The preservation and improvement of the quality
of the natural and man-made environment within the Town of Wawarsing,
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 Wawarsing. 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 Wawarsing 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 Wawarsing hereby
creates a commission which shall be known as the "Town of Wawarsing
Commission for Conservation of the Environment," hereinafter called
the "Commission."
[Amended 7-19-2012 by L.L. No. 7-2012; 3-7-2019 by L.L. No. 1-2019]
A. The Commission shall consist of nine members, of which eight shall
be appointed by the Town Board and shall serve at the pleasure of
the Town Board and the ninth shall be an ex-officio member as provided
herein. Persons residing within the Town of Wawarsing 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.
B. The Town Supervisor or other council person as designated by the
Supervisor of the Town of Wawarsing shall be the ex-officio member
of the Commission and shall have all the rights and privileges of
the other members.
C. The eight appointed members of the Commission shall serve staggered
terms as designed by the Town Board. Members shall serve four-year
staggered terms with two terms expiring each year.
The Town Board 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 §
11-6.
The powers and duties of the Commission 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 of Wawarsing insofar as beauty, quality, biologic integrity
and other environmental factors are concerned 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 of Wawarsing.
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 Wawarsing 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 Town of Wawarsing
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. 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 Wawarsing 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 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 Town Board of
the Town of Wawarsing, accept by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise
property, both real and personal, in the name of the Town of Wawarsing,
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 Wawarsing. 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 Town Board.
The Commission shall submit an annual report
to the Town Board 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 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 Town of Wawarsing 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.