[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Asharoken 1-4-1971
byL.L. No. 1-1971; amended in its entirety at time of adoption
of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Subsequent amendments noted
where applicable.]
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and man-made
environment within the Village of Asharoken in the face of population growth,
urbanization and technologic change, with their accompanying demands on natural
resources, are found to be of increasing and vital importance to the health,
welfare and economic well-being of present and future inhabitants of the Village
of Asharoken. It is recognized that the biologic integrity of the natural
environment on which man is dependent for survival and the natural and functional
beauty of our surroundings which condition the quality of our life experience
cannot be protected without the full cooperation and participation of all
the people of the village working in partnership with local and state officials
and with various public and private institutions, agencies and organizations.
Establishment of a board for conservation of the environment is a necessary
step in fostering unified action on environmental problems.
The Village Board of Trustees of the Village of Asharoken hereby creates
a Board which shall be known as the "Asharoken Village Board for Conservation
of the Environment," hereinafter called the "Board."
A.
The Board shall consist of five members who shall be
appointed by the Village Board of Trustees and who shall serve for a term
of two years, and the remainder shall be ex-officio members as provided herein.
Persons residing within the Village of Asharoken who are interested in the
improvement and preservation of environmental quality shall be eligible for
appointment as members of the Board. Vacancies on the Board shall be filled
in the same manner as the original appointment, except that a vacancy occurring
other than by the expiration of term of office shall be filled only for the
remainder of the unexpired term.
B.
The Village Board of Trustees, the Chairman of the Planning
Board, Superintendent of Buildings, Commissioner of Roads, Village Attorney
and other officials that may be hereafter designated by the Village Board
of Trustees shall be ex officio members of the Board.
A.
The Village Board of Trustees shall designate a member
of the Board to act as Chairman thereof. At the first meeting of the Board,
its members shall elect from among themselves a Recording Secretary.
The powers and duties of the Board, subject to § 14-7 hereof, shall be to:
A.
Advise the Village Board of Trustees on matters affecting
the preservation, development and use of the natural and manmade features
and conditions of the village 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 village.
B.
Develop and, after receiving general approval by resolution
of the Village Board of Trustees, 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.
C.
Conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the natural
and man-made features within the Village of Asharoken and such other studies
and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purposes of this
chapter.
D.
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; 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 Board for
their preservation and/or use.
E.
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private
groups, institutions and individuals within the Village of Asharoken in accord
with the purposes of this chapter.
F.
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 Board.
G.
Working in cooperation with the Planning Board, recommend
from time to time to the Village Board of Trustees features, plans and programs
relating to environmental improvement for inclusion in the Master Plan of
the Village of Asharoken and, similarly, recommend to the Village Board of
Trustees appropriate and desirable changes in existing local laws and ordinances
relating to environmental control or recommend new local laws and ordinances.
H.
Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts and
pamphlets in accord with the purposes of this chapter.
I.
Obtain and maintain in orderly fashion maps, reports,
books and other publications to support the necessary researches of the Board
into local environmental conditions.
J.
When authorized by resolution of the Village Board of
Trustees of the Village of Asharoken, accept, by gift, grant, devise, bequest
or otherwise, property, both real and personal, in the name of the Village
of Asharoken as may be necessary to conserve and otherwise properly utilize
open spaces and other land and water resources within the boundaries of the
Village of Asharoken. Such real property may be accepted in fee for land and
water rights or as any lesser interest, development right, easement, including
conservation easement, covenant or other contractual right, including conveyance
with limitations or reversions.
K.
Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from time
to time by the Village Board of Trustees.
The Board shall submit an annual report to the Village Board of Trustees,
not later than the first day of April of each year, concerning the activities
and work of the Board and from time to time shall submit such reports and
recommendations as may be necessary to fulfill the purposes of this chapter.
The members of the Board, 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. No obligations or
expenses for the account of the village shall be incurred by the members of
the Board without the approval of the Village Board of Trustees.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the Village
of Asharoken to preserve and improve the quality of the natural and man-made
environment on behalf of the present and future inhabitants thereof. This
chapter is not intended and shall not be deemed to impair the powers of any
other public corporation.
