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RESOLUTION APPOINTING AND REAPPOINTING AT-LARGE PUBLIC MEMBERS TO THE PASSAIC COUNTY OPEN SPACE, FARMLAND, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRUST FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE, PURSUANT TO N.J.S.A 40:20-1
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WHEREAS, the County of Passaic (“County”) is a body politic and corporate pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:18-1 and vested with all rights contained therein; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:20-1, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Passaic (“Board”) is vested with managing the property, finances, and affairs of the County; and
WHEREAS, in the General Election of November 5, 1996, the voters of the County authorized the County to acquire land for conversation and preservation of open space and farmland, and develop and enhance parks and recreational facilities through the establishment of an Open Space and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund pursuant to Chapter 283 of the Public Laws of 1991 and Chapter 24 of the Public Laws of 1997; and
WHEREAS, the Board created an Open Space and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, and thereafter established the Passaic County Open Space, Farmland, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund Advisory Committee (“Advisory Committee”) to review and make recommendations to the Board on the disbursement of grant awards to qualified local government and nonprofit units; and
WHEREAS, on April 25, 2017, the Board approved Resolution No. R20170349, adopting a uniform body of rules and regulations governing the Open Space, Farmland, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund (“Rules”), and on December 27, 2018, the Board passed Resolution No. R20181061 amending the Rules; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 16 of the Rules establishes the membership criteria of the Advisory Committee and sets forth that the Committee shall be comprised of no more than eighteen (18) members, with thirteen (13) members appointed by the Board, and five (5) ex-officio members; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 16(1)(b), Advisory Committee members shall serve for a three (3) year term, and shall be held in a hold over status until a replacement is appointed by the Board or the member is reappointed; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 16(1)(a)(vi) - (viii), two (2) Advisory Committee members shall be from either Passaic or Paterson; two (2) members shall be from either Bloomingdale, Pompton Lakes, Ringwood, Wanaque, or West Milford; and nine (9) members shall be from any other municipality in the County; and
WHEREAS, on December 13, 2022, the Board passed Resolution No. R-22-1086, reappointing Bhupendra V. Gadhavi and Robin Canetti to the Advisory Committee as at-large public members, each for a three (3) year term beginning on January 1, 2023, and expiring on December 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the County Administrator is recommending to the Board that Robin Canetti, a resident of the Borough of Ringwood, and Bhupendra V. Gadhavi, a resident of the Township of Wayne, be reappointed as at-large public members to the Advisory Committee, each for a three (3) year term beginning retroactively on January 1, 2026 and expiring on December 31, 2028; and
WHEREAS, the County Administrator is further recommending to the Board that Paul Duerr, a resident of the Borough of Hawthorne, be appointed as an at-large public member to fill a vacant seat on the Advisory Committee, for a three (3) year term beginning retroactively on January 1, 2026, and expiring on December 31, 2028.
WHEREAS, this matter was discussed at the January 21, 2026, Administration & Finance Committee meeting, and is being recommended to the Board for approval.
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:20-1, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Passaic reappoints Robin Canetti and Bhupendra V. Gadhavi as at-large public members to the Open Space, Farmland, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund Advisory Committee, each for a three (3) year term, beginning retroactively on January 1, 2026 and expiring on December 31, 2028.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that Paul Duerr is appointed as an at-large public member to the Advisory Committee, for a three (3) year term beginning retroactively on January 1, 2026, and expiring on December 31, 2028.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to Chapter 16(2) of the Rules, any member who misses more than five (5) consecutive meetings shall be removed from the Advisory Committee, pursuant to the process set forth therein.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk to the Board, County Counsel, and Director of the Board are authorized to take any action necessary to carry out the purpose of this Resolution, including swearing-in the reappointed members to the Advisory Committee.
NB January 27, 2026