[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Paramus 12-12-1972 as part of Ord. No. 72-33 (Ch.
6, Art. 6, of the 1969 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 5-15-2012 by Ord. No. 12-3]
Pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1
et seq., as amended and supplemented, there is hereby established
an Environmental Commission of the Borough, which shall consist of
several regular members and two alternate members, one of the regular
members of whom shall be a member of the Planning Board of the Borough
of Paramus and all of whom shall be residents of the Borough. The
members shall serve without compensation, except as hereinafter provided.
The Mayor shall appoint all the members of the
Environmental Commission and shall designate one of such members to
serve as Chairman and presiding officer of the Commission.
A.
All members of the Environmental Commission shall
be appointed for terms of three years and until their successors are
duly appointed and qualified; provided, however, that in the case
of the initial appointment of members of the Commission three members
shall be appointed for terms of one year each, two members shall be
appointed for terms of two years each; and two members shall be appointed
for terms of three years each.
B.
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.
C.
The Mayor or the Borough Council 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.
[Amended 11-24-1992 by Ord. No. 92-23]
Subject to the availability of duly appropriated
funds by the governing body of the Borough, the Environmental Commission
shall have the following powers and duties:
A.
To conduct research into the use and possible use
of the open land areas of the municipality.
B.
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.
D.
To advertise, prepare, print and distribute books,
maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which, in its judgment, it deems
necessary for its purposes.
E.
To keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately
owned, including open marshlands, swamps and other wetland, in order
to obtain information on the proper use of such areas and, from time
to time, to recommend to the Planning Board of the Borough of Paramus
plans and programs for inclusion in the Municipal Master Plan and
the development and use of such areas.
F.
Subject to the approval of the governing body, to
acquire property, both real and personal, in the name of a municipality,
by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, devise or lease, for any of its
purposes and to administer the same for such purposes subject to the
terms of the conveyance or gift. Such 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.
G.
To appoint such clerks and other employees or consultants
as it may from time to time require, provided that the cost of such
appointments are within the limit of funds appropriated to the Commission.
H.
To attend such conventions, conferences, seminars
or other courses of instruction as it deems useful or necessary for
the performance of its duties and to receive reimbursement of all
expenses incurred for the same as well as for other necessary expenses
related to the Commission's purposes.
The Environmental Commission shall keep complete
and accurate records of its meetings and activities and shall make
an annual report to the governing body.
A.
During the month of December in each year, the Commission
shall certify to the governing body the estimated sum necessary for
the proper conduct of its work during the ensuing calendar year.
B.
The governing body shall annually appropriate such
sum as it may deem necessary for the purposes of the Environmental
Commission.
