[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Charlestown 8-14-1979 as Secs. 2-51 through 2-55 of the Code of Ordinances. Section 11-7 amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Charter - See the Charter.
Planning Commission - See Ch. 40.
Public hearings - See Ch. 51.
Waterways - See Ch. 86.
Flood damage prevention - See Ch. 117.
Zoning - See Ch. 218.
There is hereby established a Conservation Commission.
A. 
The Conservation Commission shall consist of seven (7) members appointed by the Town Council. Initial appointees shall be for the following terms: three (3) shall be appointed for three-year terms, two (2) shall be appointed for two-year terms and two (2) shall be appointed for terms of one (1) year. Thereafter, as terms expire, appointments, other than interim appointments, shall be made in January and shall be for terms of three (3) years.
B. 
Said Commissioners shall hold their respective offices until their successors are qualified.
Members of the Commission shall serve without pay.
The Conservation Commission shall organize annually by electing a Chairman, Vice Chairman and a secretary.
The Commission shall adopt bylaws for the performance of the duties prescribed by law and this chapter.
A. 
The Conservation Commission shall hold regular meetings once a month which shall be open to the public. Special meetings shall be held at the call of the Chairman or upon the request of three (3) of the members.
B. 
Any person or his duly constituted representative shall be entitled to appear and be heard on any matter before the Commission before any decision is reached by said Commission.
C. 
All records of its proceedings, resolutions and actions shall be open to public view, and the Commission shall forward an annual report of its actions and meetings to the Town Clerk's office.
The duties of the Conservation Commission shall be to promote and develop the natural resources, to protect the watershed resources and to preserve natural aesthetic areas within the town. The Commission shall conduct researches into its local land areas and shall seek to coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes and may advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which, in its judgment, it deems necessary for its work. It shall make and keep an index of all open spaces with the town publicly or privately owned, including open marshlands, swamps and other wetlands, for the purpose of obtaining information on the proper use of such areas. At any time, it may recommend to the Town Council, Zoning Board Department of Public Works or Planning Commission, a program for the better promotion, development, utilization or preservation of open areas, streams, shores, wooded areas, roadsides, swamps, marshlands and natural aesthetic areas.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).