[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees
of the Incorporated Village of Bellerose 11-8-1976 by L.L. No. 13-1976.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Architectural Review Committee — See Ch. 6.
Environmental quality review — See Ch. 98.
[1]
Editor's Note: Pursuant to L.L. No. 1-1976
which established the Code, the provisions of this chapter were originally
designated as Ch. 16.
The preservation and improvement of the quality
of the natural and man-made environment within the Incorporated Village
of Bellerose, 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 to require
forthright action by the governing body of the Incorporated Village
of Bellerose. It is recognized that the biologic integrity of the
natural environment on which man 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 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 Commission for Conservation of the Environment is a necessary
stop in fostering unified action on environmental problems.
The Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village
of Bellerose hereby creates a commission which shall be known as the
"Incorporated Village of Bellerose Commission for Conservation of
the Environment," hereafter called the "Commission."
[Amended 11-27-1978 by L.L. No. 2-1978]
A.
The Commission shall consist of five members, who
shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Board of
Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Bellerose. Persons residing
within the Incorporated Village of Bellerose who are interested in
the improvement and preservation of environmental quality shall be
eligible for appointment as members of the Commission, which may include
not more than one person between the ages of 16 and 18 years. Vacancies
on the Commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment, as hereinafter provided, 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.
B.
The terms of the members of the Commission shall be
staggered. The first three members appointed shall hold office for
terms of one year and the second two for terms of two years, and the
successors or all five initial appointees shall be appointed for full
terms of two years.
The Board of Trustees shall designate a member of the Commission to act as Chairman thereof. At the first meeting of the Commission, its members shall elect from among themselves a recording secretary. The Commission 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 § 15-6 of this chapter.
The powers and duties of the Commission shall
be to:
A.
Advise the Board of Trustees on matters affecting
the preservation, development and use of the natural and man-made
features and conditions of the Village insofar as beauty, quality,
biologic integrity and other environmental factors are concerned and,
in the case of man's 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.
B.
Develop and, after receiving general approval by resolution
of the Board of Trustees, 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 man-made features within the Incorporated Village of Bellerose
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 municipality 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
Commission for their preservation and use.
E.
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of
private groups, institutions and individuals within the Incorporated
Village of Bellerose, 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 Commission.
G.
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 Incorporated Village of Bellerose
and, similarly, recommend to the Board of Trustees appropriate and
desirable changes in existing local laws relating to environmental
control or recommend new local laws.
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 Commission into local environmental conditions.
J.
When authorized by resolution of the Board of Trustees
of the Incorporated Village of Bellerose, the Commission may accept,
by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise, property, both real
and personal, in the name of the Incorporated Village of Bellerose
as may be necessary to conserve and otherwise properly utilize open
spaces and other land and water resources within the boundaries of
the Incorporated Village of Bellerose. Such real property may be accepted
in fee for land 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 Commission shall submit an annual report
to the Board of Trustees, not later than the first day of April of
each year, concerning the activities and work of the Commission 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 Commission 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 Incorporated Village of Bellerose to preserve and
improve the quality of the natural and man-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.
