[Amended 12-2-1996 by L.L. No. 7-1996, effective 1-1-1997]
[Amended 6-26-2019 by L.L. No. 3-2019]
There shall be a County Department of Economic Development, Conservation and Planning headed by a Director. The Director shall be a person qualified by economic development experience, which may include professional training and/or demonstrated experience in the related fields of metropolitan, regional, county or municipal planning. The Director shall be appointed by the County Executive, subject to confirmation by the County Legislature as provided in Section 302(c) of this Charter, and shall serve at the pleasure of the County Executive.
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, the Director shall promote economic development in the County and have all the powers and duties now or hereafter conferred or imposed upon a county director of planning and conservation by applicable law, and perform such other and related duties as shall be required or delegated to her by the County Executive or the County Legislature. The Director shall assist the County Planning Board in the performance of its duties and functions.
There shall be in the department a County Planning Board. The County Planning Board shall be composed of eight (8) members, namely, the Commissioner of Public Works, the Commissioner of Management and Budget and the County Comptroller, each of whom shall be an ex-officio member, and five (5) persons who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the County Legislature. The County Planning Board shall be advisory to and assist the County Legislature and the Director on matters related to comprehensive metropolitan, regional, county and municipal planning and in performing the duties and responsibilities conferred upon a county planning board by Article 12-B of the General Municipal Law and on such other related matters as shall be required or requested by the County Legislature. The County Planning Board shall also advise the County Legislature with respect to the qualifications of candidates appointed to the position of the Director.
There shall be in the department such divisions as may be created within the department by the County Legislature.
There shall be in the department an Office of Natural Resources Conservation. Such office shall be advisory to and assist the Director of Planning and Conservation, the County Executive and the County Legislature on matters related to the inventory, conservation, management, and use of the natural resources of the County and County compliance with related environmental regulations.