[Adopted 7-17-1979]
Preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and man-made environment within the County of Putnam in the face of population growth, urbanization and technologic change with their accompanying demands on natural resources are of increasing and vital importance to the health, welfare and economic well-being of the present and future inhabitants of the county. 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 local governments in the state working in concert with each other and with other public and private institutions, agencies and organizations. Therefore, establishment by the County of Putnam of a council for environmental problem solving among local governments and among public and private organizations located within the county, is created.
The County Legislature of the County of Putnam hereby creates and establishes a council which shall be called the “Putnam County Environmental Management Council,” hereinafter called the “EMC.”
[Amended 12-2-1997 by L.L. No. 15-1997; 4-5-2005 by L.L. No. 8-2005]
Membership of the Environmental Management Council shall consist of the following:
A. 
Members appointed by Legislature.
(1) 
Six members to be appointed by the Legislature, one from each town’s Conservation Advisory Council. In the event a town does not have any Conservation Advisory Council or if no member of the Conservation Advisory Council is willing to serve, the County Legislature may appoint any resident of such town to the Environmental Management Council.
(2) 
One member appointed by the Legislature who shall be a person other than a member of a town Conservation Advisory Council residing within the County of Putnam who is interested in the improvement and preservation of environmental quality.
B. 
Ex-officio members shall be the County Executive, County Planner, Commissioner of Highways and Facilities, County Attorney, Chairman of the Soil and Water Conservation District and the Cooperative Extension Agent of the County.
C. 
All appointees shall serve two years, at the pleasure of the County Legislature. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a member appointed to the Environmental Management Council by virtue of their membership on a town Conservation Advisory Council whose term on said town Conservation Advisory Council shall expire before two years, that member shall have his or her term on the Environmental Management Council expire concurrently with such member’s term on his or her respective town Conservation Advisory Council.
D. 
Vacancies on the Environmental Management Council shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, except that a vacancy occurring through circumstances other than by an expiration of a term of office shall be filled only for the remainder of said term.
The County Legislature shall designate a member of the EMC to act as Chairman thereof. At the first meeting of the EMC, its members shall elect from among themselves a recording secretary. The EMC 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 § 25-6 of this article.
The powers and duties of the EMC shall be to:
A. 
Advise the County Executive on matters affecting the preservation, development and use of the natural and man-made features and conditions of the county insofar as they have a bearing on environmental quality 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 county.
B. 
Develop and, after receiving general approval by resolution of the County Legislature, conduct a program of public information in the county which shall be designed to foster increased understanding of the nature of environmental problems and issues and support for their solutions.
C. 
Develop and recommend a program to improve the coordination and effectiveness of public and private projects and activities in the county in accord with the purposes of this article, working in cooperation with town conservation commissions, insofar as such agencies have been established in towns within the county, and with other public and private agencies, focusing particularly on those matters relating to environmental quality which require intergovernmental action.
[Amended 12-2-1997 by L.L. No. 15-1997]
D. 
Encourage the establishment of local conservation commissions in those towns that have not yet formally created the same within the county, advise and assist them in developing their own programs and foster an effective interchange between the County EMC and such town agencies.
E. 
Maintain liaison with regional planning agencies, regional water resources planning and development boards and other such public and private regional bodies affecting the conservation of environmental quality, with a view toward improvement of coordination.
F. 
Conduct and maintain an official inventory of the natural resources of the county. This shall be known as the “Putnam County Natural Resources Inventory,” hereinafter called the “County NRI.” Coordination shall be maintained with any town commissions performing the same work.
G. 
Conduct surveys and studies for identification of those open spaces, natural areas, swamps and other wetlands and other natural and scenic features which are of a county or regional significance and for which an index shall be maintained, and make recommendations to the County Executive for the appropriate preservation and use of such areas and features.
H. 
Recommend from time to time to the County Executive plans and programs for environmental improvement for inclusion in the Putnam County Master Plan, including, but not limited to, the recommendations in the report and plan required in § 25-6 of this article.
I. 
Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts and pamphlets in accord with the purposes of this article concerning the County NRI. Copies of the official NRI shall be available to the public.
J. 
When authorized by resolution of the County Executive, the EMC may accept by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise, property both real and personal in the name of the county as may be necessary to conserve and otherwise properly utilize open spaces and other land and water resources within the boundaries of the county. Such real property maybe accepted in fee for land and water rights or as any lesser interest, development right, easement, covenant or other contractual right, including conveyance with limitations or reversions.
A. 
The EMC shall review the state of the county environment as a whole, and shall prepare and submit an annual report of its findings to the County Executive and the County Legislature no later than February 1st of each year covering the preceding calendar year. This report also shall include an account of the EMC activities and accomplishments which shall be based on accurate records of its meetings, financial transactions and other works.
B. 
The EMC, in cooperation with the County Planner and other appropriate agencies, shall prepare a plan for the protection of the county's environment and the management of its natural resources. To the extent practicable, the preparation, content and subsequent revisions to the County Environmental Plan shall be coordinated with the State Environmental Plan. The County Environmental Plan shall be submitted by the EMC to the County Executive and County Legislature as soon as practical, but not later than three years after the effective date of this article. Thereafter, this report and plan shall be revised by the EMC and resubmitted to the County Executive and the County Legislature at regular intervals, not exceeding three years (preferably annually). The County Environmental Plan shall be based on the County NRI.
C. 
From time to time, the EMC shall submit such other reports and recommendations as are necessary to fulfill the purposes of this article.
A. 
The seven members of the EMC and the six 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 appropriations made available therefor.
B. 
The County Legislature may appropriate funds for the expenses incurred by the EMC including, but not limited to, expenses for professional staff, consultants, clerical assistance and printing and distribution of publications. The EMC should prepare and submit an annual budget in the manner prescribed by the County Executive. The County Executive, upon request by the EMC, also may, from time to time and for designated purposes, assign or detail county employees from various agencies to perform work for the EMC. The primary publications to be established and updated by the EMC are the County Environmental Plan and the County NRI.
This article shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the county to preserve and improve the quality of the natural and man-made environment on behalf of the present and future citizens thereof. This article is not intended and shall not be deemed to impair the powers of any town or village within the County of Putnam.