[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the Borough of Madison 6-14-1971 by Ord. No. 13-71 (Art. 14 of the 1970 Revised Ordinances).
Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: The name of this Commission
was changed from Conservation Commission to Environmental Commission
during codification pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56A-7.
There is hereby created and established an Environmental
Commission for the protection, development or use of natural resources,
including water resources, located within the territorial limits of
the Borough of Madison pursuant to provisions of Chapter 245 of the
Laws of 1968 of the State of New Jersey.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq.
A.
The Environmental Commission shall consist of seven
members, appointed by the Mayor, one of whom shall be a member of
the Borough Planning Board and all of whom shall be residents of the
Borough of Madison.
(1)
Associate
and Student members. In addition to the seven regular members of the
Environmental Commission, the Mayor may appoint one or more adult
persons as Associate members and one or more adult persons as Student
members. Associate members and Student members shall not be considered
regular or alternate members of the Environmental Commission. Associate
members and Student members may not vote on matters before the Environmental
Commission. Associate members and Student members shall serve as volunteers
in Commission matters as assigned by, and under the supervision of,
the Environmental Commission chairperson. The term of Associate members
and Student member shall be one year. Associate members and Student
members need not be residents of the Borough of Madison.
[Added 1-23-2023 by Ord. No. 10-2023]
B.
The members shall serve without compensation.
C.
The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve
as Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission.
D.
The terms of the first Commissioners shall be for
one, two or three years, to be designated by the Mayor in making his
appointments so that the terms of approximately 1/3 of the members
will expire each year, and their successors shall be appointed for
terms of three years and until appointment and qualification of their
successors.
E.
The Mayor or Council of the borough 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.
F.
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 an original appointment.
G.
There shall be two alternate members appointed by
the Mayor who shall be residents of the Borough of Madison. Alternate
members shall be designated at the time of appointment as "Alternate
No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2." The terms of the alternate members shall
be for two years, except that the terms of the 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. 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. Procedures concerning
filling vacancies and removal from office shall be the same as for
regular members.
[Added 3-27-1995 by Ord. No. 10-95]
The Environmental Commission shall have the
following duties: to
A.
Study and make recommendations to the Mayor and Council
in areas of conservation and environmental protection, which shall
include but not be limited to pollution control of all types; waste
disposal, including sewage, garbage and solid waste; open space preservation,
with emphasis on outdoor recreation needs, aesthetic flora and fauna
preservation and beautification; and water resources.
B.
Plan local conservation programs and inform the public
about those programs.
C.
Prepare, print and distribute informational materials,
such as 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.
Keep an index of all open areas, publicly and privately
owned, in order to obtain information on the proper use of such areas.
E.
Recommend, from time to time, to the Planning Board,
plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan of the Borough
of Madison for development and use of such areas.
F.
Operate conservation programs on lands donated or
purchased for conservation purposes by the Borough of Madison.
G.
Do such other acts and things as are reasonably related
to and assigned to carry out the purposes and objectives of the Commission.
The Environmental Commission may, subject to
the approval of the Borough Council, acquire property, both real and
personal, in the name of the Borough of Madison, 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 Borough of Madison.
The Commission may appoint such clerks and other
employees as it may require, provided that such appointments shall
be within the limits of funds appropriated for such purposes by the
Borough Council.
A.
Regular meetings of the Commission shall be held at
the call of the Chairman or, in his absence or disability, at the
call of the Vice Chairman.
B.
At all meetings a quorum shall consist of a majority
of the members of the Commission.
C.
The Commission shall keep records of its meetings
and shall make an annual report to the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Madison on or before the 15th day of December.
The Council, in its discretion, may annually
fix, determine and appropriate sums sufficient for the care, custody,
leasing and maintenance of such land acquired for these uses and purposes
herein stated, if necessary, and for the expenses of the said Commission.
