There shall be a planning board to be known as "The Hopewell Township Planning Board."

There shall be nine members, consisting of the four following classes:

Class I. Mayor, or the Mayor's designee in the absence of the Mayor.

Class II. One of the officials of the township other than a member of the township committee to be appointed by the mayor provided that the member of the environmental commission who is also a member of the planning board shall be deemed to be the Class II planning board member for purposes of this section in the event that there be among the Class IV members of the planning board both a member of the zoning board of adjustment and a member of the board of education.

Class III. A member of the township committee to be appointed by it.

Class IV. Six other citizens of the township to be appointed by the mayor.

The members of Class IV shall hold no other municipal office, except that one such member may be a member of the zoning board of adjustment and one Class IV member may be a member of the board of education. The member of the environmental commission who is also a member of the planning board shall be a Class IV planning board member, unless there be among the Class IV members of the planning board both a member of the zoning board of adjustment and a member of the board of education, in which case the member common to the planning board and the environmental commission shall be deemed a Class II member of the planning board.

Class IV-a. Two other citizens of the township shall be appointed by the mayor as alternate members and shall meet the qualifications of Class IV members. Alternate members shall be designated at the time of appointment by the mayor as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2." The terms of the alternate members shall be for two years except that the terms of the alternate members shall be such that the term of not more than one alternate member shall expire in any one year; provided, however, that in no instance shall the terms of the alternate members first appointed exceed two years. A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled by the mayor for the unexpired term only.

No alternate member shall be permitted to act on any matter in which he has either directly or indirectly any personal or financial interest. An alternate member may, after public hearing if he requests one, be removed by the governing body for cause.

Alternate members may participate in discussions of the proceedings but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member of any class. 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 No. 1 shall vote.

The term of the member composing Class I shall correspond to the Mayor's official tenure or if the member is the Mayor's designee in the absence of the mayor, the designee shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor during the Mayor's official tenure. The terms of the members composing Class II and Class III shall be for one year or terminate at the completion of their respective terms of office, whichever occurs first except for a Class II member who is also a member of the environmental commission. The term of a Class II or Class IV member who is also a member of the environmental commission shall be for three years or terminate at the completion of his term of office as a member of the environmental commission, whichever occurs first.

The term of a Class IV member who is also a member of the zoning board of adjustment or the board of education shall terminate whenever he is no longer a member of such other body or at the completion of his Class IV term, whichever occurs first. The initial term of Class IV members first appointed after August 1, 1976, shall be so determined that to the greatest practicable extent the expiration of terms of the Class IV members shall be distributed evenly over the first four years after their appointment provided that the initial Class IV term of no member shall exceed four years. Thereafter, new members or members reappointed shall each be appointed for a term of four years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each person who was a member of the planning board on August 1, 1976, shall continue in office until the completion of his term as provided by law immediately prior to that date.

The planning board shall, as provided in applicable ordinances and State law, exercise its power in regard to:

The planning board shall annually elect a chairman and a vice-chairman from the members of Class IV and select a secretary and an assistant secretary who may or may not be a member of the planning board or a municipal employee. The planning board may employ or contract for and fix the compensation of legal counsel, other than the township attorney, and experts and a staff, and pay for their services and for such other expenses as may be necessary and proper, not exceeding, in all, exclusive of gifts, the amount appropriated by the township committee for its use.

The chairman of the planning board may appoint a subdivision and site plan committee consisting of at least three members of the planning board. This committee shall have the power to approve minor subdivisions by unanimous vote of those voting. It shall generally review and report to the board on major subdivisions and site plans.

The planning board shall adopt, and may amend, reasonable rules and regulations, not inconsistent with any applicable ordinance or other legal requirement, for the administration of its functions, powers and duties. It shall furnish a copy thereof to any person upon request and may charge a reasonable fee for such copy. Copies of all such rules and regulations and amendments thereto shall be maintained in the office of the township administrator.

No member of the planning board shall be permitted to act on any matter in which he has, either directly or indirectly, any personal or financial interest.

Every application or appeal submitted to the planning board shall be accompanied by proof that no taxes are due or delinquent on the property which is the subject of such application in order that formal action can be taken with regard to the application or appeal.

The chairman may appoint an application review committee which shall be advisory in nature and comprised of two members of the planning board and two alternates who shall serve in their absence, planning board attorney and engineer, a representative of the township health department, the administrative officer, and a member of the board of adjustment, when said board refers an application to the committee for review. The purpose of the committee shall be to review all applications for development including but not limited to minor and major subdivisions and site plans to determine the completeness of each application and to perform such other duties which may be conferred on this committee by the board.