[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Greenfield 6-27-1973 by L.L. No. 1-1973. Amendments noted where applicable.
GENERAL REFERENCES
Environmental quality review — See Ch. 49.
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and man-made environment within the Town of Greenfield, 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 body of the Town of Greenfield. 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 working in partnership with local and state officials and with various public and private institutions, agencies and organizations. Establishment of an Environmental Commission is a necessary step in fostering unified action on environmental problems.
The Town Board of the Town of Greenfield hereby creates an advisory commission which shall be known as the "Environmental Commission of the Town of Greenfield," hereinafter called the "Commission."
A. 
The Commission shall consist of not less than three nor more than nine members, who shall be appointed by the Town Board and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Town Board for a period of one year, with such terms to expire on December 31 of such year.
B. 
Persons residing within the Town of Greenfield who are interested in the improvement and preservation of environmental quality shall be eligible for appointment as a member of the Commission, but no more than two members of the Commission may be between the ages of 16 and 21 years of age.
C. 
Vacancies on the Commission 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.
A. 
The Town Board shall designate a member of the Commission to act as Chairman thereof. At the first meeting of the Commission, its members shall elect from among themselves a Recording Secretary.
B. 
The Commission shall adopt rules and procedures for its meetings.
C. 
The Commission shall keep accurate records of its meetings and activities and shall file an annual report as provided in § 11-5 of this chapter.
The powers and duties of the Commission shall be to:
A. 
Conduct research into the land area of the Town.
B. 
Seek to coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes and to cooperate with other official municipal bodies active in the area of community planning for the Town.
C. 
Advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which, in its judgment, it deems necessary for its work; however, such expenditures shall be within the Commission's budgetary appropriation as approved by the Town Board.
D. 
Keep an inventory and map, as defined in § 239-y of the General Municipal Law, of all open areas within the Town, with the plan of obtaining information pertinent to proper utilization of such open lands, including lands owned by the state or any other municipality within the state or by the Town of Greenfield.
[Amended 12-28-1988 by L.L. No. 10-1988]
E. 
Keep an inventory and map of all open marshlands, swamps and all other wetlands in a like manner, and it may recommend to the Town Board a program for ecologically suitable utilization of all such areas.
F. 
Keep accurate records of its meetings and actions and file an annual report with the Town Board of Greenfield on or before the 31st day of December of each and every year, a copy of which, when approved, shall be forwarded to the State Commissioner of Environmental Conservation.
G. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection G, dealing with the acceptance of gifts, was repealed 4-14-1988 by L.L. No. 2-1988.
H. 
In addition to the foregoing, carry out any other duties, tasks or responsibilities, consistent with the objectives of this chapter, assigned to it by resolution of the Town Board of Greenfield.
The Commission shall submit an annual report to the Town Board, not later than the 31st day of December of each year, concerning the activities and work of the Commission and from time to time shall submit such reports and recommendations as may be necessary to fulfill the purposes of this chapter.
The members of the Commission 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 the appropriations made available therefor.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the Town of Greenfield to preserve and improve the quality of the natural and man-made environment on behalf of the present and future inhabitants thereof. This chapter is not intended and shall not be deemed to impair the powers of any other public corporation.