[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Kinderhook 11-9-1978 by L.L. No. 9-1978 (Ch. 6 of the 1978 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and human-made environment within the Village of Kinderhook, in the face of population growth, urbanization and technological change with their accompanying demands on the 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 Kinderhook. It is recognized that the biological integrity of the natural environment, of which humans are dependent for survival, 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 Village working in partnership with local and state officials and with various public and private institutions, agencies and organizations. Establishment of a Council for the conservation of the environment is a necessary step in fostering unified action on environmental problems.
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Kinderhook hereby creates a Council which shall be known as the "Village of Kinderhook Conservation Advisory Council," hereafter called the "Council."
A. 
The Council shall consist of five members. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees. Any vacancy will be filled by the Board, should a position become vacant.
B. 
The Chairperson of the Council shall be designated by the Village Board.
C. 
Residents of the Village who are interested in the improvement or preservation of environmental quality shall be eligible for appointment as members of Council.
D. 
The terms of office of the appointed members of the Council shall be two years, except members of the first Council, which shall be appointed for varying terms in order to assure continuity in the future. Accordingly, the first three members shall be appointed for terms of one year, and the next two members shall be appointed for terms of two years.
E. 
The Mayor of the Village and the Chairperson of the Village Planning Board shall be ex officio members of the Council.
F. 
There shall also be as many associate members as are approved by the Council or appointed as such by the Village Board. Associate members shall have no vote, but they shall be entitled to attend meetings and be heard on any question before the Council.
At the first meeting of the Council, its members shall elect from among themselves a Recording Secretary and such other officers as it deems necessary, who shall keep accurate records of its meetings and activities and shall file an annual report as provided in § 8-6 of this chapter. The Council shall adopt rules and procedures for the conduct of business.
The powers and duties of the Council shall be to:
A. 
Advise the governing body on matters affecting the preservation, development and use of the natural and human-made features and conditions of the municipality insofar as beauty, quality, biological integrity and other environmental factors are concerned and, in the case of human activities and development, 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.
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 to support their solutions.
C. 
Conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the natural and human-made features within the municipality and such other studies and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purpose of this chapter.
D. 
Maintain an up-to-date inventory or index on all open spaces in public or private ownership within the municipality, including but not limited to natural landmarks 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.
E. 
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private groups, institutions and individuals within the municipality in accord with the purpose 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 Council.
G. 
Working in cooperation with the Planning Board, recommend from time to time to the governing body features, plans and programs relating to environmental improvement for inclusion in the Village Comprehensive Plan and, similarly, recommend to the legislative officials appropriate and desirable changes in existing local laws and ordinances.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
H. 
Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts and pamphlets in accordance with the purpose of this chapter.
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.
J. 
When authorized by resolution of the governing body, accept, by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise, property, both real and personal, in the name of the municipality, as may be necessary to conserve and otherwise properly utilize open spaces and other land and water resources within the boundaries of the Village. Such real property may be accepted in fee for land and water rights or as any lesser interest, including conservation easement, covenant or other contractual right, including a conveyance with limitations or reversions.
K. 
Carry out such duties and responsibilities as may be assigned to it under a local law of the Village of Kinderhook providing for environmental quality review of actions which may have a significant effect on the environment.
L. 
Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the governing body.
The Council shall submit an annual report to the legislative body not later than the first day of June 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 chapter.
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 therefor.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the Village of Kinderhook to preserve and improve the quality of the natural and human-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.