[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Camillus 8-24-1976 by L.L. No. 2-1976. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural
and man-made environment within the Village of Camillus 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 and require forthright action by
the governing body of the Village of Camillus. 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 conditions 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 commission for conservation
of the environment is a necessary step in fostering unified action
on environmental problems.
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Camillus hereby creates
a commission which shall be known as the "Camillus Commission for
Conservation of the Environment," hereinafter called the "Commission."
A.
The
Commission shall consist of seven members, all of whom shall be appointed
by the Village Board of Trustees and who shall serve at the pleasure
of said Board of Trustees, and the remaining membership shall be ex
officio members as provided herein. Persons residing within the Village
of Camillus 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.
[Amended 3-27-1979 by L.L. No.
1-1979]
B.
The
members of the Village Board of Trustees and other officials that
may be hereafter designated by said Village Board of Trustees shall
be ex officio members of the Commission.
The Village Board of Trustees 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 § 8-6 of this chapter.
The powers and duties of the Commission shall be to:
A.
Advise
the Board of Trustees on matters affecting the preservation, development
and use of the natural and man-made 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 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 Camillus 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 Commission 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 Camillus 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 Commission.
G.
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 Camillus 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.
[Amended 8-11-2011 by L.L. No. 3-2011]
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 Commission into local environmental
conditions.
J.
When
authorized by resolution of the Village Board of Trustees of the Village
of Camillus, accept, by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise,
property, both real and personal, in the name of the Village of Camillus,
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 Camillus. 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 Commission 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 Commission, and from time
to time the Commission shall submit such reports and recommendations
as may be necessary to fulfill the purposes of this chapter.
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 appropriations made
available therefor.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the
Village of Camillus 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.
