[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Colonie 8-28-1995
by L.L. No. 2-1995; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and man-made
environment within the Village of Colonie 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 Village of Colonie.
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 people
of the village 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 Village Board of Trustees of the Village of Colonie hereby creates
a commission which shall be known as the "Village of Colonie Commission for
Conservation of the Environment," hereinafter called the "Commission."
The Commission shall consist of 15 members, of which seven shall be
appointed by the Village Board of Trustees and who shall serve at the pleasure
of the Village Board of Trustees, and the remainder shall be ex officio members,
as provided herein.
A.
Persons residing within the Village of Colonie 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 a term of
office shall be filled only for the remainder of the unexpired term.
B.
The Village Board of Trustees, the Chairman of the Planning
Commission, the Superintendent of Public Works, the Village Attorney and other
officials that may be hereafter designated by the Village Board of Trustees
shall be ex officio members of the Commission.
A.
The Village Board of Trustees 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.
A.
The powers and duties of the Commission shall be to:
(1)
Advise the Village Board of Trustees on matters affecting
the preservation, development and use of the natural and man-made features
and conditions of the village 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 village.
(2)
Develop and, after receiving general approval by resolution
of the Village Board of Trustees, 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.
(3)
Conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the natural
and man-made features within the Village of Colonie and such other studies
and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purposes of this
chapter.
(4)
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 Commission
for their preservation and/or use.
(5)
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private
groups, institutions and individuals within the Village of Colonie in accord
with the purposes of this chapter.
(6)
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.
(7)
Working in cooperation with the Planning Commission,
recommend, from time to time, to the Village Board of Trustees features, plans
and programs relating to environmental improvement for inclusion in the Master
Plan of the Village of Colonie and, similarly, to recommend to the Village
Board of Trustees appropriate and desirable changes in existing local laws
relating to environmental control or to recommend new local laws.
(8)
Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts and
pamphlets in accord with the purposes of this chapter.
(9)
Obtain and maintain, in orderly fashion, maps, reports,
books and other publications to support the necessary researches of the Commission
into local environment conditions.
(10)
Carry out such other duties as may be assigned, from
time to time, by the Village Board of Trustees.
B.
When authorized by resolution of the Village Board of
Trustees of the Village of Colonie, the Commission may accept, by gift, grant,
devise, bequest or otherwise, property, both real and personal, in the name
of the Village of Colonie as may be necessary to conserve and otherwise properly
utilize open spaces and other land and water resources within the boundaries
of the Village of Colonie. Such real property may be accepted in fee for land
and water rights or as any lesser interest, development right or easement,
including a conservation easement, covenant or other contractual right, including
conveyance with limitations or reversions.
The Commission shall submit an annual report to the Village Board of
Trustees 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 Village
of Colonie 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.