[Adopted 7-10-1973]
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 7-131a of the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, there is established a Conservation Commission for the City of Norwalk.
A. 
Said Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Common Council, five of whom shall be the current members of the Commission, heretofore appointed by the Mayor.
B. 
The terms of said five members shall expire on the expiration dates set forth in their current appointments to the Commission. Two of said members shall be appointed for initial terms as follows: one for a term to expire January 1, 1976, and one for a term to expire January 1, 1977. Thereafter, the terms for all members of the Commission shall be for five years and the Mayor shall appoint, with the approval of the Common Council, each year, successors to those members whose terms expire on the succeeding January 1.
C. 
Pursuant to Section 22a-42 of the General Statutes, there shall be appointed, in the manner above provided, three alternate members to the Conservation Commission, no more than two of whom shall be registered members of any one political party. Such alternate member shall, when seated as herein provided, have all the powers and duties set forth in this article and pursuant to statute, for such Commission and its members. Such alternate members shall be electors of the City of Norwalk. If a regular member of said Conservation Commission is absent, he or she may designate in writing an alternate member of such Commission to act in his or her place. If he or she fails to make such designation or he or she is disqualified, the Chairperson of the Commission shall designate an alternate to so act, choosing alternates in rotation so that they shall act as nearly equal in number of times as possible. If any alternate is not available in accordance with such rotation, such fact shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. One alternate member shall be appointed for a term ending January 1, 1985, one alternate member for a term ending January 1, 1986, and one alternate member for a term ending January 1, 1987. Thereafter, upon the expiration of the term of any such alternate member, his or her successor shall be appointed for a term of five years.
[Amended 8-28-1984]
In making said appointments, the Mayor shall comply with the Minority Representation Law of the State of Connecticut, Section 9-167a.
A. 
The Conservation Commission shall conduct researches into the utilization and possible utilization of land areas of the municipality and may coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes, and may advertise, prepare and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets as are necessary for its purposes.
B. 
It shall keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including open marsh lands, swamps and other wetlands, for the purpose of obtaining information on the proper use of such areas, and may from time to time recommend to the Planning and Zoning Commission plans and programs for the development and use of such areas.
C. 
It may, with the approval of the Common Council, acquire lands and easements in the name of the municipality and promulgate rules and regulations, including but not limited to the establishment of reasonable charges for the use of land and easements, for any of its purposes as set out in this section.
D. 
It shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report to the municipality in the manner required of other agencies of the city.
E. 
The Commission may receive gifts in the name of the municipality for any of its purposes and shall administer the same for such purposes, subject to the terms of the gift.
The Commission may exchange information with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and said Commissioner may, on request, assign technical personnel to the Commission for its assistance in planning its overall program and for coordinating state and local conservation activities.
The city may appropriate funds to such Commission in the same manner as sums are appropriated and accounted for by other like agencies.