[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. XXIX, Right to
Farm.
[Ord. #1776, 12-28-2004, added]
The purpose of this section is to establish
a municipal Agricultural Advisory Committee to advise the Township
Committee on matters pertaining to the preservation and ongoing operation
of agricultural activity in the Township of Bernards.
[Ord. #1776, 12-28-2004, added]
a.
Committee; Personnel; Appointment; Organization. There
is hereby established in the Township of Bernards a permanent committee
to be known and designated as the "Bernards Township Agricultural
Advisory Committee" which shall consist of five residents or resident
farmers of the Township of Bernards to be appointed by the Township
Committee. At least one Committee member shall also be a member of
either the Bernards Township Planning Board or the Bernards Township
Environmental Commission. A member appointed as a member of either
of the said two bodies will be disqualified from Committee membership
if he or she shall not remain a member of either of the said two bodies.
The members of the said Committee first appointed shall serve for
terms as follows: two appointees for one-year terms; two appointees
for two-year terms and one appointee for a three-year term. Thereafter,
all appointments shall be for terms of three years, and vacancies
shall be filled for the unexpired term only. The members shall serve
until their respective successors are appointed and qualified. The
members of the Committee shall receive no compensation for their services.
A majority of the members shall be actively engaged in farming and
shall own a portion of the land that they farm. The Committee shall
annually select from among its members a Chairman and such other officers
as it may deem necessary. Said Committee may establish rules of order
and meet at least quarterly and from time to time as its rules of
order might provide. The Agricultural Advisory Committee shall report
to the Planning Board.
[Ord. #1858, 3-14-2006, amended]
b.
Alternate Members.
1.
The Committee shall also include two alternate members
who shall be residents of the Township of Bernards and who shall be
appointed by the Township Committee. The two alternate members first
appointed shall serve for terms as follows:
2.
Thereafter, all alternate members shall serve for
a term of three years, and alternate members shall serve until their
respective successors shall be appointed. Vacancies shall be filled
for the unexpired term only of such alternate member. The alternate
members shall be designated at the time of their appointment as "alternate
number 1" and "alternate number 2."
3.
Alternate members 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
number 1 shall vote first.
c.
Liaisons. The Agricultural Advisory Committee shall
maintain as liaisons the Township Engineer, a professional planner,
a member of the Somerset County Agriculture Development Board, a member
of the Rutgers University Cooperative Extension and a Township Committee
member. Any member of the Township Committee appointed as liaison
to the Agricultural Advisory Committee shall no longer be eligible
to serve as such liaison upon expiration of his term of office on
the Township Committee, and another member of the Township Committee
shall thereafter be appointed to serve in such liaison position. The
Agricultural Advisory Committee shall establish other liaison positions
as deemed appropriate, such as Jersey Fresh, other state agencies
and publications to promote local farms, products and services.
[Ord. #1858, 3-14-2006, amended]
d.
Responsibilities of Committee. The responsibilities
of the Committee shall be as follows:
1.
To become fully aware of all land in Bernards currently
used for agricultural and/or related purposes and compile, update
and maintain an inventory of those lands.
2.
To recommend planning and implementation of a Farmland
Preservation Plan element to the Planning Board and make recommendations
as to land use policies regarding farming and farm land preservation
to the Township Committee.
3.
To analyze how the Township Committee can best protect
the continuance of the aforesaid uses while acting as an advocate
for farming and farm preservation within the Township.
4.
To determine existing issues facing farmers and those
in related endeavors in the Township of Bernards and to recommend
reasonable and desirable solutions to the Township Committee.
5.
To determine future issues which will face farmers
and those related to farming in the Township of Bernards and to recommend
reasonable and desirable solutions to the Township Committee.
6.
To encourage existing farmers to continue in active
agricultural operation.
7.
To communicate with Township farmers that the Agricultural
Advisory Committee exist and can offer direction and assistance in
many cases.
8.
To assist in continuing the sustainable use of economically
viable farmland for agricultural production by making the flow of
information from the local, county and state and federal branches
readily accessible and to offer technical assistance where possible.
9.
To provide education were possible to farmers for
the purposes of farming and meeting the challenges the industry faces.
10.
To help preserve large, contiguous and economically
viable tracts of agricultural land.
11.
To assist in minimizing conflicts between agricultural
uses and adjacent and nearby agricultural, natural resource based,
rural, residential and commercial activities.
12.
To promote compliance with the Farmland Assessment
Tax program.
13.
To encourage and assist applications to farmland preservation
programs.
14.
To encourage appropriate conservation strategies and
agricultural activities.
15.
To formulate strategies and objectives with regard
to any present or future local, county, state or federal farmland
regulations.
16.
To promote interest in Township children in 4-H and
other related agricultural activities.
17.
To recommend to the Township Committee reasonable
and desirable changes to this listing of responsibilities.
18.
To make an annual report to the Township Committee
setting forth and detailing the activities and operations of the Board
Committee during the preceding year.
19.
To accomplish any other tasks referred to it by the
Township Committee having to do with agricultural related activities.
20.
Promote local farming through municipal avenues, such
as web sites, municipal cable channel, guidebooks, community events,
schools, etc.
e.
Cooperation with Committee. The Committee in performing
its aforesaid responsibilities shall receive from all officials, employees,
consultants and all authorized boards, departments and offices of
the Township of Bernards such assistance as may be necessary.
f.
Powers of Committee. The Committee's powers relative
to regulation of any activity are specifically limited to its making
recommendations to the Township Committee as to its adoption of the
same.
