[Adopted 7-18-1973 by L.L. No. 3-1973;
amended in its entirety 3-19-2003 by L.L. No. 4-2003]
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and man-made
environment within the Town of Union, in the face of 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 Union. 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 and issues.
The Town Board of the Town of Union hereby creates a conservation advisory
council, which shall be known as the "Conservation Advisory Council" hereinafter
called the "Council."
The Council shall consist of nine 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 Union who are interested in the improvement and
preservation of environmental quality shall be eligible for appointment as
members of the Council. The first four members appointed shall hold office
for a term of one year, the second five for a term of two years, and the successors
of all nine initial appointees shall be appointed for full terms of two years.
Vacancies on the Council 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. The Chairman of the Planning Board and the Deputy Commissioner of Public
Works for Recreation and 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 Vice Chairman and Recording Secretary. The Council shall adopt rules and procedures for its meetings. The adoption of said rules and procedures, and any subsequent amendments thereto, shall be subject to the approval of the Town Board. It shall keep accurate records of its meetings and activities and shall file an annual report as provided in § 12-6 of this article.
The powers and duties of the Council shall be to:
A.
Advise the Town Board, Planning Board and Deputy Commissioner
of Public Works for Recreation on matters affecting the preservation, development
and use of the natural and man-made features and conditions of the Town of
Union 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
of Union.
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 within the
appropriations made available for said purposes.
C.
Conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the natural
and man-made features within the Town of Union and such other studies and
surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purposes of this article
within the appropriations made available for said purposes.
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; and 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 Council
for their preservation and/or use within the appropriations made available
for said purposes.
E.
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private
groups, institutions and individuals within the Town of Union 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 which can
be of assistance to the Council.
G.
Work in cooperation with the Planning Board and other
governmental agencies, 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 article within the appropriations
made available for said purposes.
I.
Obtain and maintain in orderly fashion maps, reports,
books and other publications to support the necessary researches of the Council
into local environmental conditions within the appropriations made available
for said purposes.
J.
When authorized by resolution of the Town Board of the
Town of Union, accept by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise property,
both real and personal, in the name of the Town of Union, 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 Union. 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.
Develop and promote a community environmental program.
L.
Coordinate the implementation of "Quality Communities
Principles" adopted by New York State as they relate to open space and farmland
preservation and other environmental issues.
M.
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 April 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 for said purposes.
This article shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the Town of
Union 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.
