[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Marilla 6-6-1996 (Ch. 12 of the 1999 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Flood damage prevention — See Ch. 559.
Planning Board — See Ch. 608.
Subdivision of land — See Ch. 644.
Zoning — See Ch. 700.
Zoning Board of Appeals — See Ch. 704.
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and man-made environment within the Town of Marilla 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 Marilla hereby creates a Board which shall be known as the "Town of Marilla Conservation Board," hereinafter called the "Board."
[1]
Editor's Note: The Conservation Advisory Board was changed from a Council to a Board by resolution 12-5-1996.
[Amended 4-8-2010 by L.L. No. 5-2010]
A. 
The Board shall consist of seven regular members and up to three alternate members, who shall be appointed by the Town Board. The alternate members of the Board shall be appointed for the term as specified by the Town Board at the time of their appointment. The alternate members shall be entitled to participate when one or more of the regular members is absent for any reason. All alternate members shall be entitled to participate in deliberations, but the Chairman of the Board shall designate at the beginning of the meeting as to which alternate member or members shall be entitled to vote if more alternate members are present than regular members are absent. One of the members so appointed may be, but is not required to be, at the time of his appointment between the ages of 16 and 21 years. Persons residing within the Town of Marilla who are interested in the improvement and preservation of environmental quality shall be eligible for appointment as a member of the Board. 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 term of office shall be filled only for the remainder of the unexpired term.
All members shall be appointed for terms of two years.
[Added 12-14-2006 by L.L. No. 2-2006; amended 4-8-2010 by L.L. No. 5-2010]
Each member appointed to the Board, including the alternate members, shall be required to attend at least 75% of the regularly scheduled meetings of the Board and shall not fail to attend more than three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings in any calendar year. Failure to meet these attendance standards shall be grounds for removal by the Town Board.
A. 
The Town Board shall designate a member of the Board to act as Chairman thereof.
B. 
At the annual organizational meeting of the Town, the Town Board shall appoint a Recording Secretary for the Conservation Advisory Board.
[Amended 12-14-2006 by L.L. No. 2-2006]
C. 
The Board 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 § 513-7 of this chapter.
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 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 of Marilla and such other studies and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purposes of this chapter and submit copies of the same to the Town Board.
D. 
Maintain an up-to-date inventory or index of all open spaces in public or private ownership within the Town of Marilla, 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 and submit copies of the same to the Town Board.
E. 
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private groups, institutions and individuals within the Town of Marilla 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 Marilla 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 to time by the Town Board or as set forth under § 239-x of the General Municipal Law.
The Board shall submit an annual report to the Town Board not later than December 31 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.
[Amended 12-14-2006 by L.L. No. 2-2006]
The reasonable and necessary expenses of the Board shall not exceed the appropriations that may be made therefor by the Town Board. The members of such Board shall be compensated at the rate established annually 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 real property of the Town of Marilla and shall be assessed, levied and collected therefrom in the same manner of other Town charges.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the Town of Marilla 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.