State of New Jersey
Executive Order #40

Governor Christine Todd Whitman

WHEREAS, on May 27, 1986, by Executive Order No. 138, the Governor's Council on New Jersey Outdoors was created to continue the work of New Jersey's Conference on Recreational Resources; and

WHEREAS, on October 18, 1988, by Executive Order No. 1196, the Governor's Council on New Jersey Outdoors was established as a permanent body consistent with the recommendations of citizens made during the Council's public hearing process; and

WHEREAS, the study and identification of the open space and recreational needs of the State continues to be an essential part of the planning process to meet these needs; and

WHEREAS, in particular, the study and identification of current and future sources of funding, with special emphasis on identifying stable sources of funding for the future, is an area requiring the immediate attention of the Council and the State in order to ensure that the State's open space and recreational needs are met in the most effective and efficient means possible;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1. The Council known as the Governor's Council on New Jersey Outdoors (hereinafter referred to as the "Council") is hereby continued to consist of nineteen (19) members to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

2. The makeup of the Council shall be as follows:

a. one (1) representative shall be from an urban municipality;

b. one (1) representative who serves in government at the county level;

c. one (1) representative from the New Jersey Recreation and Parks Association;

d. two (2) public members;

e. four (4) members of the Legislature: two Senators, one of each political party; and two Assemblypersons, one of each political party, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly;

f. ten (10) representatives of the various civic and social organizations, including representatives with a background in finance, business and industry, health and medicine, arts and culture, the environment, coastal issues, handicapped affairs, and recreational sports.

3. All members shall serve, without compensation, at the pleasure of the Governor. Council vacancies shall be filled by the Governor as necessary.

4. The Governor shall select from among the members of the Council a Chairperson and two Vice-Chairpersons, who shall have all the powers and duties of the Chairperson.

5. The Council shall be empowered to conduct public hearings and to accept public testimony to continue with its work, particularly to study the current and future open space, urban recreation, recreation, and natural resource preservation needs of the citizens of the State of New Jersey, and to study current and future sources of funding to meet these needs, with particular emphasis on identifying stable sources of funding for the future.

6. The Council shall prepare and submit to the Governor findings and recommendations it deems necessary for providing high quality open space and recreation resources for the citizens of the State of New Jersey and, in particular, as soon as is practicable, and in no case later than fifteen (15) months after the effective date of this Order, the Council shall prepare and submit a report evaluating current sources of funding and providing findings and recommendations on future sources of funding, with special emphasis on identifying stable sources of funding.

7. The Council is authorized to call upon any department, office, division, or agency of this State to supply it with the data and other information, personnel or assistance it deems necessary to discharge its duties under this Order. Each department, office, division or agency is hereby directed, to the extent not inconsistent with law, to cooperate with the Council and to furnish it with such information, personnel, and assistance as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Order.

8. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal,
this 3rd day of August in the Year
of Our Lord; one thousand nine
hundred and ninety-five, and of the
Independence of the United States,
the two hundred and nineteenth.

/s/ Christine Todd Whitman
Governor

Attest:

/s/ Margaret M. Foti
Chief Counsel to the Governor