There is hereby created the Joint Conservation and Environmental Commission
(hereinafter "Commission").
Said Commission shall consist of 11 members who shall be residents of
the Town of Branford appointed by the Board of Selectmen. Members shall serve
without compensation.
In addition to the powers, rights and duties as set forth in Section
7-131a of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, said Commission shall
have the following powers and duties. The Commission shall:
A. Investigate pollution within the Town, including alleged
violations of clean air and clean water standards as established by the Connecticut
Department of Environmental Protection. It shall recommend to the Board of
Selectmen, the Representative Town Meeting and other Town, state and federal
agencies procedures, ordinances, rules and interlocal agreements to abate
and prevent pollution. It shall conduct such surveys as may be required, investigate
the source and nature of pollution hazards, review federal, state and Town
records and conduct public hearings for the purpose of obtaining information
leading to the abatement and prevention of pollution. The Commission shall
keep records of such surveys, inspections or hearings.
B. From time to time, work with unofficial bodies organized
for similar purposes.
C. Advise the Board of Selectmen and the Representative
Town Meeting about environmental matters concerning the Town of Branford.
Said Commission shall work together with the East Shore Health District,
the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, the Feral Environmental
Protection Agency and such other agencies as have been or may be formed from
time to time by one or more municipalities to protect the environment.
Said Commission shall annually present a budget and file an annual report
of its doings, which report shall be included in the Town's Annual Report.
The Commission can be called upon, at any time, by the Representative Town
Meeting to render a report of its activities.
As used in Chapter
21, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
POLLUTION
The contamination or rendering unclean or impure or the harmful alteration
of the physical, chemical or biological properties of the air, land or waters
of the Town or harmful thermal effect thereon.