[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Liberty as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Planning Board — See Ch. 31.
[Adopted 2-20-2007 by L.L. No. 2-2007]
The preservation and improvement of the quality
of the natural and man-made environment within the Town of Liberty
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 Liberty. 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 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 Town Board of the Town of Liberty hereby
creates a commission, which shall be known as the "Town of Liberty
Environmental Conservation Council."
A.
The Council shall consist of five members, of which
all five shall be appointed by the Town Board and shall serve at the
pleasure of the Town Board. Persons residing within the Town of Liberty
who are interested in the improvement and preservation of environmental
quality shall be eligible for appointment as a member of the Council.
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 term of office shall be filled only for the remainder
of the unexpired term. Not more than one person in the sixteen-to-twenty-one-year-old
age group may be appointed.
B.
The Town Supervisor, the Chairman of the Planning
Board, the Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Chairman of
the Town Parks and Recreation Board and such other officials 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 § 6-6 of this article.
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 issues and support for their solutions.
C.
Conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the natural
and man-made features within the Town of Liberty and such other studies
and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purpose of
this article.
D.
Maintain an up-to-date inventory or index of all open
spaces in public or private ownership within the Town of Liberty,
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 recommendation 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 Liberty
in accord with the purposes of this article.
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, Zoning and
Town Boards, recommend from time to time to the Town Board features,
plans and programs relating to environmental improvement for inclusion
in the Comprehensive Plan of the Town of Liberty and, similarly, recommend
to the Town Board 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 article.
I.
Obtain and maintain, in an orderly fashion, maps,
reports, books and other publications to support the necessary research
of the Council into local environmental conditions.
J.
When authorized by resolution of the Town Board of
the Town of Liberty, the Council may accept, by gift, grant, devise,
bequest or otherwise, property, both real and personal, in the name
of the Town of Liberty, 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 Liberty. 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.
Purchases may be affected in accordance with the provisions of existing
laws, as applicable.
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 March 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 article.
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. The Town Board of the Town of Liberty may
appropriate funds for expenses incurred by the Council, including
but not limited to expenses for professional staff, consultants, clerical
assistance and printing and distribution of publications. The Council
shall prepare and submit an annual budget request in the manner prescribed
by the Town Board. The Town Board, upon request by the Council, also
may, from time to time and for designated purposes, assign or detail
public employees to perform work for the Council.
This article shall be deemed an exercise of
the powers of the Town of Liberty to preserve and improve the quality
of the natural and man-made environment on behalf of the present and
future inhabitants thereof. This article is not intended and shall
not be deemed to impair the powers of any other public corporation.
