There shall be an Environmental Commission in the Township consisting of seven members, established for the protection, development and use of natural resources, including water resources, located within the territorial limits of the Township of Old Bridge. The Commission shall be known as the "Environmental Commission of the Township of Old Bridge."
[Amended 7-11-1984 by Ord. No. 18-84]
A. 
The regular members of the Environmental Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor. One shall be a member of the Planning Board, and all shall be residents of the Township, and they shall serve without compensation except as otherwise provided herein. The Mayor shall designate one of the members to serve as Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission. The Commissioners first appointed shall serve for staggered one-, two- or three-year terms. The Mayor 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 by the Council. A vacancy on the Commission occurring other than by expiration of a term shall be filled for the expired term in the same manner as an original appointment.
B. 
There shall be two associate members of the Environmental Commission who shall be members of a Township youth organization. The Mayor shall appoint one associate member, and the Township Council shall appoint one associate member. Associate members shall serve one-year terms without compensation and shall be nonvoting members of said Commission.
[Amended 3-12-2001 by Ord. No. 09-01]
C. 
There shall be two alternate members on the Environmental Commission, who shall be appointed by the Mayor. Alternate members shall be designated at the time of appointment by the Mayor as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2." The terms of the alternate members shall be for two years, except the terms of alternate members first appointed shall be two years for Alternate No. 1 and one year for Alternate No. 2. A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled by the Mayor for the unexpired term only. An alternate member shall not be permitted to act on any matter in which he or she has, either directly or indirectly, any personal or financial interest. An alternate member may, after public hearing if he or she requests one, be removed by the governing body for cause. An alternate member may participate in discussions of the proceedings but 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.
[Added 3-16-1992 by Ord. No. 8-92]
The Environmental Commission shall:
A. 
Conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas of the Township.
B. 
Coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes.
C. 
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. 
Keep an index of all open areas, publicly and privately owned, including open marshlands, swamps and other wetlands, and obtain information on the proper use of such areas.
E. 
Recommend to the Planning Board, from time to time, plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan of the Township for development and use of such areas.
F. 
Do such other acts and things as are reasonably related to and designated 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 from time to time require within the limits of the funds appropriated to the Commission.
G. 
Review and comment on site plans and specifications.
H. 
Keep records of the meetings and activities of the Commission and make an annual report to the Council.
Subject to the prior approval of the Planning Board and Council, the Environmental Commission may acquire property, real and personal, in the name of the Township, by gift, pledges, grants, bequests, devises or lease, for any of the purposes of the Commission, and it shall administer the same for such purposes, subject to the terms of such 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 reversions as may be necessary to acquire, maintain, improve, protect, limit the future use of or otherwise conserve and properly utilize open space and other land and water areas in the Township.