13:18A-5. Members; appointment; qualifications; terms of office; vacancies; removal; oath; reimbursement of expenses; vote necessary; chairman; executive director; veto by Governor

a. The commission shall consist of 15 members to be appointed and qualified as follows:

(1) Seven residents of the State, appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, except as otherwise provided herein;

(2) Seven residents of the State, one resident each of the counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean, appointed by the board of chosen freeholders of each such county; provided, however, that in any county operating under the county executive plan or county supervisor plan pursuant to the provisions of the "Optional County Charter Law," P.L.1972, c. 154 (C. 40:41A-1 et seq.), such appointment shall be made by the county executive or the county supervisor, as the case may be;

(3) One member to be appointed by the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior.

Any appointments made prior to the effective date of this act by the Governor or by any of the respective counties to the planning entity established pursuant to the Federal Act shall be considered appointments made to the commission, and no such gubernatorial appointment shall be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

b. Commission members shall serve for terms of 3 years; provided, however, that of the first members appointed by the Governor, two shall serve 3 year terms, two shall serve 2 year terms and three shall serve 1 year terms; and provided further, however, that of the first members appointed by the respective counties, such members appointed from Atlantic and Burlington counties shall serve 1 year terms, such members appointed from Camden and Cape May counties shall serve 2 year terms, and such members appointed from Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties shall serve 3 year terms. Each member shall serve for the term of his appointment and until his successor shall have been appointed and qualified. Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired term only. The membership of the entire commission shall include residents of the pinelands area who represent economic activities, such as agriculture, in the area, as well as residents of the State who represent conservation interests.

c. Any member of the commission may be removed by the appointing authority, for cause, after a public hearing.

d. Each member of the commission, before entering upon his duties, shall take and subscribe an oath to perform the duties of his office faithfully, impartially, and justly to the best of his ability. A record of such oaths shall be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State.

e. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but the commission may, within the limits or funds appropriated or otherwise made available for such purposes, reimburse its members for necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their official duties.

f. The powers of the commission shall be vested in the members thereof in office, and a majority of the total authorized membership of the commission shall be required to exercise its powers at any meeting thereof. No alternate or designee of any commission member shall exercise any power to vote on any matter pending before the commission.

g. The Governor shall designate one of the members of the commission as chairman. The commission shall appoint an executive director, who shall be the chief administrative officer thereof. The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the commission, and shall be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of his office.

h. A true copy of the minutes of every meeting of the commission shall be prepared and forthwith delivered to the Governor. No action taken at such meeting by the commission shall have force or effect until 10 days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, after such copy of the minutes shall have been so delivered; provided, however, that no action taken with respect to the adoption of the comprehensive management plan, or any portion thereof, shall have force or effect until 30 days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, after such copy of the minutes shall have been so delivered. If, in said 10-day period, or 30-day period, as the case may be, the Governor returns such copy of the minutes with a veto of any action taken by the commission at such meeting, such action shall be null and void and of no force and effect.

L.1979, c. 111, s. 5, eff. June 28, 1979. Amended by L.1980, c. 65, s. 1, eff. July 10, 1980.