The Town of Rhinebeck ("Town") is renowned for its scenic beauty
and bucolic open spaces, rural and historic character, natural resources
and outstanding quality of life. The Town is also known for the care
it takes to ensure that its nationally recognized resources are protected
and preserved. The preservation and improvement of the quality of
the natural environment within the Town are of vital importance to
the health, welfare and economic well-being of present and future
residents and requires action by the Town Board, as mandated in the
2009 Town of Rhinebeck Comprehensive Plan. It is recognized that the
biologic integrity of the natural environment, on which residents
depend for survival and the natural and functional beauty of our surroundings,
which affect the quality of our life experiences, cannot be protected
without the full cooperation and participation of all the people of
the Town working in partnership with local, state and federal officials
and with various public and private institutions, agencies and organizations.
Establishment of a Conservation Advisory Board is a necessary step
in fostering coordinated action on environmental problems and it is
essential that the Town Board designate one entity for coordinating
and communicating, in a timely manner, all relevant information on
the natural environment among the Planning Board, Zoning Board of
Appeals, Town Board, Town Attorney, Town Engineer, Town Planner, Code
Enforcement Officer, and Zoning Enforcement Officer.
The Town Board hereby creates a board which shall be known as the "Town of Rhinebeck Conservation Advisory Board," hereinafter called the "Conservation Advisory Board." The Town of Rhinebeck Conservation Advisory Council shall cease functioning upon this chapter becoming effective. Any matters being worked on by and any functions and responsibilities heretofore granted to the Conservation Advisory Council shall be transferred to the Conservation Advisory Board in addition to those enumerated in §
9-5. Existing members of the Town of Rhinebeck Conservation Advisory Council are eligible for appointment to the Conservation Advisory Board following consideration by the Town Board.
The Conservation Advisory Board shall consist of up to nine
members, with a minimum of five members. All members of the Conservation
Advisory Board shall be appointed by the Town Board. Of the members
first appointed to the Conservation Advisory Board, the Town Board
shall designate two to hold office for the term of one year, three
for the term of two years and the remainder for the term of three
years. Their successors, and additional members not serving as successors,
shall be appointed for a term of three years from and after the expiration
of the terms of their predecessors in office. Persons residing within
the Town who are interested in the improvement and preservation of
environmental quality shall be eligible for appointment as members
of the Conservation Advisory Board. Vacancies on the Conservation
Advisory Board shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment. In addition, the Town Board may appoint nonresidents
of the Town who are interested in the improvement and preservation
of the environmental quality of Rhinebeck as nonvoting ex officio
members of the Conservation Advisory Board.
The Town Board shall appoint a member of the Conservation Advisory Board to act as Chair thereof. At the first meeting of the Conservation Advisory Board, its members shall designate from among themselves a Recording Secretary. The Conservation Advisory Board shall develop rules and procedures for its meetings. The Conservation Advisory Board shall keep accurate records of its meetings and activities and shall file an annual report as provided in §
9-7 of this chapter.
The Conservation Advisory Board shall submit an annual report
to the Town Board concerning the activities and work of the Conservation
Advisory Board 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 Conservation Advisory Board 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
Town to preserve and improve the quality of the natural 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.
Except as defined herein, all words used in this chapter shall
carry their everyday dictionary definition. Unique terms used throughout
this chapter are defined as follows:
NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY
A compilation of the natural resources of an area in a usable
format. The primary purpose of the Natural Resource Inventory is to
provide data that can provide a basis for municipal planning to maintain
or enhance the conservation of natural or scenic resources.
OPEN SPACE INDEX
The Open Space Map and Natural Resource Inventory accepted
and approved by the Town Board.
OPEN SPACE INVENTORY
An inventory of open areas within the entire Town with each
such area identified and listed according to priority of preservation.
SCIENCE-BASED PROCEDURES
The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data, encompassing
all identified natural resources and concerns as described in the
Natural Resource Inventory.