[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Middlefield 5-28-1963 (Ch. 11, Art.
VIII, of the 1990 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Added 3-8-1976]
A.
The Conservation Commission shall be composed of seven members appointed
by the Board of Selectmen.
B.
The terms of members of the Conservation Commission shall be as follows:
The terms shall be four years and staggered, except for the initial
appointments. Three members shall serve until December 31, 1978; four
members shall serve until December 31, 1980.
In accordance with § 7-131a of the Connecticut General
Statutes, the following duties and responsibilities are assigned to
the Conservation Commission:
A.
Organizational duties.
(1)
Elect a Chairman from among its membership, who shall in turn appoint
a Secretary of the Commission;
(2)
Keep a record of the meetings and activities of the Commission, a
copy of which, having been approved by the Commission as to correctness
and signed by the Secretary, shall be placed on file in the office
of the Town Clerk;
(3)
Make a report in writing to the Board of Selectmen and Annual Town
Meeting as to the activities of the Commission at the close of each
fiscal year and at such other times as are deemed appropriate;[1]
(4)
Expend only such monies as are specifically authorized by the Town
Meeting;
(5)
Report all vacancies occurring on the Commission so that such vacancies
can be filled by the Board of Selectmen. Any member of the Commission
may be removed for cause by the Board of Selectmen.
B.
Specific functions.[2]
(1)
A conservation
commission shall conduct research 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 necessary for its purposes.
(2)
It
may propose a greenways plan for inclusion in the plan of conservation
and development of the municipality prepared pursuant to C.G.S. §
8-23.
(3)
It
may inventory natural resources and formulate watershed management
and drought management plans. Such plans shall be consistent with
water supply management plans prepared pursuant to C.G.S. § 25-32d.
(4)
It
shall keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned,
to include: parks and playgrounds, both Town and state; schools; golf
and country clubs; cemeteries; watershed and other reservations; open
marshlands, 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 Commission or, if none, to the chief
executive officer or the legislative body plans and programs for the
development and use of such areas.
(5)
It may develop recommendations as to the preservation of portions
of such natural resource areas or other open land, which recommendations
shall be made as proposed amendments to the master plan of development
to the Town Planning and Zoning Commission and shall collectively
be known as "The Conservation Plan."
(6)
It
may make recommendations to zoning commissions, planning commissions,
inland wetlands agencies and other municipal agencies on proposed
land use changes.
(7)
It
may, with the approval of the legislative body, acquire land and easements
in the name of the Town 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.
(8)
It
may supervise and manage municipally-owned open space or park property
upon delegation of such authority by the entity which has supervisory
or management responsibilities for such space or property.
(9)
It may make recommendations and take implementing action as to the
acquisition of conservation easements or other legal instruments for
the preservation of specific parcels of open land, which recommendations
shall be approved by the Town Planning and Zoning Commission prior
to the effectuation of these recommendations and shall be approved
by the Town Meeting prior to such effectuation if the same shall involve
the expenditure of Town funds at that time or in the future.
(10)
It may assist in the identification of floodplains so that floodplain
zones may be established, at the Town Planning and Zoning Commission's
discretion.
(11)
It may develop recommendations for the initiation and continuation
of a shade tree program for Town properties, roadways and other appropriate
locations.
(12)
It may study with regional planning agencies and representatives
of other adjoining towns, with the advice of the Town Planning and
Zoning Commission, methods of preserving the beauty of ridge tops
and other natural open areas located intratown.
(13)
It may make recommendations, if appropriate, for the amendment
or creation of subdivision, zoning or other laws of the Town for the
purpose of preserving natural features or resources.
C.
General functions.[3]
(1)
A conservation commission may exchange information with the Connecticut
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and other governmental
agencies and receive technical assistance from such agencies.
(2)
It may receive gifts in the name of the Town for conservation purposes,
with the approval of the Board of Selectmen and the Town Meeting where
such gifts may involve the future expenditure of funds by the Town
(3)
It may provide or exchange information on conservation generally
or natural resources or features of the Town specifically to any group,
either private or public, official or nonofficial, desirous of such
information in the Town.
(4)
It must prevent the occurrence of conflict of interest arising from
the consideration of disposition of proposed conservation lands, wherein
a member of the Commission may have a personal interest, whether direct
or indirect. Any member affected with such interest shall disqualify
himself from discussing or voting on such proposed conservation land.
