[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Clarence 3-8-1972
by resolution. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 7-22-1992 by L.L. No. 1-1992]
The Town Board of Clarence shall and it hereby does create a Conservation
Advisory Council, hereafter called the "Council," for conservation of the
environment and natural resources of the Town, which Council shall consist
of nine members appointed by the Town Board who shall serve at the pleasure
of said Board; and the first three members appointed shall hold office for
terms of one year, the second three for terms of two years and the third three
for terms of three years, and the successors of all nine initial appointees
shall be appointed for full terms of two years.
The Supervisor, the Chairman of the Planning Board and the Parks Superintendent
shall be ex officio members of the Council.
Said Council shall enjoy the following rights, privileges and prerogatives
and shall perform and fulfill the following duties. It shall:
A.
Select a recording secretary and officers other than
Chairman, adopt rules and procedures for meetings, keep accurate records of
meetings and activities and file an annual report as provided hereinafter
in this chapter.
B.
Advise the Town Board on matters affecting the preservation,
development and use of the natural and man-made features and conditions of
the Town of Clarence insofar as beauty, quality, biologic integrity and other
environmental factors are concerned and, in the case of man's activities and
developments, with regard to any major threats posed to environmental quality,
so as to enhance the long-range value of the environment to the people of
the Town.
C.
Develop and, after receiving general approval by resolution
of the Town Board, conduct a program of public information in the community
which shall be designed to foster increased understanding of the nature of
environmental problems and issues and support for their solutions.
D.
Conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the natural
and man-made features within the Town of Clarence and such other studies and
surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purposes of this chapter.
E.
Maintain an up-to-date inventory or index of all open
spaces in public or private ownership within the municipality, including but
not limited to natural landmarks; glacial and other geomorphic or physiographic
features; streams and their floodplains, swamps, marshlands and other wetlands;
unique biotic communities; and scenic and other open areas of natural or ecological
value, and of the ownership, present use and proposed use of such open areas,
so as to provide a base of information for recommendations by the Council
for their preservation and/or use.
[Amended 7-22-1992 by L.L. No. 1-1992]
F.
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private
groups, institutions and individuals within the Town of Clarence in accord
with the purposes of this chapter.
G.
Maintain liaison and communications with public and private
agencies and organizations of local, state and national scope whose programs
and activities have an impact on the quality of the environment or who can
be of assistance to the Council.
[Amended 7-22-1992 by L.L. No. 1-1992]
H.
Working in cooperation with the Planning Board, recommend
from time to time to the Town Board features, plans and programs relating
to environmental improvement for inclusion in the Master Plan of the Town
of Clarence and, similarly, recommend to said Town Board appropriate and desirable
changes in existing local laws and ordinances relating to environmental control
or recommend new local laws and ordinances.
I.
Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts and
pamphlets in accord with the purposes of this chapter.
J.
Obtain and maintain in orderly fashion maps, reports,
books and other publications to support the necessary researches of the Council
into local environmental conditions.
K.
Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from time
to time by the Town Board.
L.
Submit the annual report hereinabove referred to not
later than the first day of April of each year, concerning the activities
and work of the Council, and from time to time submit such reports and recommendations
as may be necessary to fulfill the purposes of this chapter.
The members of the Council, including ex officio members, shall receive
no compensation for their services as members thereof but may be reimbursed
for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their
duties within the appropriations made available therefor.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the Town of
Clarence to preserve and improve the quality of the natural and man-made environment
on behalf of the present and future inhabitants thereof and is not intended
and shall not be deemed to impair the powers of any other public corporation.
