[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of East Hills 9-12-1983 by L.L. No. 1-1983 as Ch. 13 of the 1983
Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 1-21-1997 by L.L. No. 3-1997]
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural
and man-made environment within the Incorporated Village of East Hills,
in the face of population growth, urbanization and technologic change,
with their accompanying demands on natural resources and environmental
conditions, are of increasing and vital importance to the health,
welfare and economic well-being of present and future inhabitants
and require forthright action by the Mayor and Trustees of the Incorporated
Village of East Hills. 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 this Village
working in partnership with local and state officials and with various
public and private institutions, agencies and organizations. The establishment
of a Commission for Conservation of the Environment is a necessary
step in fostering unified action on environmental problems.
[Amended 1-21-1997 by L.L. No. 3-1997]
The Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of East Hills
hereby creates a Commission, which shall be known as the "East Hills
Commission for Conservation of the Environment," hereinafter called
the "Commission."
[Amended 1-21-1997 by L.L. No. 3-1997]
A.
The
Commission shall consist of seven members, who shall be full-time
Village residents. Membership on the Commission shall terminate, effective
immediately, should a member cease to be a full-time resident of the
Village of East Hills. Two of the members shall be student members
who are high school students enrolled in their junior or senior years
in an accredited high school or matriculating students in an accredited
college located within a thirty-mile radius of the Village. The student
members shall be less than 21 years of age at the time of appointment.
B.
The
term of each member shall be two years, except that, upon the initial
appointment of the members of the Commission, four members shall be
appointed for terms of two years, and three members shall be appointed
for terms of one year. Thereafter, all appointments shall be made
for terms of two years; provided, however, that the term of any student
member shall terminate, effective immediately, upon the student member
reaching his or her 21st birthday, attending a college or university
outside of a thirty-mile radius of the Village or receiving a degree
from an accredited college or university, whichever occurs first.
C.
The
Mayor, Chair of the Planning Board, Chair of the Board of Zoning Appeals
and the Village Attorney, and such other officials that may be hereafter
designated by the Mayor, shall be ex officio members of the Commission
but shall not vote.
[Amended 1-21-1997 by L.L. No. 3-1997]
The Board of Trustees shall designate a member of the Commission to act as Chair 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.
[Amended 1-21-1997 by L.L. No. 3-1997]
The powers and duties of the Commission shall be as set forth
in § 239-x1 and 6 of the General Municipal Law. In addition,
the Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
A.
Advise
the Village Board of Trustees on matters affecting the preservation,
development and use of the environment, particularly evaluating major
threats posed to environmental quality, wherever the same may exist
and affect the Village.
B.
Develop
and, after receiving general approval by resolution of the Village
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 and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purpose
of this chapter.
D.
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.
E.
The
Commission may present to the Village Board of Trustees plans and
programs relating to environmental improvement for inclusion in the
Village Code and, similarly, recommend to the Village Board of Trustees
appropriate and desirable changes in existing local laws relating
to environmental control or recommend new local laws.
F.
Carry
out such other duties as may be assigned, from time to time, by the
Village Board of Trustees.
The Commission shall submit an annual report to the Board of
Trustees, not later than the first Monday 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, 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, provided that such expenses shall first have been
authorized by the Village Board of Trustees.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the power of the
Village of East Hills 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.
