[HISTORY: Adopted by the Conservation Commission
of the Town of Griswold 9-20-1984, as amended through 8-24-2005. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The objectives and purposes of the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Conservation Commission of Griswold are those set forth in Chapter 97 of the Connecticut General Statutes, Section 7-131a, and Chapter 440, Section 221-36 through 221-45, as amended, and those powers and duties delegated to the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Conservation Commission by the aforementioned statutes by ordinance enacted at the Town Meeting of November 18, 1971,[1] and in accordance with the above enabling law.
The Commission shall be known as the "Griswold
Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Conservation Commission."
The office of the Griswold Inland Wetlands and
Watercourses Conservation Commission shall be the Town offices where
all Commission records shall be kept. Copies of all official documents,
records, maps, etc., will be filed or recorded in the Planning and
Community Development office.
A.
Membership shall consist of seven regular members
and three alternate members initially appointed by the Board of Selectmen
as established by the aforementioned ordinance and subsequently appointed
as follows: four members to four-year terms; and three members to
two-year terms. Each appointee shall be appointed for four years after
the initial term. Alternate members are appointed by the Board of
Selectmen for two-year terms.
B.
Alternate members shall be appointed by the Chairman
to act as full members upon the absence or disqualification of one
or more full members. During the hearing of an application, during
a public hearing or otherwise, alternate members may ask questions
or otherwise participate in the proceeding. Upon the closing of a
public hearing or entry into deliberations for a decision on an application,
alternate members may no longer speak or otherwise participate in
such deliberations unless seated as full members. Once seated for
deliberations on an application, the alternate member shall continue
to be seated for that application until a decision is made thereon.
Alternate members shall be appointed in rotation for an entire meeting
or for individual agenda items as the Chairman considers appropriate
under the circumstances.
C.
The Commission, by a majority vote, may accept honorary
and/or associate members to the Commission who would serve in an advisory
capacity.
D.
Six months of consecutive unexcused absence from regular
meetings of the Commission shall constitute a voluntary resignation
of appointment by the absentee member.
[Amended 2-15-2018]
The officers of the Commission shall consist
of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and a Secretary-Treasurer.
A.
Chairperson.
(1)
The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the
Commission and shall have the duties normally conferred by parliamentary
usage on such officers. The Chairperson shall have the authority to
appoint committees, certify expenditure of funds up to $50 without
prior approval of the Commission, call special meetings, and generally
perform other duties as may be prescribed in these bylaws.
(2)
The Chairperson shall be a member of the Commission.
He/she shall have the privilege of discussing all matters before the
Commission and of voting thereon.
B.
Vice Chairperson. The Vice Chairperson shall perform
any and all duties of the Chairperson in the absence or disqualification
of the Chairperson.
D.
Recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary shall
keep the minutes and records of the Commission and may prepare the
agenda of regular and special meetings.
A.
An annual organization meeting shall be held at the
regular December meeting at which time officers shall be elected.
A quorum must be present before election of officers can take place.
B.
Nominations shall be made from the floor at the annual organization meeting, and election of the officers specified in § 231-5 shall follow immediately thereafter.
C.
A candidate receiving a majority vote from the membership
of the Commission will be declared elected and shall serve for one
year or until his successor shall take office. New officers shall
take office immediately upon election at the annual meeting.
D.
Vacancies in offices shall be filled by a special
election within the Griswold Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Conservation
Commission at its next regular meeting.
E.
Removal of officers may be undertaken by written complaint
of a majority of full membership. After seven days' notice and opportunity
to be heard by a full membership at a special meeting, such officer
may be divested from office by a majority vote of members other than
himself/herself.
F.
Resignations from the Commission shall be in written
form and transmitted to the Chairperson who will then forward the
same to the Board of Selectmen.
G.
Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by appointment made by the Board of Selectmen in accordance with the Town Code. New members shall finish the unexpired term of the member replaced. Vacancies shall be deemed to be effective upon acceptance of a letter of resignation by the Commission or in the case of resignation under § 231-4D, upon the vote of the Commission to accept such voluntary resignation.
A.
Regular meetings will be held on the third Thursday
of each month, at a time to be determined by the Commission, in the
Town Hall or other location as may be determined by the members of
the Commission. In the event of conflict with holidays or other events,
a majority at any meeting may change the date of said meeting. The
Recording Secretary shall notify the membership in advance of all
such meetings. Notice of such change will be posted in the Town Hall.
Anyone on the agenda will also be notified.
B.
A majority of the membership of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum. A quorum is necessary to transact a business
meeting.
C.
The notice of a meeting, other than a regular meeting,
shall specify the purpose of such a meeting, and no other business
may be considered. Special meetings shall be called by the Commission
and/or the Chairperson and posted and/or noticed by the Recording
Secretary.
D.
All Commission meetings shall be open to the public
when in session and shall be closed to the public for executive session
when so voted by the majority of the Commission members present and
voting.
E.
Unless otherwise specified, Robert's Rules of Order
shall govern the proceedings at the meeting of the Commission.
In accordance with Chapter 35 of the Code of the Town of Griswold, entitled "Ethics, Code of," in any matter coming before the Commission in which a member of the Commission has a personal or financial interest, that member shall be disqualified from voting on that matter.
Unless otherwise determined by the Chairperson,
the suggested order of business at regular meetings shall be as follows:
A.
Call to order.
B.
Roll call and determination of a quorum.
C.
Applications.
D.
Written complaints.
[Amended 2-15-2018]
E.
Communications.
[Amended 2-15-2018]
F.
Applications.
[Amended 2-15-2018]
G.
Reports from enforcement officer.
[Amended 2-15-2018]
H.
Old business.
[Amended 2-15-2018]
I.
New business.
[Amended 2-15-2018]
J.
Reports from Commission members.
[Amended 2-15-2018]
K.
Conservation Commission's matters.
L.
Adjournment.
[Added 2-15-2018]
M.
Aquifer Protection Agency.
[Added 2-15-2018]
A.
Within the limits of the funds available for its use,
the Commission may employ such staff personnel and/or consultants
as it sees fit to aid the Commission in its work. Appointments shall
be made by a majority vote of the entire membership. The Chairperson
may be authorized to sign contracts for employing personnel and contracting
for services as might be approved by the Commission.
B.
Enforcing agent.
(1)
The Commission, by majority vote, shall appoint an
inland wetlands and watercourses enforcing agent who shall perform
such duties as deemed necessary by the Commission. The enforcing agent
shall serve for one year and shall be appointed at the annual organization
meeting.
(2)
The duties of the enforcement officer shall include
but not be limited to the following:
(a)
Personally investigating complaints and reporting
to the Commission on any activity alleged to be in conflict with the
regulations of the Commission.
(b)
Inspecting and providing assurance to the Commission
that the proper soil erosion and sedimentation control measures are
being employed on permitted projects and that said measures are properly
installed.
(c)
Inspecting and providing assurance to the Commission
that all stipulations as outlined in official decisions rendered by
the Commission have been met by the applicant.
(d)
Provision of an oral report to the Commission
during the regular meeting on any matter which the enforcement officer,
in his/her professional opinion, feels the Commission should be aware
of to the best performance of his/her duties. Should the enforcement
officer anticipate absence from the next regular meeting, a written
report shall be submitted to the membership five days prior to the
regular meeting.
Committees may be appointed by the Chairperson
for purposes and terms which the Commission approves. Chairpersons
of such committees must be duly appointed members of the Commission.
However, nonmembers may serve on such committees or subcommittees
to perform specific tasks. It is the policy of the Commission to encourage
participation from the community.
The Chairperson or duly appointed Commission
member or staff personnel shall act as public relations or publicity
director for the Commission. His/her duties include the preparation
of all news releases to be distributed to the communications media.
All information releases shall reflect the thinking of the majority
of the Commission.
Bylaws must be reviewed by the Commission at
least annually at a regular or special meeting. These bylaws may be
amended by a two-thirds vote of the entire membership of the Commission,
only after the proposed change has been read and discussed at a previous
regular meeting.
