This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Village
of Mineola Conservation Advisory Council Law."
This chapter shall be deemed to be an exercise of the powers
of the Mayor and Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of
Mineola to preserve and improve the quality of the natural and man-made
environment of the Village. This chapter is not intended to, and shall
not be deemed to, impair the powers of any other state or local governing
body.
The Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Mineola
hereby creates and establishes a Conservation Advisory Council, hereinafter
referred to as "Council," which shall advise the Board of Trustees
pursuant to § 239-x of the General Municipal Law of the
State of New York.
It shall be the purpose of the Council to advise the Board of
Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Mineola as to matters before
the Board of Trustees and Zoning Board of Appeals. Basically, such
advice shall be with reference to the development, management and
protection of the natural resources of the Village. The Council shall
be notified of pending projects and programs which impact on natural
resources by the Board of Trustees. Subject to the direction and approval
of the Board of Trustees in each matter, the Council shall direct
itself towards accomplishing the following:
A. Research and recommend possible solutions concerning the potential
environmental impact of projects presented to the Department of Building
and Code Enforcement, the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals
and the Board of Trustees regarding such matters as public utilities,
traffic, trees, the quality of air and groundwater (and comment on
those projects controlled by permits or reissued permits from the
Department of Health and from other federal, state, and county agencies),
noise, production of commercial waste, and cultural resources;
B. Advise the Board of Trustees on matters affecting the preservation,
development, and use of natural and man-made resources of the Village
insofar as the quality, biological integrity, and beauty of the environment
are concerned;
C. Conduct and maintain an inventory of the natural resources contained
within the Village;
D. Maintain an updated open space index (as defined in § 239-y
of the General Municipal Law) of all open spaces in public or private
ownership within the Village, 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, and scenic and other open areas of natural
or ecological value. Such index shall include the ownership and present
and proposed uses of such open areas so as to provide a base of information
for recommendations by the Council for their preservation and use;
E. Coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private groups, institutions
and individuals within the Village in accord with the purposes of
this chapter;
F. Establish a liaison and maintain communications with public and private
agencies and organizations whose activities impact upon the quality
of the environment, or whose projects can assist the Council in carrying
out the objectives of this chapter;
G. Work in cooperation with the Planning Board to recommend programs
concerning enhancement of the environment to the Board of Trustees
for inclusion in the Village of Mineola Municipal Code and, further,
to recommend changes in existing enactments and/or to propose new
legislation to the Board of Trustees so as to promote the environmental
objectives of this chapter;
H. Prepare, print, and distribute books, maps, charts, and pamphlets
in accord with the purposes of this chapter;
I. Obtain and maintain maps, reports, books and other publications necessary
to support the research of the Council into local environmental issues;
J. When authorized by resolution of the Board of Trustees, the Council
may, on behalf of the Village, accept, by gift, grant, devise, bequest
or otherwise, such property, whether real or personal, as may be necessary
to conserve and properly utilize land and water resources within the
Village. Real property may be accepted in the form of a fee for land
and/or water rights or as any lesser interest, development right,
easement, covenant, or other contractual right, which might include
conveyances with limitations or reversions;
K. Carry out such other duties as the Board of Trustees may, from time
to time, assign.
The Mayor of the Incorporated Village of Mineola shall designate
one of the members chosen to serve on the Council to act as Chairperson.
At the first official meeting of the Council, the members of the Council
shall elect from amongst themselves a recording secretary.
The Council shall meet on an as-needed basis whenever such meeting shall be called by the Chairperson. However, there shall be at least two meetings of the Council annually. At such meetings, the Council 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 by §
31-9 of this chapter. When deemed necessary, the Council will request a meeting with the Board of Trustees. One annual meeting may be held to review past and present projects.
The members of the Conservation Advisory Council, both appointed
and ex officio, shall serve without compensation.
The Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Mineola
shall reimburse the members of the Conservation Advisory Council for
any expenses actually and necessarily incurred in the performance
of their duties, subject to prior approval of the expenditures from
the Board of Trustees.