See
executive orders #90, #93,
and #111 Whitman.
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE ON THE
PRESERVATION AND USE OF ELLIS ISLAND
WHEREAS, Ellis
Island, New Jersey has played a singularly important role in the
history of the United States and the State of New Jersey as an immigration
station to which millions of Americans and New Jersey residents
can trace their roots;
WHEREAS, the
historic significance of Ellis Island, New Jersey was acknowledged
by the United States when the Island was designated as part of the
Statute of Liberty/Ellis Island National Monument and placed under
the operation supervision of the National Parks Service;
WHEREAS, the
structures presently existing on the Island are a significant part
of the rich history of Ellis Island, New Jersey;
WHEREAS, some
of the structures on Ellis Island, including the Main Building,
have been maintained and restored successfully through private and
public efforts and placed to beneficial use as an immigration museum
and administrative offices;
WHEREAS, the
Supreme Court of the United States in an opinion dated May 26, 1998
recognized and acknowledged New Jersey's sovereignty and governmental
control over a substantial portion of Ellis Island, as defined in
the Court's opinion;
WHEREAS, many
of the structures on the portion of Ellis Island that is within
New Jersey's territory are presently in a state of disrepair and
disuse;
WHEREAS, the
State of New Jersey seeks to cooperate with, consult, and assist
the National Parks Service in determining the most beneficial future
use of the structures on Ellis Island, New Jersey and in selecting
alternatives for maintaining and restoring said structures;
WHEREAS, the
citizens of the State of New Jersey, as well as the citizens of
the United States, would benefit from the maintenance, restoration,
and beneficial use of the structures on Ellis Island, New Jersey;
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 creation
of the Advisory Committee on the Preservation and Use of Ellis
Island (the "Advisory Committee").
2. The Advisory
Committee is charged with investigating all potential future uses
of the structures on Ellis Island, New Jersey, examining available
alternatives to maintain, restore, and put to beneficial use the
structures on Ellis Island, New Jersey in a manner consistent
with the historic significance of the Island, recommending to
the Governor and the State Historic Preservation Officer a plan
to maintain, restore, and put to beneficial use the structures
on Ellis Island, New Jersey and cooperating with and assisting
the State of New York and the City of New York, when appropriate,
with respect to the maintenance, restoration, and use of the structures
on the portion of Ellis Island within the State of New York.
3. The Advisory
Committee shall be composed of up to 13 members, as follows:
a. The
Attorney General or his designee; b. The State Treasurer or
his designee; c. The State Historic Preservation Officer; d.
The Secretary of State or her designee; e. The Director, Division
of Taxation or his designee; f. A Senator to be appointed by
the President of the Senate; g. An Assembly Member to be appointed
by the Speaker of the General Assembly;
h. The
Mayor of Jersey City or his designee; i. A member of the New
Jersey Congressional delegation; and j. No more than four members
of the public to be appointed by the Governor based upon professional
experience and expertise in urban planning, history, architecture
and/or historic restoration.
The Governor
shall designate a chair and vice-chair from among the members
of the Advisory Committee. The members shall serve without compensation,
but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties subject to the availability of funds
therefor.
4. The Advisory
Committee shall organize and meet as soon as possible after the
appointment of its members. The chair shall appoint a secretary
who need not be a member of the Advisory Committee. Vacancies
on the Advisory Committee shall be filled in the same manner as
the original appointment.
5. All State
departments and agencies are hereby directed, to the extent not
inconsistent with the law and within budget constraints, to cooperate
with the Advisory Committee and to respond to requests for such
information, personnel and assistance as are necessary to accomplish
the purpose of this Order.
6. This
Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN,
under my hand and seal,
this 27th day of May in the Year of
Our Lord, One Thousand Nine
Hundred and Ninety-Eight, and of the
Independence of the United States,
the Two Hundred and Twenty-Second.
/s/
Christine Todd Whitman
Governor
Attest:
/s/ John J.
Farmer, Jr.
Chief Counsel to the Governor
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