The preservation and improvement of the quality
of the natural and man-made environment within the Town of Kent, 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 Kent. 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 Kent working in partnership with
local and state officials and with various public and private institutions,
agencies and organizations. Establishment of a Conservation Advisory
Committee is a necessary step in fostering unified action on environmental
problems.
The Town Board of the Town of Kent hereby creates
a Committee which shall be known as the "Town of Kent Conservation
Advisory Committee," hereinafter called the "Committee."
The Committee shall consist of seven members
of which seven shall be appointed by the Town Board and who shall
serve at the pleasure of the Town Board of Kent. Persons residing
within the Town of Kent who are interested in the improvement and
preservation of environmental quality shall be eligible for appointment
as a member of the Committee. Vacancies on the Committee 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.
The Town Board of the Town of Kent shall designate a member of the Committee to act as Chairman thereof. At the first meeting of the Committee, its members shall elect from among themselves a Recording Secretary. The Committee 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 §
4-18.
The powers and duties of the Committee shall
be to:
A. Advise the Town Board on matters affecting the preservation,
development and use of the natural and man-made features and conditions
of the Town of Kent insofar as quality, biologic integrity, beauty
and other environmental factors are concerned and, in the case of
man's activities and developments, advise on any major threats posed
to environmental quality, so as to enhance the long-range value of
the environment to the people of the Town of Kent.
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 and maintain an inventory of the natural resources
within the Town of Kent.
D. Maintain an up-to-date index of all open spaces, as
defined in § 239-y of the General Municipal Law, 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, marshlands and other
wetlands; unique biotic communities; and scenic and other open areas
of natural or ecological value. Such index shall include the ownership
and present and proposed uses of such open areas, so as to provide
a base of information for recommendations by the Committee for their
preservation and/or use.
E. Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of
private groups, institutions and individuals within the Town of Kent
in accord with the purposes of this article.
F. Maintain liaison and communications with public and
private agencies and organizations whose programs and activities have
an impact on the quality of the environment or who can be of assistance
to the Committee.
G. Working in cooperation with the Planning Board, recommend
from time to time to the Town Board features, plans and program relating
to environmental improvement for inclusion in the Master Plan of the
Town of Kent and, similarly, recommend to the Town Board appropriate
and desirable changes in existing local laws and ordinances relating
to environmental and land use control or recommend new local laws
and ordinances.
H. Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts
and pamphlets in accord 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 Committee into local environmental conditions.
J. When authorized by resolution of the Town Board of
the Town of Kent, the Committee may accept, by gift, grant, devise,
bequest or otherwise, property both real and personal in the name
of the Town of Kent, as may be necessary to conserve and otherwise
properly utilize open spaces and other land and water resources within
the boundaries of the Town of Kent. Such real property may be accepted
in fee for land and water rights or as any lesser interest, development
right, easement, including conservation easement, covenant or other
contractual right, including conveyance with limitations or reversions.
K. Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from
time to time by the Town Board.
The Committee shall keep accurate records of
its meetings and actions and shall submit to the Town Board, not later
than the 31st day of December of each year, an annual report concerning
the activities and work of the Committee. From time to time the Committee
shall submit such reports and recommendations as may be necessary
to fulfill the purpose of this article.
The members of the Committee 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.
(Note: The Town Board may appropriate funds for the expenses incurred
by a Committee, including but not limited to expenses for professional
staff consultants, clerical assistance and printing and distribution
of publications. The Committee should prepare and submit an annual
budget request in the manner prescribed by the Town Board. The Town
Board, upon request by the Committee, also may from time to time and
for designated purposes assign or detail public employees to perform
work for the Committee.)
This article shall be deemed an exercise of
the powers of the Town Board of the Town of Kent 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.