[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Moreau 6-11-1974
as L.L. No. 1-1974. Section 8-6 amended at time of adoption
of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Freshwater wetlands — See Ch. 82.
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and man-made
environment within the Town of Moreau, 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 Town of Moreau. 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 Town of Moreau
working in partnership with local and state officials and with various public
and private institutions, agencies and organizations. Establishment of a Council
for Conservation of the Environment is a necessary step in fostering unified
action on environmental problems.
The Town Board of the Town of Moreau hereby creates a Council, which
shall be known as the "Town of Moreau Conservation Advisory Council."
A.
The Council shall consist of nine members, all of whom
shall be appointed by the Town Board and who shall serve at the pleasure of
the Town Board for terms not exceeding two years.
B.
Persons residing within the Town of Moreau who are interested
in the improvement and preservation of environmental quality shall be eligible
for appointment as members of the Council.
C.
Vacancies on the Council shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointments, except that a vacancy occurring other
than by the expiration of a term of office shall be filled only for the remainder
of the unexpired term.
D.
The Town Supervisor, Town Board members, the Chairman
of the Planning Board, Town Superintendent of Highways, Town Attorney and
others that may be hereafter designated by the Town Board shall be ex officio
members of the Council.
The Town Board shall designate a member of the Council to act as Chairman thereof. At the first meeting of the Council, its members shall elect from among themselves a Recording Secretary. The Council 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 Council shall be to:
A.
Advise the Town Board on matters affecting the preservation,
development and use of the natural and man-made features and conditions of
the town 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.
B.
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.
C.
Conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the natural
and man-made features within the Town of Moreau 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 and 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 Council
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 Moreau 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 Council.
G.
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 Moreau and, similarly, recommend to the town 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 Council
into local environmental conditions.
J.
When authorized by resolution of the Town Board of the
Town of Moreau, accept, by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise, property,
both real and personal, in the name of the Town of Moreau 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 Moreau. Such real property
may be accepted in fee for land and water rights or as any lesser interest,
development right or 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 Town Board.
The Council shall submit an annual report to the Town Board not later
than the first day of December of each year concerning the activities and
work of the Council 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 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
Moreau 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.
