[Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Elmsford 12-12-2022 by L.L. No. 6-2022.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law was adopted as Ch. 18 but was renumbered to maintain the alphabetical organization of the Code.
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and artificial environment within the Village of Elmsford in the face of population growth, urbanization and technologic change, with their accompanying demands on natural resources, 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 governing body of the Village of Elmsford. It is recognized that the biologic integrity of the natural environment on which humankind is dependent for survival and the natural and functional beauty of our surroundings which condition the quality of our life experience cannot be protected without the full cooperation and participation of all of the residents of the Village of Elmsford working in conjunction with local and state officials and with various public and private institutions, agencies and organizations. Establishment of an advisory council for conservation of the environment is a necessary step in fostering unified action on environmental problems.
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Elmsford hereby creates an advisory council which shall be known as the "Elmsford Conservation Advisory Council," hereinafter referred to as the ''Council."
A. 
At Village Annual Organization meetings, five members shall be appointed, three of which for terms of two years, and two for terms of two years, with successors appointed in the alternate years in the same allocation.
B. 
Not more than two persons may be appointed to the Council who are between the ages of 16 and 21 and who are interested in the improvement and preservation of environmental quality. Such persons must attend or have graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in Elmsford.
C. 
The Council may have an unlimited number of nonvoting associate members.
D. 
Vacancies on the Council, occurring other than by the expiration of term of office, shall be filled by appointment of the Mayor for the remainder of the unexpired terms of office.
E. 
The Board of Trustees may designate by resolution such other Village officials as it deems appropriate as ex officio members of the Council.
The Board of Trustees shall designate a member of the Council to act as Chairman 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 it shall file an annual report as hereinafter provided in § 15-6 of this chapter.
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 artificial features and conditions of the Village of Elmsford insofar as beauty, quality, biologic integrity and other environmental factors are concerned and, in the case of human activities and developments, with regard to any major threats posed to environmental quality, so as to enhance the long-range value of the environment to the people of the Village of Elmsford.
B. 
Develop and, after receiving approval by resolution of the Board of Trustees, conduct a program of public information in the Village which shall be designed to foster increased understanding of the nature of environmental problems and issues and support for their solutions.
C. 
When authorized by resolution of the Board of Trustees, conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the natural and artificial features within the Village of Elmsford and such other studies and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purposes of this chapter.
D. 
Maintain an up-to-date inventory or index of all open spaces in public or private ownership within the Village, including but not limited to natural landmarks, glacial and other geomorphic or physiographic features; streams and their floodplains; swamps, marshlands and other wetlands; unique biotic communities; scenic and other open areas of natural or ecological value; and of the ownership, present use and proposed use of such open areas, so as to provide a base of information for recommendations by the Council for their preservation and/or use.
E. 
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private groups, institutions and individuals within the Village of Elmsford in accord with the purposes of this chapter.
F. 
Maintain liaison and communications with public and private agencies and organizations of local, state and national scope whose programs and activities have an impact on the quality of the environment or which can be of assistance to the Council.
G. 
Working in conjunction with the Planning Board, recommend from time to time to the Board of Trustees features, plans and programs relating to environmental improvement for inclusion in the Master Plan of the Village of Elmsford and recommend to the Board of Trustees appropriate and desirable changes in existing local laws and ordinances relating to environmental control or recommend new local laws and ordinances.
H. 
When authorized by resolution of the Board of Trustees, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts and pamphlets in accord with the purposes of this chapter.
I. 
Obtain and maintain, in orderly fashion, maps, reports, books and other publications to support the necessary research of the Council into local environmental conditions.
J. 
When authorized by resolution of the Board of Trustees, accept by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise real or personal property, in the name of the Village of Elmsford, as may be necessary or desirable to conserve and otherwise properly utilize open spaces and other land and water resources within the boundaries of the Village of Elmsford. Such real property may be accepted in fee for land or water rights, or as any lesser interest, development right, easement (including conservation easement), covenant or other contractual right, including conveyance with limitations or reversions.
K. 
Carry out such other duties as may be assigned, from time to time, by the Board of Trustees
The Council shall submit an annual written report to the Board of Trustees not later than the first day of April of each year concerning the activities and work of the Council for the past year and, in addition, from time to time, shall submit such reports and recommendation as may be necessary to fulfill the purposes 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 for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties within the appropriations made available therefor by the Board of Trustees in its annual budget.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the Village of Elmsford to preserve and improve the quality of the natural and artificial 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.