[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Philipstown 9-25-2013 by L.L. No. 1-2013.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Environmental quality review — See Ch. 84.
Freshwater wetlands and watercourses -- See Ch. 93.
Land development — See Ch. 112.
Timber harvesting and forest management — See Ch. 159.
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also repealed former Ch. 10,
Conservation Board, adopted 5-5-1983 by Res. No. 20-83, as amended.
The Town Board of the Town of Philipstown, having adopted an
Open Space Index, does hereby designate its Conservation Advisory
Council as a Conservation Board pursuant to § 239-y of the
General Municipal Law.
A.
The
Board consists of seven members appointed by the Town Board of the
Town of Philipstown for two-year terms. Persons residing within the
Town of Philipstown who are interested in the improvement and preservation
of the environment and a maximum of two nonresident employees of nonprofit
environmental organizations in the Town of Philipstown are eligible
for appointment as members of the Board. The Town Board shall appoint
a Chair from among the members.
B.
The
current members of the Conservation Advisory Council, and their two-year
terms as they exist on the effective date of this chapter, shall be
converted to terms on the Conservation Board. Vacancies on the Board
occurring other than by the expiration of a term shall be filled for
the unexpired term in the same manner as an original appointment.
C.
The
Chairman of the Board shall be appointed by the Town Board from among
the members appointed to the Board.
D.
The
Board shall either elect a recording secretary from its members or
employ a recording secretary to take minutes of meetings.
E.
The
Town Board shall have authority to remove any member of said Board
so appointed for cause, after a public hearing, if requested.
The Board shall keep accurate records of its meetings and actions
and shall file an annual report with the Town Board of the Town of
Philipstown on or before the 31st day of December in each and every
year. Once approved, the Town Board shall forward a copy of this report
to the State Commissioner of Environmental Conservation.
A.
The
powers and duties of the Board shall be to:
(1)
Conduct research into the land area of the Town of Philipstown.
(2)
Seek to coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized
for similar purposes and to cooperate with other official municipal
bodies active in the area of community planning for the particular
municipality.
(3)
Keep and update the Open Space Index, as defined in § 239-y
of the General Municipal Law, with the plan of obtaining information
pertinent to proper use of such open lands, including lands owned
by the state, any other municipality within the state or by the Town
itself.
(4)
Keep and update an inventory and map of all open marshlands, swamps
and all other wetlands in a like manner, and with the option of recommending
to the Town Board a program for ecologically suitable use of all such
areas.
(5)
Review and report to any other boards or committees on such applications
or matters as they may refer to it.
(6)
Have the duties, powers and authority conferred on it by the following chapters of the Town Code: Chapter 62, Construction and Fire Prevention, Chapter 78, Driveways, Chapter 93, Freshwater Wetlands and Watercourses, Chapter 112, Land Development, Chapter 159, Timber Harvesting and Forest Management, and Chapter 175, Zoning.
(7)
Hold regular meetings no less frequently than once per month and
hold such additional meetings as shall be necessary for the timely
processing of applications.
(8)
In addition to the foregoing, carry out any other duties, tasks or
responsibilities consistent with the objectives of this chapter.
The members of the Board may receive compensation at the discretion
of the Town Board. The members of the Board may also be reimbursed
for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance
of their duties within appropriations made therefor.
Within 30 days following the designation of the Board, written
notification thereof shall be sent by the Town Board to the State
Commissioner of Environmental Conservation.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the
Town of Philipstown to preserve and improve the quality of the natural
and man-made environment on behalf of the present and future citizens
of the Town. This chapter is not intended and shall not be deemed
to impair the powers of any other public corporation.
