The preservation and improvement of the quality
of the natural and man-made environment within the Town of Stanford,
in the face of population growth, urbanization and technologic 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 Town of Stanford. It is recognized
that the biologic 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 the people of the Town of Stanford working in partnership with
local and state officials and with various public and private institutions,
agencies and organizations. Establishment of a conservation commission
is a necessary step in fostering unified action on environmental problems.
The Town Board of the Town of Stanford hereby
creates a commission which shall be known as the "Conservation Commission
of the Town of Stanford," hereinafter called the "Commission."
At the first meeting of the Commission, its members shall elect from among themselves a Chairman and Vice Chairman. The Commission 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 §
14-6.
The powers and duties of the Commission 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 of Stanford insofar as quality, biologic integrity, beauty
and other environmental factors are concerned, and in the case of
man's activities and developments, advise on the major threats posed
to environmental quality, so as to enhance the long-range value of
the environment to the people of the Town of Stanford.
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 and maintain an inventory of the natural resources
within the Town of Stanford.
D. Maintain an up-to-date index of all open spaces, as
defined in § 239-y of the General Municipal Law, 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; scenic and other open areas of
natural or ecological value. Such index shall include the ownership,
present and proposed uses of such open areas so as to provide a base
of information for recommendations by the Commission for their preservation
and/or use.
E. Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of
private groups, institutions and individuals within the Town of Stanford
in accord with the purposes of this chapter.
F. Maintain liaison and communications with public and
private agencies and organizations whose programs and activities have
an impact on the quality of the environment or who can be of assistance
to the Commission. Specific requests may be made to local organizations
to designate one of their members as liaison officer to the Commission.
G. Working in cooperation with the Planning Board, recommend
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 Stanford, and similarly recommend to the Town Board appropriate
and desirable changes in existing local laws and ordinances relating
to the environmental land use controls or recommend new local laws
and ordinances.
H. Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts
and pamphlets in accord with the purposes of this chapter.
I. Obtain and maintain in orderly fashion maps, reports,
books and other publications to support the necessary researches of
the Commission into local environmental conditions.
J. When authorized by resolution of the Town Board of
the Town of Stanford, the Commission may accept, by gift, grant, devise,
bequest or otherwise, property, both real and personal, in the name
of the Town of Stanford, as may be necessary to conserve and otherwise
properly utilize open spaces and other land and water resources within
the boundaries of the Town of Stanford. 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 conveyance with limitations
or reversions. The Commission may accept gifts or grants but only
upon authorization by the Town Board, and if a purchase is involved,
the power to make such purchase by negotiation or condemnation is
vested in the Town Board. Purchases may be effected in accordance
with the provisions of existing laws applicable to the Town of Stanford.
K. Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from
time to time by the Town Board of the Town of Stanford.
The Commission shall beep accurate records of
its meetings and actions and shall submit aid annual report to the
Town Board not later than the 31st day of December of each year, concerning
the activities and work of the Commission. From time to time the Commission
shall submit such reports and recommendations as may be necessary
to fulfill the purposes of this chapter.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of
the powers of the Town of Stanford 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 it not intended and shall
not be deemed to impair the powers of any other public corporation.