[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Hyde Park 7-30-2007
by L.L. No. 9-2007.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby reestablished the Recreation Commission of the Town
of Hyde Park in accordance with the provisions of § 243 of the General
Municipal Law. To the extent there is any conflict between the provisions
of this chapter and the provisions of § 243 of the General Municipal
Law, it is the express intent of the Town Board that the provisions of this
chapter shall supersede § 243 pursuant to the authority of § 10
of the Municipal Home Rule Law.
The Commission shall consist of seven persons who are residents of the
Town and who shall be appointed by the Town Board for seven-year terms. The
term of each member of such Commission first appointed shall be such that
the term of at least one Commissioner shall expire annually thereafter. A
vacancy in any full term or any unexpired term, and a request for candidates
to fill such vacancy, shall be publicly noticed by announcement at a regular
or special meeting or workshop of the Town Board and posting on the Town's
website for at least 21 days. Said vacancy shall be filled promptly thereafter
by the Town Board. Before any such appointment, the Town Board shall afford
the Commission the opportunity to interview candidates to fill vacancies and
make its recommendation to the Town Board concerning said appointment. No
person who is a member of the Town Board, the Planning Board, or the Zoning
Board of Appeals shall be eligible for membership to this Commission.
The present members of the Recreation Commission as of the date of enactment
of this chapter are continued in office for their full terms.
Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation.
A Chairman and a Vice Chairman shall be elected annually from among
the members of the Commission by a majority vote of Commission members. The
Commission shall adopt bylaws and keep a journal of its proceedings. A majority
of the total membership, i.e., four members, whether or not all vacancies
have been filled, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
The Commission shall hold regularly scheduled monthly meetings and duly noticed
special meetings when necessary. All meetings of the Commission shall be noticed
and open to the public as required by the Open Meetings Law.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. 7 of the New York State Public Officers
Law.
The following authority and responsibilities are hereby delegated to
the Recreation Commission:
A.
Adoption of rules and procedures for the conduct of all
business within its jurisdiction.
B.
Management and maintenance of all Town-owned and Town-operated
playgrounds, recreational centers and recreational facilities, together with
the authority to improve or make additions to the same, subject to budget,
financial and monetary approval by the Town Board.
C.
Surveys and studies to determine the impact of development on existing parkland and other recreational resources and facilities, and reports of its findings to, and consultation with, the Town Board and Planning Board in connection with, among other things, applications for development approvals, including subdivision approvals under Chapter 96 and zoning approvals under Chapter 108.
E.
Employment of a Recreation Director, supervisors, and
such other officers or employees as it deems proper, and fixing of their duties,
supervision and authorities, provided that employee salaries, personnel policies
and employment of the Recreation Director are subject to review and approval
by the Town Board.
F.
Planning and development of a comprehensive recreation
facilities plan and a comprehensive recreational programs plan for the Town
of Hyde Park, subject to review and approval by the Town Board.
G.
Locating sources of private and governmental funding
for recreation programs, and making applications therefor, provided that such
applications are subject to review and approval by the Town Board.
H.
Acting as a liaison and clearinghouse with other public
and private agencies and organizations on local, state, and federal levels
relating to parks and recreation.
I.
Carrying out such other duties as may be assigned to
it from time to time by the Town Board.
The Town Board expressly reserves the following powers:
A.
The power to take any steps deemed necessary in connection
with the finances of the Commission.
B.
Except as set forth hereinabove, the power to take any
steps deemed necessary in connection with adherence to Town-wide personnel
policies, collective bargaining agreements, and other general policies and
laws relating to the hiring and discharge of employees.
C.
Except as set forth hereinabove, the power of general
regulation as authorized by the Town Law, the General Municipal Law, and the
Municipal Home Rule Law.
The Recreation Commission shall prepare a proposed annual budget by
September 15 of each year for the following year, which proposed annual budget
shall be submitted to the Supervisor for review by the Supervisor and the
Town Board in the preparation of the annual budget for the Town. The final
budget for the Town adopted by the Town Board shall be binding on the Recreation
Commission. The Commission shall also prepare an annual report by January
31 of each year which shall cover all matters handled by it during the previous
year. Said annual report shall also be filed with the Town Clerk and be a
public record.
In the event that any conflict occurs in the use of Town-owned property
by the Commission and any other commission or any other unit of the local
government of this Town (other than the Town Board), said conflict shall be
resolved by the Town Board, after a duly noticed public hearing at which all
members of the public may be heard on the issue, except where emergency conditions
posing an immediate threat to public health or safety do not permit adequate
time for such hearing.
All expenses incurred under this chapter coming within the annual appropriation
therefor shall be a charge against the Town, payable from the current funds
of such Town, but the Town Board may provide for the acquisition of lands
or buildings for the purposes as set forth in this chapter, which shall be
payable from the current funds or be financed, in whole or in part, pursuant
to the Local Finance Law.
