf of the Borough of Madison.

§ 47-3 Purpose.

The purpose of the Committee shall be to:

A. Assist the Mayor, Council and Borough staff in studying the future of the utilities and to provide Borough staff with technical assistance that will enhance performance, system reliability, risk management and utility best practices.

B. Assist the Mayor, Council and Borough staff in developing capital plans for the utilities.

C. Advise the Mayor and Council on utility performance, system reliability, risk management and utility efficiency.

D. Provide support to the Mayor and Council regarding metering systems, self-generation, interconnection and other financial/technical issues.

E. Assist Borough staff on other utility-related issues as requested by the Mayor and Council.

§ 47-4 Membership and subcommittees.

A. Number of members. Membership shall consist of nine regular members, two public officials and four ex officio members.

B. Classification of members. The regular members, known collectively as "members," and the ex officio members, shall consist of the following:

(1) Public officials: two regular members, specifically the Mayor and the Council Liaison to Utilities.

(2) At-large members: nine regular members. These members shall be any individual, resident or nonresident, with an identifiable interest in the activities and mission of the Utilities Advisory Committee.

(3) Ex officio members: four members who shall be the Administrator or Assistant Administrator, the Borough Engineer, the Electric Utility Superintendent or designated representative, and either the Department of Public Works Superintendent or designated representative for the Madison Water Department.

C. The Mayor, Council Liaison and all regular members of the Commission, excluding the ex officio members, shall exercise voting power.

D. Appointment. Appointments of all members shall be made by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Borough Council. In the event that the Mayor fails to make a nomination at least five days prior to the date of the second regular public meeting of the Council after a position becomes vacant or the Borough Council fails to confirm a nomination, then the appointment shall be made by the Borough Council by the vote of a majority of the members present at the meeting, provided that at least three affirmative votes shall be required, with the Mayor to have no vote thereon except in case of a tie.

E. Terms. Regular members shall serve for terms of three years. The term of any public official shall not extend beyond the current term of public office.

F. Vacancy. In the event of a vacancy, the Committee will recommend a successor who may be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council to fill the unexpired term.

G. The Committee shall maintain two standing subcommittees: Water Utility Operations Subcommittee and Electric Utility Operations Subcommittee. The Committee may also create ad-hoc subcommittees in order to study specific topics or initiatives.

§ 47-5 Committee Secretary.

The Mayor shall annually appoint the Committee Secretary, who shall be an employee of the Borough in either the Land Use, Public Works or Utility Department. The Secretary shall keep minutes and records of all meetings and proceedings, including voting records, attendance, reports and findings. Copies of all minutes shall be delivered promptly to the Borough Clerk.

§ 47-6 Facilitation of meetings.

The Mayor, Council Liaison or Administrator shall set the agenda and facilitate the meetings.

§ 47-7 Meetings.

A. Schedule. The Committee shall meet at least four times a year.

B. Notice. Notice of the annual schedule and of any special or additional meetings shall be made to the public pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act. See N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq. Any cancellation or change of a meeting shall be made by the Administrator. Committee members will be notified at least 48 hours in advance.

C. Open meetings. The meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public.

D. Quorum. A majority of the voting members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

E. Absence from meetings. All regular members are expected to attend all meetings. When a member has exceeded three unexcused absences in any twelve-month period, the Committee may request the resignation and recommend a replacement to the Mayor for approval by the Council.

§ 47-8 Remuneration.

The members of the Committee shall receive no salary or other compensation for their services.

§ 47-9 Conflict of interest.

Disclosure of interest. No Committee member shall have or shall acquire any interest, direct or indirect, personal or financial, in any project which the Committee is promoting or in any contract or proposed contract for materials or services or in any lease, mortgage, sale or contract of any nature whatsoever relating to any such project or to the Committee without forthwith making written disclosure to the Committee of the nature and extent of the interest. Such disclosure shall be entered, in writing, upon the minutes of the Committee.