The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural
and man-made environment within the Town of Pittsford, 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 Town. It is recognized that the biological 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 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 an environmental
advisory board is a necessary step in fostering unified action on
environmental problems.
There is hereby created an advisory board to be known as the
"Environmental Board."
The Environmental Board shall consist of seven members appointed
by the Town Board who shall serve at the pleasure of the Town Board.
Persons residing within the Town who are interested in the improvement
and preservation of environmental quality shall be eligible for appointment
as a member of the Board. The present members of the Conservation
Commission shall constitute the Environmental Board. Each member appointed
to said Board shall serve until December 31 of the year in which he
or she is appointed.
The Town Board shall designate a member of the Environmental
Board to act as Chairperson thereof. 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 this article.
The Environmental Board shall have the powers and duties to
do the following:
A.
Advise the Town Board and Planning 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, biological
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 and such other studies and surveys as may
be necessary to carry out the general purposes of this section.
D.
Maintain an up-to-date inventory or index of all open spaces in public
or private ownership within the Town, including but not limited to
natural landmarks and 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, in accord with the purposes
of this section.
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 Environmental Board.
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 Comprehensive Plan
of the Town 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 orderly fashion maps, reports, books and other
publications to support the necessary researches of the Board into
local environmental conditions.
J.
Recommend to the Town Board interests in land, whether fee simple
or lesser interests, including but not limited to conservation easements
and development rights, which the Town ought to consider acquiring
by gift, purchase or otherwise to further and foster the best environmental
interests of the Town and its residents.
K.
Carry out such other duties as may be assigned to it from time to
time by the Town Board.
L.
Reports. The Environmental Board 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 Board and from time to time
shall submit such reports and recommendations as may be necessary
to fulfill the purposes of this article.
