[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Mannington 5-3-2007 by Ord. No. 07-07. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Land development — See Ch. 70.
The title of the ordinance comprising this chapter is An Ordinance amending the Code of the Township of Mannington by adding a new Chapter 6 to be entitled "Agricultural Advisory Committee."
This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as "Agricultural Advisory Committee."
There is hereby established, in conformance
with N.J.S.A. 4:1C-43.1, an agricultural advisory committee to be
known as the "Mannington Agricultural Advisory Committee," whose members
shall be appointed and serve as provided in this chapter. The Mannington
Agricultural Advisory Committee is a municipal board or commission
whose function is advisory in nature, and the establishment of which
is discretionary and not required by statute.
Unless otherwise set forth in this chapter,
the words and phrases used in this chapter that are defined in N.J.S.A.
4:1C-11, et seq., as amended, shall have the meanings specified in
N.J.S.A. 4:1C-11, et seq., as amended.
A.
The Mannington Agricultural Advisory Committee shall
consist of at least three but not more than five members to be appointed
by the Mayor with the consent of a majority of the Township Committee.
All members must be residents of Mannington Township. A majority of
the members must be actively engaged in farming in Mannington Township
and must own a portion of the land they farm. Membership on the Mannington
Agricultural Advisory Committee shall not be considered the holding
of municipal office.
B.
Appointment; terms.
(1)
The term of each member shall be three years except as otherwise provided in Subsection B(1)(c) below. The initial members shall be appointed within 30 days following the effective date of this chapter, provided that:
(a)
The terms of at least one but no more than two of the members so appointed shall be designated as having commenced on January 1, 2007, but if only one member is appointed pursuant to this Subsection B(1)(a), then the second membership term shall be designated as a vacant unexpired term having commenced on January 1, 2007 and shall be so recorded by the Township Clerk;
(b)
The terms of at least one but no more than two of the members so appointed shall be designated as having commenced on January 1, 2006, but if only one member is appointed pursuant to this Subsection B(1)(b), then the second membership term shall be designated as a vacant unexpired term having commenced on January 1, 2006 and shall be so recorded by the Township Clerk; and
(c)
The term of only one of the members so appointed shall
be designated as a two-year term having commenced on January 1, 2006.
(2)
Thereafter, all vacant unexpired terms shall be filled
by appointment as necessary to complete such vacant unexpired terms
and ensure that the Mannington Agricultural Advisory Committee consists
of not less than three members, and any open expired term may be filled
by appointment for a new three-year membership term, with each such
new term being deemed to commence as of January 1 of the year in which
such appointment is made, provided that no more than two new membership
terms may commence in any year.
C.
Any person who ceases to meet the qualifications set forth in Subsection A, above, may continue to serve as a member as long as a majority of the members are actively engaged in farming in Mannington Township and own a portion of the land they farm as required in Subsection A, above. Otherwise, any member who ceases to meet such qualifications shall resign or shall be removed from membership by the Mayor with the consent of a majority of the Township Committee. Upon any resignation or removal of a member, such removed member's term shall be deemed to be, and may be filled by appointment as, a vacant unexpired term.
The Mannington Agricultural Advisory Committee
shall report to the Mannington Township Planning Board and shall perform
such duties as may be requested by the Planning Board or Township
Committee, including but not limited to:
A.
Identification of target areas in the Township suitable
for farmland preservation;
B.
Advising Township officials and residents on the different
types of farmland preservation programs available to landowners;
C.
Preparing and adopting criteria for reviewing and
approving farmland preservation applications;
D.
Advising the Township Committee and Planning Board
on matters related to agriculture and farmland preservation, including
but not limited to the proposed transfer of development rights (TDR)
program;
E.
Advising the Township Committee and Planning Board
of the potential impact of land use policies and/or development activity
on agricultural operations; and
F.
Preparing and/or reviewing a Township-wide farmland
preservation plan element to be adopted by the Planning Board as a
master plan element.
