[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Monroe 9-17-1990
by Local Law No. 6, 1990. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and man-made
environment within the Town of Monroe, in the face of population growth, urbanization
and technologic change, with their accompanying demands on natural resources,
is found to be of increasing and vital importance to the health, welfare and
economic well-being of present and future inhabitants and requires forthright
action by the governing body of the Town of Monroe. 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 town working in
partnership with local and state officials and with various public and private
institutions, agencies and organizations. Establishment of a Conservation
Commission is a necessary step in fostering unified action on environmental
problems.
The Town Board of the Town of Monroe, hereinafter the "Town Board,"
hereby creates a Commission which shall be known as the "Town of Monroe Conservation
Commission," hereinafter called the "Commission."
[Amended 3-18-1991 by L.L. No. 1,
1991]
The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the Town
Board who shall serve at the pleasure of the Town Board. The initial appointments
of Commissioners shall be three members for one year and four members for
two years and each reappointment thereafter shall be for two years. Thereafter,
all succeeding appointments shall be for a full two-year term, except in the
case of vacancies. Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment, except that a vacancy occurring other
than by the expiration of a term of office shall be filled only for the remainder
of the unexpired term.
The Town Board 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 § 3-6 of this chapter.
Subject to budgetary appropriations made by the Town Board, the powers
and duties of the Commission shall be:
A.
To advise the Town Board on matters affecting the preservation,
development and use of the natural and man-made features and conditions of
the Town of Monroe insofar as quality, biologic integrity, beauty and other
environmental factors are concerned; in the case of man's activities
and developments, to advise on 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 Monroe.
B.
To develop and, after receiving 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 solution.
C.
To conduct and maintain an inventory of the natural resources
within the Town of Monroe.
D.
To maintain an up-to-date index of all open spaces, as
defined in § 239-y of the General Municipal Law, in public or private
ownership within the municipality, 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;
and scenic and other open areas of natural or ecological value. Such index
shall include the ownership and present and proposed uses of such open areas
so as to provide a base of information for recommendations by the Commission
for their preservation and/or use.
E.
To seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of
private groups, institutions and individuals within the Town of Monroe in
accordance with the purposes of this chapter.
F.
To maintain liaison and communications with public and
private agencies and organizations whose programs and activities have an impact
on the quality of the environment or who can be of assistance to the Commission.
G.
Working in cooperation with the Planning Board, to recommend
from time to time to the Town Board features, plans and programs relating
to environmental improvement for inclusion in the Master Plan of the Town
of Monroe and recommend to the Town Board appropriate and desirable changes
in existing local laws and ordinances relating to environmental and land use
controls or recommend new local laws and ordinances.
H.
To prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts
and pamphlets in accordance with the purposes of this chapter.
I.
To 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.
To carry out such other duties as may be assigned from
time to time by the Town Board.
The Commission shall keep accurate records of its meetings and actions
and shall submit an annual report to the Town Board not later than the 31st
day of December of each year concerning the activities and work of the Commission.
From time to time, the Commission shall submit such reports and recommendations
as may be necessary to fulfill the purpose 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 the
reimbursement shall have been previously approved by the Town Board.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the Town Board
to preserve and improve the quality of the natural and manmade 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.
