[Adopted 11-12-1991 by Ord. No. 9-91-0181 as Ch. 2, Art. IV, Div. 2, of the 1991 Code]
In accordance with R.I.G.L. § 45-35-1, there is hereby established a Conservation Commission for the Town.
The Conservation Commission shall consist of five members residing in the Town. No member of the Commission shall be an elected or appointed official or employee of the Town or of any department, office or agency of the Town.
A. 
The members of the Conservation Commission shall be appointed by the Town Manager. Duly incorporated and existing wildlife, conservation, sportsmen's, horticultural or like organizations may present to the Manager a list of qualified citizens, from which lists the Manager must select at least three members of the Commission and from which lists he may select the remaining members.
B. 
The first five members of the Conservation Commission shall be appointed for terms as follows: one member shall be appointed for a term expiring June 1, 1974; two members shall be appointed for terms expiring June 1, 1975; and two members shall be appointed for terms expiring June 1, 1976; annually thereafter, one member shall be appointed to serve for a term of three years. If there is a vacancy caused by resignation or for any other reason, the Town Manager shall appoint a person to fill the unexpired term.
The members of the Conservation Commission shall serve without compensation.
The Conservation Commission shall elect its Chairman from its members, and his term of office shall be for one year. The Commission may, at its discretion, likewise elect a Vice Chairman. The Commission shall also elect a Secretary in the same manner as the Chairman.
A. 
Regular meetings of the Conservation Commission shall be held at least once each month on such dates as shall be fixed by the Commission. Special meetings shall be held as often as the Commission shall determine necessary. A quorum for the transaction of business at all regular and special meetings shall be three members with full voting powers.
B. 
All meetings of the Conservation Commission shall be open to the public, and any person or his duly constituted representative shall be entitled to appear and be heard on any matter before the Commission before it reaches its decision.
The Conservation Commission shall adopt rules for the transaction of its business and shall keep a permanent record of all proceedings, resolutions and transactions. Such records shall be open to the public view.
To effectuate coordination of the endeavors of the Commission, the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Review, Parks and Recreation Department, and any other board, commission or agency concerned with resource use shall notify the Conservation Commission of any proposals concerning natural resources made by or to any of them.
The Conservation Commission shall act in an advisory capacity to the Town Council and the Town Manager, and its purpose is to promote and develop the natural resources, to protect the watershed resources, and to preserve natural aesthetic areas within the Town.
It shall be the duty of the Conservation Commission to conduct researches into its local land areas and to seek to coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes. The Commission may advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which in its judgment it deems necessary for its work.
The Conservation Commission may recommend to the Town Council a program for the better promotion, development, utilization or preservation of open areas, streams, shores, wooded areas, roadsides, swamps, marshlands and natural aesthetic areas.
The Conservation Commission may receive gifts of funds, lands, buildings or other properties in the name of the Town, subject to the approval of the Town Council, and thereafter shall manage the funds or property in accordance with the purposes set forth in this article. Such power shall not be construed to deny to the people access to such lands for all legitimate purposes. The Town may not deny or restrict to the people free access to such lands or to any other land held by or for the Town for recreation purposes.
The Conservation Commission shall submit an annual report to the Town Manager summarizing the work of the preceding year and recommending plans and programs for action and future development.