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Village of New Paltz, NY
Ulster County
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[Derived from Ch. 6 of the 1978 Code; amended in its entirety 7-27-2016 by L.L. No. 4-2016[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also changed the title of Art. I from “Environmental Policy Commission” to its current title.
The Village Board finds that it is in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Village of New Paltz that the Environmental Policy Commission shall now be known as the Environmental Policy Board ("EPB"). The goal and primary objectives of the Board shall continue to be:
A. 
Its continuing efforts to identify and offer practical solutions to Village Officials for dealing with environmental problems;
B. 
To advocate for the rights of nature; and
C. 
To advise the Village Board on such issues as it deems necessary.
A. 
There shall be five voting members of the Environmental Policy Board, each with a two-year term. Members shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the initial appointees shall be appointed to staggered terms, with two having an initial term of one year, and three having an initial term of two years.
B. 
Voting members shall be known as "EPB Members."
C. 
The voting members of the Board shall annually, at their first meeting of each year, elect a Chair and a Secretary, and designate one voting member as a liaison to the Village of New Paltz Planning Board. The liaison to the Village Planning Board must be in attendance at Planning Board meetings. If the liaison cannot be present, it shall be the appointed liaison's obligation to arrange for attendance at the Planning Board meeting of another voting member.
D. 
Each EPB Member shall nominate two volunteers for appointment by the Board as "Environmental Policy Researchers."
(1) 
Each EPB Member shall work with the two Policy Researchers nominated by them and appointed by the Board, as a team.
(2) 
Each Policy Researcher shall serve a term of one year.
(3) 
Environmental Policy Researchers may participate in Environmental Policy Board meetings, but may not vote on any matter before the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, when a voting member is absent from a meeting, the Chair shall appoint any Environmental Policy Researcher to serve as an alternate. If duly appointed as such, the Environmental Policy Researcher may be a voting member at the meeting at which he or she was duly appointed.
E. 
The policies to be researched shall be decided on at the first meeting in June each year, and may be amended from time to time at the discretion of the Chair.
The duties of EPB members shall be to:
A. 
Research and propose policies that will:
(1) 
Prevent, minimize, remediate or mitigate continuing or future harm to the environment.
(2) 
Propose measures to remediate/undo past harm to the environment.
(3) 
Each EPB Member shall be responsible for the completion of at least one policy per year that will, upon approval by the Board, be reported to the Village Board of Trustees by the first regular meeting of the Village Board in May of a given year.
(4) 
No two EPB Members may use the same policy to meet the criteria in this section.
B. 
Educate Village residents about the causes and prevention of environmental problems, what they can do individually, and what we all can do collectively to mitigate, remediate, reverse and prevent past, current and future damage to the environment.
C. 
Maintain an open space inventory and open space map as defined in the New York State General Municipal Law which shall prioritize open areas within the Village for conservation based on natural, scenic and cultural values. Upon adoption of the open space inventory and open space map by the Village Board, the EPB, while remaining advisory, shall participate and issue a formal opinion with respect to the environmental review process related to any proposed actions on properties listed in the open space index.
D. 
Coordinate the efforts of environmentally based community groups, SUNY New Paltz student clubs, nonprofits, environmental groups, and government agencies at the local, county, regional, state and federal levels to achieve positive environmental outcomes.
E. 
Offer advice related to the State Environmental Quality Review ("SEQR") process to the Village Planning Board in connection with land-use applications for which SEQR review is mandated.
The Secretary of the Environmental Policy Board shall file two reports annually with the Village Clerk:
A. 
By April 1 of each year, the Secretary shall file a report containing:
(1) 
A status report on each policy currently being researched and/or implemented, including work performed to date, work still to be done and estimated time lines for completion.
(2) 
An executive summary of all formal opinions written for land use referrals from the Planning Board.
B. 
By December 31 of each year, the Secretary shall file a report containing:
(1) 
A status report on each policy currently being researched and/or implemented, including work performed to date, work still to be done and estimated time lines for completion.
(2) 
An executive summary of all formal opinions written for land use referrals from the Planning Board.
(3) 
A schedule of trainings to be attended in the coming year.
(4) 
Recommendations on Environmental Policy Board reorganization, structure, staffing or other major administrative, organizational or resource needs, based on the final budget of the coming fiscal year.
(5) 
A report containing the requested Environmental Policy Board tentative budget for the coming fiscal year, as adopted by the Board.