[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of
the City of Troy 11-4-1993 (§§ 2-131 through 2-138
of Ch. 2 of the 1973 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 7-11-2019 by Ord. No. 60]
Environmental protection in the face of population
growth, urbanization and state and federal regulatory requirements,
with its increasing demands on both natural resources and appropriate
financing to ensure compliance, have been found to be of vital importance
to the health, welfare, and economic well-being of both present and
future residents of the City of Troy. It is further recognized that
the biologic integrity of our natural environment, on which we depend
for survival, cannot be adequately protected without the full cooperation
and participation of all residents and employees of the City of Troy,
working in partnership with local, state and federal officials and
with various public and private institutions, agencies and organizations.
Because of increasing local and national concern with regard to the
protection of the environment, and due to the importance that the
management of our municipal solid waste has achieved, and because
of the increased use and extensive development of our Hudson River
Waterfront, the establishment of a City of Troy Environmental Conservation
Commission is a necessary step in fostering a unified action to deal
appropriately with issues affecting our environment.
[Amended 7-11-2019 by Ord. No. 60]
The City Council of the City of Troy hereby
creates a Commission which shall be known as the "Troy Environmental
Conservation Commission," hereinafter called the "Commission."
A.
The Commission shall consist of eight members appointed
by the City Council. Members shall serve terms of two years. The successors
of all initial appointees shall be appointed for two years. Persons
residing within the City of Troy who are interested in the improvement
and protection of environmental quality shall be eligible for appointment
as a member 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 term of office
shall be filled only for the remainder of the unexpired term.
[Amended 5-2-2019 by Ord.
No. 32]
B.
The Chair of the City Council's Planning Committee, the Commissioners
of Parks and Recreation, Departments of Public Works and Planning,
General Services, as well as the City Solid Waste or Recycling Coordinator
shall serve as ex officio members of the Commission and shall be available
to the Commission in an advisory capacity upon request. Organizations
such as the Rensselaer Land Trust shall have an ex officio seat on
the Commission, as available.
[Amended 7-11-2019 by Ord. No. 60]
[Amended 5-2-2019 by Ord.
No. 32]
The City Council shall designate a member of the Commission to act as Chair thereof. The City's Bureau of Planning and Community Development shall act as the Commission's permanent secretary and shall provide all necessary 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 § 39-6 of this chapter. A meeting schedule shall be established by the Chair and shall be approved by a majority vote of the membership.
The powers and duties of the Commission shall
be to:
A.
Advise the City Council on matters affecting the protection,
development and use of the natural and man-made features and conditions
of the City 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 in the City.
[Amended 5-2-2019 by Ord.
No. 32]
B.
Develop and 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 City of Troy 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
and 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 Commission for their
protection and/or use.
E.
Seek to coordinate, assist, and unify the efforts
of private groups, institutions, and individuals within the City of
Troy 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 Commission.
G.
Work in cooperation with the Planning Commission and
recommend from time to time to the City Council features plans and
programs relating to environmental improvement for inclusion in the
Master Plan of the City of Troy and, similarly, recommend to the City
Council appropriate and desirable changes in existing local laws and
ordinances relating to environmental control or recommend new local
laws and ordinances.
[Amended 5-2-2019 by Ord.
No. 32]
H.
Obtain and maintain in orderly fashion maps, reports,
books and other publications to support the necessary researches of
the Commission into local environmental conditions.
I.
When authorized by resolution of the City council
of the City of Troy, the Commission may accept by gift, grant, devise,
bequest, or otherwise, property both real and personal in the name
of the City of Troy, as may be necessary to conserve and otherwise
properly utilize open spaces and other land and water resources within
the boundaries of the City of Troy. 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 conveyances with limitations or reversions.
J.
Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from
time to time by the City Council.
[Amended 5-2-2019 by Ord.
No. 32]
[Amended 5-2-2019 by Ord.
No. 32]
The Commission shall submit an annual report to the City Council
not later than the first day of June for 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
expense incurred in the performance of their duties within the appropriations
made available thereof.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of
the powers of the City of Troy 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.
