[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Colonie as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Community Center — See Ch. 69.
Parks and recreation — See Ch. 137.
[Adopted 5-25-1995 by L.L. No. 10-1995]
The maintenance of attractive and litter-free parks and green spaces is an important and desirable goal of the Town of Colonie and its citizens. Since several volunteers and groups have expressed an interest in assisting in an effort to reduce and remove litter from Town parks and other public lands, the Town Board hereby implements this policy to establish an adopt-a-park program, pursuant to § 277 of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York.
A. 
The Town of Colonie Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) will work with the Town Parks and Recreation Department to develop a standard registration form for volunteers or groups interested in participating in the adopt-a-park program.
B. 
After initial approval by the CAC and Parks and Recreation Department, the registration form is to be forwarded to the Town Board for authorization of the agreement with the volunteers or group. Such agreement will include an acknowledgment by the volunteers or group of the potentially hazardous nature of such activities and delineate the terms and conditions of participation in the program, including:
(1) 
That no work of any nature will be performed on the pavement or shoulders of any traveled way.
(2) 
The particular activities permitted by the volunteers or groups.
(3) 
That the group has responsibility for organizing and supervising all activities.
(4) 
That the group will organize and conduct a safety briefing each day that work is done in the adopted area. The Parks and Recreation Department will provide a representative to conduct the first such safety briefing, and after that a person from the group will be designated safety person to review a safety checklist and have all participants sign the safety signature sheet.
(5) 
That all participants must attend the safety briefing before participating in activities at the adopted area, and that all participants must wear safety gear deemed to be required for certain activities by the Parks and Recreation Department.
(6) 
That the Parks and Recreation Department may provide specified supplies and materials, and will provide for the disposal of collected waste from previously identified locations.
(7) 
That the group will conduct activities at a minimum of three times per year, and at a frequency that will meet the goal of maintaining attractive and litter-free parks.
(8) 
That each participant (or parent or guardian if the participant is 13 to 18 years old) will sign and date the acknowledgment of statutory limit on liability described in Subdivision 2 of § 277 of the New York General Municipal Law.
C. 
The CAC, in conjunction with the Parks and Recreation Department, will administer the participants' activities in the adopt-a-park program.
The standard registration form will include the name of the group wishing to participate in the Town's adopt-a-park program, the name and title of the group's leader and the name, address and telephone numbers of the group's adopt-a-park coordinator.
The Parks and Recreation Department in conjunction with the CAC will provide and install signs, in an appropriate area, identifying those volunteers or groups adopting a particular park or other public land, if the volunteers or group so desires, and the Parks and Recreation Department determines such sign will not create a safety problem or adversely affect the aesthetics of the park or green space.
A. 
Each day that work is done in the adopted area a designated safety person will organize and conduct a safety briefing, review the safety checklist and have participants sign the safety signature sheet. The designated safety person's sole responsibility will be to assure the safety of the volunteers and the public. The Parks and Recreation Department will provide a representative to present the safety briefing for the first meeting, and after that a designated person from the group will conduct such briefings.
B. 
All participants must attend the safety briefing before participating in the field activity, and the briefings should be held on site to ensure all participants are in attendance.
C. 
Participants must wear safety gear deemed by the Parks and Recreation Department to be required for certain activities. These may include shirts or vests and protective head or eye equipment. The group may provide its own safety equipment if approved by the Parks and Recreation Department. All safety equipment provided by the Town shall be returned by the group's designated safety person on the next business day.
D. 
As indicated in New York General Municipal Law § 277, Subdivision 2, neither the Town of Colonie nor its employees shall be held liable for damages suffered by any persons resulting from actions or activities of such volunteers or groups, notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions of law.
Any individual or group of volunteers who are interested in assisting in an effort to maintain attractive and litter-free parks and public lands in the Town of Colonie are eligible to participate. Participation in the adopt-a-park program will be generally for two-year periods, unless, in the sole judgment of either the Parks and Recreation Department or CAC, it is determined that the participating group is not meeting the terms and conditions agreed to or is engaging in unsafe activity. In the event of such a determination, the Town may terminate its agreement with the group and take such other action as it deems appropriate.
The Parks and Recreation Department, in conjunction with the CAC, shall develop a list of parks and other public lands which are available for volunteers and groups to adopt. This list may be changed from time to time and may be amended to add public lands and parks that are proposed by volunteers or their groups. Such list shall not include any public highways, streets, roads or thoroughfares under the control or jurisdiction of the Town of Colonie.