[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Perinton 8-12-1976 as Ch. 18 of the 1976 Code. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall hereafter be known as the
"Environmental Conservation Board Law of the Town of Perinton."
[1]
Editor's Note: Pursuant to § 239-y
of the General Municipal Law, as added by Chapter 1157 of the Laws
of 1971, the Environmental Conservation Commission was changed to
the Environmental Conservation Board by resolution of the Town Board
on June 8, 1972.
This chapter shall apply to the entire area
of the Town of Perinton, excluding those areas within the corporate
limits of the Villages of East Rochester and Fairport.
The preservation and improvement of the quality
of the natural and man-made environment within the Town of Perinton,
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 Town of Perinton. 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 the people of the Town of Perinton working in partnership with
local and state officials and with various public and private institutions,
agencies and organizations. Establishment of a board for conservation
of the environment is a necessary step in fostering unified action
on environmental problems.
The Town Board of the Town of Perinton hereby
creates a board which shall be known as the "Perinton Board for Conservation
of the Environment," hereinafter called the "Board."
[Amended 10-14-2020 by L.L. No. 5-2020]
A.
The Board shall consist of seven members who shall
be appointed by the Town Board and who shall serve at the pleasure
of the Town Board. Persons residing within the Town of Perinton who
are interested in the improvement and preservation of environmental
quality shall be eligible for appointment as a member of the Board.
Appointees shall serve for a term of two years. Vacancies on the Board
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment except
that a vacancy occurring other than by the expiration of a term of
office shall be filled only for the remainder of the unexpired term.
B.
The Supervisor, Chairman of the Planning Board, Chairman
of Parks and Recreation and other officials that may be hereafter
designated by the Town Board shall be ex officio members of the Board.
The Town Board shall designate a member of the Environmental Conservation Board to act as Chairman thereof. At the first meeting of the Board its members shall elect from among themselves a Recording Secretary. The Board shall adopt rules and procedures for its meetings. It shall keep adequate records of its meetings and activities and shall file an annual report as provided in § 16-8 of this chapter.
The powers and duties of the Board shall be
to:
A.
Advise the Town Board, Planning Board and Recreation
Commission on matters affecting the preservation, development and
use of the natural and man-made features and conditions of the Town
of Perinton 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 of Perinton.
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 Perinton 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 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 Perinton
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 Board.
G.
Working in cooperation with the Planning Board and
Recreation Commission, recommend from time to time to the Town Board
features, plans and programs relating to environmental improvement
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 Board into local environmental conditions.
J.
When authorized by resolution of the Town Board of
the Town of Perinton, accept by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise,
property, both real and personal, in the name of the Town of Perinton,
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 Perinton. 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 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 chapter.
The members of the Board, 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 Perinton 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.
