[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City
of Beacon 5-19-1986 by L.L. No. 4-1986; amended in its entirety 5-19-2014 by L.L. No. 7-2014. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The preservation and the improvement of the quality of the natural
and man-made environment within the City of Beacon, 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 City of Beacon. 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 and quality of our life experience cannot be protected
without the full cooperation and participation of all people of the
City working in partnership with local and state officials and with
various public and private institutions, agencies and organizations.
Establishment of a Conservation Committee is a necessary step in fostering
unified action on environmental problems.
The City Council of the City of Beacon hereby creates a committee
which shall be known as the "City of Beacon Conservation Advisory
Committee," hereinafter called "the Committee."
The Committee shall consist of nine members who shall be appointed
by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the City Council. All
appointees shall serve two-year terms. Persons residing within the
City of Beacon who are interested in the improvement and preservation
of the environmental quality shall be eligible for appointment as
members of the Committee. The Mayor may appoint not more than two
persons between the ages of 16 and 21 years to the Committee. Vacancies
on the Committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment, except that a vacancy occurring other than by the expiration
of a member's term of office shall be filled only for the remainder
of the unexpired term.
The Mayor shall designate a member of the Committee to act as Chairman thereof. At the first meeting of the Committee, its members shall elect from among themselves a Recording Secretary. The Committee 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 § 17-6 of this chapter.
The Conservation Advisory Committee shall:
A.
Advise
the City Council on matters affecting the preservation, development
and use of the natural and man-made features and conditions of the
City insofar as quality, biologic integrity, beauty and other environmental
factors are concerned. In the case of man's activities and developments,
the Conservation Advisory Committee shall advise on any major threats
posed to environmental quality, so as to enhance the long-range value
of the environment to the people of the City.
B.
Develop
and, after receiving general approval by resolution of the City Council,
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
and maintain an inventory of the natural resources within the City
of Beacon.
D.
Maintain
an up-to-date index of all open spaces as defined in § 239-y
of the General Municipal Law, in public or private ownership within
the municipality, including but not limited to natural landmarks,
glacial and other geometric or physiographic features; streams and
their floodplains, swamps, marshlands and other wetlands; unique biotic
communities; and scenic and open areas of natural or ecological value.
Such index shall include the ownership and present and proposed uses
of such open areas, so as to provide a base of information of recommendations
by the Committee for their preservation and/or use.
E.
Seek
to coordinate, assess and unify the efforts of private groups, institutions
and individuals within the City of Beacon, in accordance with the
purposes of this chapter.
F.
Maintain
liaison and communications with public and private agencies and organizations
whose programs and activities have an impact on the quality of the
environment or who can be of assistance to the Committee.
G.
Work
in cooperation with the Planning Board, recommend from time to time
to the City Council features, plans and programs relating to environmental
improvement for inclusion in the Master Plan of the City of Beacon,
and similarly, recommend to the City Council appropriate and desirable
changes in existing local laws and ordinances relating to environmental
and land use controls 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 an orderly fashion maps, reports, books and other
publications to support the necessary researches of the Committee
into local environmental conditions.
J.
When
authorized by resolution of the City Council of the City of Beacon,
accept by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise property, both
real and personal, in the name of the City of Beacon, as may be necessary
to conserve and otherwise properly utilize open spaces and other land
and water resources within the boundaries of the City of Beacon. 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.
Encourage
and promote the preservation, conservation and development of the
historic, recreational and natural resources of the riverfront area
of the City of Beacon and the full development of the recreational,
commercial and other resources which are vital to the continued progress
of the City of Beacon.
L.
Make
recommendations to the City Council regarding the consistency of land
development and use in the areas governed by the Local Waterfront
Revitalization Plan.
M.
Carry
out such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the
City Council.
The Committee shall keep accurate records of its meetings and
actions and shall submit an annual report to the City Council not
later than the 31st day of December of each year, concerning the activities
and work of the Committee. From time to time, the Committee shall
submit such reports and recommendations as may be necessary to fulfill
the purpose of this chapter.
The members of the Committee shall not receive any 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
City of Beacon 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.
The Chairman of the Committee may submit a written request to
the City Council requesting that it remove any member of the Committee.
The City Council shall remove the Committee member, following a public
hearing, upon a finding that such removal is for cause. Such public
hearing shall be held on not less than 20 days' written notice
to the Committee and the affected Committee member. At the public
hearing, the City Council shall hear all members of the Committee
and the public wishing to be heard on the reasons why the affected
Committee member should or should not be removed.
