The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural
and human-made environment within the Village of Athens, in the face
of population growth, urbanization and technologic change with their
accompanying demands on natural resources and open land, are found
to be of increasing and vital importance to the health, welfare and
economic well-being of present and future inhabitants and require
forthright action by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Athens.
It is recognized that the biologic integrity of the natural environment
on which people are dependent for survival and the natural and functional
beauty of our surroundings which condition the quality of our life
experience cannot be protected and improved without the full cooperation
and participation of all the people of the Village working in partnership
with local and state officials and with various public and private
institutions, agencies, and organizations. Establishment of a conservation
council is a necessary step in fostering unified action on protection
of natural resources, open space conservation and other environmental
problems.
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Athens hereby creates
a conservation advisory council which shall be known as the Village
Conservation Advisory Council, hereinafter called "the Council."
The Mayor shall designate a member of the Council to act as chairperson thereof. At the first meeting of the Council, its members shall elect from among themselves a recording secretary. 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 in §
10-6 of this chapter. With the concurrence of the Board of Trustees, an outside secretary also may be obtained, one who would not be a member.
The powers and duties of the Council shall be to:
A. Advise the Board of Trustees on matters affecting the preservation,
development, and use of the natural and human-made resources, features
and conditions of the Village insofar as environmental quality, biological
integrity, natural beauty, and other environmental factors are concerned.
In the case of human activities and developments, advise on any major
threats posed to environmental quality, so as to enhance the short-term
or the long-range value of the environment to the people of the Village
of Athens.
B. Conduct and maintain or cause to be conducted and maintained an inventory
of the natural resources within the Village of Athens in map form,
including an up-to-date index of all significant open spaces as defined
in § 239-y of the General Municipal Law in public or private
ownership within the municipality, including but not limited to natural
landmarks, glacial and other geomorphic or physiographic features;
streams and their floodplains, watershed lands; swamps, marshlands
and other wetlands; wildlife habitat, unique biotic communities; scenic
and other open areas of natural or ecological value. The open space
index shall include the ownership, present and proposed uses of open
areas, so as to provide a base of information for recommendations
by the Council for their conservation purposes and for preparing an
open space plan for the municipality. Such plan also shall include
the municipality's overall goals for open space conservation
and the specific recommendations and actions that should be taken
by specified organizations and agencies to realize the goals. The
plan should describe important issues, identify laws, programs and
techniques for preserving, protecting, and enhancing open areas and
serve to create a community open space system.
C. Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private groups,
institutions, and individuals within the Village of Athens in accord
with the purposes of this chapter.
D. Maintain liaison and communications with public and private agencies
and organizations whose programs and activities have an impact on
the quality of the environment, or which can be of assistance to the
Council. Specific requests may be made to local organizations to designate
one of their members as liaison to the Council.
E. Working in cooperation with the Planning Board, and consistent with
the Comprehensive Plan, recommend from time to time to the Board of
Trustees features, plans, and programs relating to natural resources
management and environmental protection and improvement for inclusion
in the comprehensive plan of the Village of Athens and similarly recommend
to the Board of Trustees appropriate and desirable changes in existing
local laws and ordinances relating to environmental and land use controls
or recommend new local laws and ordinances to achieve the purposes
of this chapter.
F. Prepare, print, and distribute books, maps, charts, and pamphlets
in accordance with the purposes of this chapter.
G. Obtain and maintain in orderly fashion maps, reports, books, and
other publications to support the necessary research of the commission
into local environmental conditions.
H. When authorized by resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Athens, the Council may accept by gift, grant, devise, bequest
or otherwise, property both real and personal in the name of the Village
of Athens as may be necessary to conserve and otherwise properly utilize
open spaces and other land, water and natural resources within the
boundaries of the Village of Athens. Such real property may be accepted
in fee, for land and water rights, or as any lesser interest, development
right, easement, including conservation easement, covenant or other
contractual right, including conveyance with limitations or reversions.
I. Serve as the Climate Smart Community Task Force.
J. Assume the duties of the Tree Committee as defined in Village of
Athens Local Law No. 4 of 2018.
K. Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from time to time
by the Board of Trustees.
The Council shall keep accurate records of its meetings and
actions and shall submit an annual report to the Board of Trustees
not later than the 31st day of December of each year, concerning the
activities and work of the Council. From time to time the Council
shall submit such reports and recommendations as may be necessary
to fulfill the purpose of this chapter.
The members of the Council, including ex-officio members, shall
receive no compensation for their services as members thereof but
may be reimbursed at the discretion of the Board of Trustees for reasonable
and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties
within the appropriations made available therefor.
The Board of Trustees may appropriate funds for the expenses
incurred by the Council, including but not limited to expenses for
professional staff, consultants, clerical assistance and printing
and distribution of publications. The Council may prepare and submit
an annual budget request in a manner prescribed by the Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees, upon request by the Council, also may from
time to time and for designated purposes, assign or detail public
employees to perform work for the Council.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the
Village of Athens to preserve and improve the quality of the natural
and human-made 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.
This chapter shall take effect on June 24, 2020.