[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Alden 9-11-1972 (Ch. 8 of the 1981 Code). Amendments
noted where applicable.]
The Town Board and Town Supervisor of the Town of Alden hereby
create a commission which shall be known as the "Town of Alden Commission
for Conservation of the Environment," hereinafter called the "Commission."
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural
and man-made environment within the Town and Village of Alden, in
the face of population growth, urbanization and technological 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 and require forthright
action by the governing body of the Town of Alden. It is recognized
that the biologic integrity of the natural environment of 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 of the people of the Town of Alden, working in partnership
with local and state officials and with various public and private
institutions, agencies and organizations. Establishment of the Commission
for Conservation of the Environment is a necessary step in fostering
unified action on environmental problems.
A.
The Commission shall consist of five members. The members shall be
appointed by the Town Board and the Town Supervisor and shall serve
at the pleasure of the Town Board, and the remainder shall be ex officio
members as provided herein. Persons residing within the Town of Alden
who are interested in the improvement and preservation of environmental
quality shall be eligible for appointment as members of the Commission.
Vacancies on the Commission 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.[1]
B.
The Town Board and Town Supervisor, the Chairman of the Planning
Board, Commissioner of Public Works, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation,
Town Attorney and other officials that may be hereafter designated
by the Town Board and Town Supervisor shall be ex officio members
of the Commission.
The Town Board and Town Supervisor shall designate a member
of the Commission to act as Chairman thereof. At the first meeting
of the Commission, its members shall elect from among themselves a
recording secretary. The Commission shall adopt rules and procedures
for its meetings. It shall keep accurate records of its meetings and
activities and shall file an annual report as provided in this resolution.
The powers and duties of the Commission shall be to:
A.
Advise the Town Board and the Town Supervisor on matters affecting
the preservation, development and use of the natural and man-made
features and conditions of the Town of Alden, 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 of the people of the Town
of Alden.
B.
Develop and, after receiving general approval by resolution of the
Town Board and Town Supervisor, 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 Town of Alden and such other studies and surveys
as may be necessary to carry out the general purpose of this resolution.
D.
Maintain an up-to-date inventory or index of all open spaces in public
and 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 Commission for their preservation and/or
use.
E.
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private groups,
institutions and individuals within the Town of Alden in accord with
the purposes of this resolution.
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 Commission.
G.
Working in cooperation with the Planning Board, recommend from time
to time to the Town Board and the Town Supervisor features, plans
and programs relating to environmental improvement for inclusion in
the Master Plan of the Town of Alden and, similarly, recommend to
the Town Board and the Town Supervisor appropriate and desirable changes
in existing local laws and ordinances relating to environmental control
or recommend new local laws and ordinances.
H.
The Commission shall have all of the powers which are allowed and
specified under the laws of the State of New York.
I.
When authorized by resolution of the Town Board and the Town Supervisor
of the Town of Alden, the Commission may accept by gift, grant, devise,
bequest or otherwise, property, both real and personal, in the name
of the Town of Alden, as may be necessary to conserve and otherwise
properly utilize open spaces and other land and water resources within
the boundaries of the Town of Alden. Such real property may be accepted
in fee for land and water rights, or as any lesser interest, development,
rights, easement, including conservation easement, covenant or other
contractual right, including conveyance with limitations or reversions.
J.
Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from time to time
by the Town Board and Town Supervisor.
K.
Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts and pamphlets in
accord with the purposes of this resolution.
L.
Obtain and maintain in orderly fashion, books and other publications
to support the necessary researches of the Commission into local environmental
conditions.
The Commission shall submit an annual report to the Town Board
and the Town Supervisor not later than the first day of April of each
year concerning the activities and work of the Commission, and from
time to time shall submit such reports and recommendations as may
be necessary to fulfill the purposes of this resolution.
The members of the Commission, 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 appropriation made available
therefor.
