[Added 1-12-2000 by L.L. No. 1-2000]
The preservation and improvement of the quality
of the natural and man-made environment within the Town of Rotterdam,
in the face of population growth, urbanization, and technologic change
with their accompanying demands on natural resources, are found to
be of increasing and vital importance to the health, welfare and economic
well-being of present and future inhabitants and require forthright
action by the governing board of the Town of Rotterdam. 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 of Rotterdam working in partnership
with local and state officials and with various public and private
industries, agencies and organizations, establishment of a Conservation
Advisory Council is a necessary step in fostering unified action on
environmental problems.
A.
The Council shall consist of seven members, all of
whom shall be appointed by the Town Board of the Town of Rotterdam
and who shall serve at its pleasure. Persons residing within the Town
of Rotterdam who are interested in the improvement and preservation
of our environment shall be eligible for appointment as a member of
the Council. Vacancies on the Council shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment, except that a vacancy occurring
other than by the expiration of term of office shall be filled only
for the remainder of the unexpired term. Three of the members appointed
shall hold office for a term of one year; the second four members
appointed shall hold office for a term of two years; the successors
of all seven initial appointees shall be appointed for full terms
of two years.
B.
The Town Engineer, or anyone designated by the Town
Engineer, shall be an ex officio, nonvoting member.
At the first meeting of the Council, its members shall elect from among themselves a Chairperson and a Recording Secretary. The Council 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 § 270-210 of this article.
The powers and duties of the Council shall be
to:
A.
Advise the Town Board of the Town of Rotterdam on
matters affecting the preservation, development and use of the natural
and man-made features and conditions of the Town insofar as beauty,
quality, biologic integrity and other environmental factors are concerned
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 town.
B.
Develop and, after receiving general 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 solutions.
C.
Conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the natural
and man-made features within the Town of Rotterdam and such other
studies and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purposes
of this article.
D.
Maintain an up-to-date inventory or index of all open
spaces 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 and
marshlands; other wetlands; unique biotic communities; and scenic
and other open areas of natural or ecological value, and of the ownership,
present use and proposed use of such open areas, so as to provide
a base of information for recommendations by the Council for their
preservation and/or use.
E.
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of
private groups and individuals within the Town of Rotterdam in accord
with the purposes of this article.
F.
Act as liaison and maintain 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 Council. The
Chairperson of the Rotterdam Conservation Advisory Council shall be
the voting member of the Schenectady County Environmental Conservation
Advisory Council.
G.
Working in cooperation with the Planning Board, 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 Rotterdam and, similarly, recommend to the Town Board appropriate
and desirable changes in existing local laws and ordinances relating
to environmental control or recommend new local laws and ordinances.
The Council shall also interface with the Planning and Zoning Boards
and make recommendations to them on environmental aspects of contemplated
changes of zoning or land use.
H.
Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts
and pamphlets in accordance with the purposes of this article.
I.
Obtain and maintain in orderly fashion maps, reports,
books and other publications to support the necessary researches of
the Council into local environmental conditions.
J.
When authorized by resolution of the Town Board, the
Council may accept, by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise,
property both real and personal in the name of the Town of Rotterdam,
as may be necessary to conserve and otherwise property utilize open
spaces and other land and water resources within the boundaries of
the Town of Rotterdam.
K.
Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from
time to time by the Town Board and to carry out such tasks or responsibilities,
consistent with the objectives of Article 12-F of the General Municipal
Law, as may be assigned by resolution of the Town Board.
The Council shall submit an annual report to
the Town Board, not later than the first day of April of each year,
concerning the activities and work of the Council and from time to
time shall submit such reports and recommendations as may be necessary
to fulfill the purposes of this article.
[Amended 1-23-2013 by L.L. No. 2-2013]
The members of the Council, excluding ex officio
members, may receive compensation for their services as members thereof
and may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred
in the performance of their duties within the appropriations made
available thereof. The Council may prepare and submit an annual budget
request in writing to the Town Board to defray expenses for compensation,
professional staff, consultants, clerical assistants and printing
and distribution of publications.
This article shall be deemed an exercise of
the powers of the Town of Rotterdam to preserve and improve the quality
of the natural and man-made environment on behalf of the present and
future inhabitants thereof. This article is not intended and shall
not be deemed to impair the powers of any other public corporation.
