The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural
and man-made environment within the Town of Elma 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 this Town
Board. It is recognized that the biologic integrity of the 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 of 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 Conservation Board
is a necessary step fostering unified action on environmental problems.
The Town Board of the Town of Elma hereby creates a board which
shall be known as the "Town of Elma Conservation Board," hereinafter
called the "Board."
All members shall be appointed for terms of seven years.
The powers and duties of the Board 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 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 Elma 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 Town Elma, 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 Board 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 Elma in accordance with the purpose
of this chapter.
F. Maintain
liaison 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
Board.
G. Working
in cooperation with the Town Planning Board, recommending 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 Elma and, similarly, recommend to the Town Board appropriate
and desirable changes in local laws and ordinances relating to environmental
control.
H. Carry
out such other duties as may be assigned from time by the Town Board.
The Board shall submit an annual report to the Town Board not
later than the first day of June of each year concerning the activities
and work of the Board and from time to time shall submit such reports
and recommendations as may be necessary to fulfill the purposes of
this chapter.
The reasonable and necessary expense of the Board shall not
exceed the appropriations that may be made therefor by the Town Board.
The charges and expenses so permitted by appropriation of the Town
Board for such Board shall be a charge upon the taxable property of
that part of the Town of Elma outside of the Incorporated Town of
Elma and shall be assessed, levied and collected therefrom in the
same manner as other Town charges.
To assist the Board in carrying out its functions, powers and
duties, it may request the New York State Department of Conservation
to provide research and other technical assistance, in accordance
with the provisions of § 239-x of the General Municipal
Law of the State of New York.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the
Town of Elma 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.