[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees
of the Incorporated Village of Bayville 3-10-1975 by L.L. No. 6-1975. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The preservation and improvement of the quality
of the natural and man-made environment within the Village of Bayville,
in the face of population growth 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 Village of Bayville. It is recommended 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 Village of Bayville working in partnership with
local and state officials and with various public and private institutions,
agencies and organizations. Establishment of a commission for conservation
of the environment is a necessary step in fostering unified action
on environmental problems.
The Village Board of the Village of Bayville
hereby creates a commission which shall be known as the "Bayville
Environmental Conservation Commission," hereinafter called the "Commission."
The Commission shall consist of not less than
seven nor more than nine members. In addition, there may be appointed
up to two members of the Commission who are between 16 and 21 years
of age. Members shall be appointed by the Village Board for the term
of two years from and after the expiration of the terms of their predecessors
in office. If a vacancy shall occur otherwise than by the expiration
of a term, it shall be filled by the Village Board by appointment
for the unexpired term; provided, however, that half of the members,
other than the Chairman, shall be appointed for terms of two years,
and the remaining members shall be appointed for the term of one year.
Persons who have demonstrated an interest in the improvement and preservation
of environmental quality shall be eligible for appointment as members
of the Commission.
The Village 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. The Commission 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 § 24-6 of this chapter. The Commission shall meet at least once each month and shall have the power to hold public hearings.
The powers and duties of the Commission shall
be to:
A.Â
Advise the Village Board, Planning Board, Zoning Board
of Appeals and all other Village boards and commissions on matters
affecting the preservation, development and use of the natural and
man-made features and conditions of the Village insofar as beauty,
quality of biologic integrity and other environmental factors are
concerned and, in the case of man's activities and developments, with
regard to any major threats posed to environmental quality, so as
to enhance the long-range value of the environment to the people of
the Village of Bayville.
B.Â
Develop and, after receiving general approval by resolution
of the Village 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 supports for
their solutions.
C.Â
Conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the natural
and man-made features within the Village of Bayville and such other
studies and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purposes
of this chapter.
D.Â
Maintain an up-to-date inventory or index of all open
spaces or open areas in public or private ownership within the municipality
(as the term "open areas" is defined in § 239-y of the New
York State General Municipal Law), 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; scenic and other open areas of natural
or ecological value; and of the ownership, present use and proposed
use of such open areas, so as to provide a base of information for
recommendations by the Commission for their preservation and/or use.
E.Â
Seek to cooperate with, coordinate, assist and unify
the efforts of private groups, institutions and individuals within
the Village of Bayville in accord with the purposes of this chapter.
F.Â
Maintain liaison and communications with public and
private agencies and organizations of local, state and national scope
whose programs and activities have an impact on the quality of the
environment or who can be of assistance to the Commission.
G.Â
Work in cooperation with the Bayville Planning Board,
recommend from time to time to the Village Board features, plans and
programs relating to environmental improvement and, similarly, recommend
to the Village Board appropriate and desirable changes in existing
local laws, ordinances and practices relating to environmental control
or recommend new local laws, ordinances and practices.
H.Â
Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts
and pamphlets in accord with the purposes of this chapter.
I.Â
Obtain and maintain in orderly fashion maps, reports,
books and other publications to support the necessary researches of
the Commission into local environmental conditions.
J.Â
When authorized by resolution of the Village Board
of the Village of Bayville, the Commission may accept, by gift, grant,
devise, bequest or otherwise, property, both real and personal, in
the name of the Village of Bayville, as may be necessary to conserve
and otherwise properly utilize open spaces and other land and water
resources within the boundaries of the Village of Bayville. 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.Â
Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from
time to time by the Village Board.
The Commission shall submit an annual report
to the Village 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 purpose 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 Village of Bayville 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.
