[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Red Hook 4-13-1976 by L.L. No. 10-1976 as Ch. 5 of the 1976 Code; amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Environmental quality review — See Ch. 68.
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and artificial environment within the Town of Red Hook, in the face of population growth, urbanization and technological 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 Town of Red Hook. It is recognized that the biological 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 without the full cooperation and participation of all the people of the Town of Red Hook, working in partnership with local and state officials and with various public and private institutions, agencies and organizations. Establishment of a Conservation Advisory Council is a necessary step in fostering unified action on environmental problems.
The Town Board of the Town of Red Hook hereby creates a commission which shall be known as the "Red Hook Town Conservation Advisory Council," hereinafter called the "Council."
A. 
The Council shall consist of nine members who shall be appointed by the Supervisor of the Town Board and who shall serve at the pleasure of Town Board, and the remainder shall be ex officio members as provided herein. Persons residing within the Town of Red Hook who are interested shall be eligible for appointment as members of the Council. Vacancies on the Council shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, except that a vacancy occurring other than by the expiration of term of office shall be filled only for the remainder of the unexpired term. The terms of the members of the Council shall be as follows: The first four members appointed shall hold office for a term of one year, the second five members for a term of two years, and successors of all initial appointees shall be appointed for full terms of two years.
B. 
The Supervisor of the Town Board, a member of the Town Board, the Chair of the Planning Board, the Superintendent of Town Highways, the Chair of the Recreational Park Commission and the Town Attorney shall be ex officio members of the Council.
The Town Supervisor shall designate a member of the Council to act as Chair 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 § 4-6 of this chapter.
The powers and duties of the Council shall be to:
A. 
Advise the Town Board on matters affecting the preservation, development and use of the natural and artificial features and conditions of the Town of Red Hook, insofar as beauty, quality biological 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 Town of Red Hook.
B. 
Develop and, after receiving general approval by resolution of the Town Board, conduct a program of public information in the community which shall be designed to foster increased understanding of the nature of environmental problems and issues and support for their solutions.
C. 
Conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the natural and artificial features within the Town of Red Hook 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 town, 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 Town of Red Hook 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 who can be of assistance to the Council.
G. 
Working in cooperation with the Planning Board, recommend from time to time to the Town Board features, plans and programs relating to environmental improvements for inclusion in the Master Plan of the Town of Red Hook and, similarly, recommend to the Town Board appropriate and desirable changes in existing local laws and ordinances relating to environmental control or recommend new local laws and ordinances.
H. 
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 researches of the Council into local environmental conditions.
J. 
When authorized by resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Red Hook, accept, by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise, property both real and personal in the name of the Town of Red Hook as may be necessary to conserve and otherwise properly utilize open spaces and other land and water resources within the boundaries of the Town of Red Hook. Such real property may be accepted in fee for land and water rights or as any lesser interest, development right, easement, including conversation 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 Town Board of the Town of Red Hook.
The Council shall submit an annual report to the Town Board, not later than the first day of April of each year, concerning the activities and work of the Council and from time to time shall submit such reports and recommendations 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.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the Town of Red Hook 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 powers of any other public corporation.