[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Piermont
11-14-1977 by L.L.No. 27-1977 as Ch. 4 of the 1977 Code.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This chapter was originally adopted 4-25-1977 by resolution.
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Piermont hereby creates a commission
which shall be known as the "Piermont Conservation Advisory Commission," hereinafter
called the "Commission."
A.
The Commission shall consist of nine members. Included
among the aforesaid, there may be appointed up to two members of the Commission
who are between 16 and 18 years of age.
C.
Thereafter, members shall be appointed by the Board of
Trustees for a term of three 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 Board of Trustees by appointment
for the unexpired term. 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 Board of Trustees 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 § 9-5 of this chapter. The Commission shall meet at least once each month.
The powers and duties of the Commission shall be to:
A.
Advise the Board of Trustees, Planning Board, Zoning
Board of Appeals and all other appropriate 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 Piermont.
B.
Conduct surveys, studies and research on the natural
resources of the Village and identify areas of high ecological value.
C.
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
General Municipal Law of the State of New York), 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, 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.
D.
Review proposals for development or use of open space,
including marshland and all other wetlands and advise the above-mentioned
agencies as to the impact of such proposals and their ecological appropriateness.
E.
Seek to cooperate with, coordinate, assist and unify
the efforts of private groups, institutions and individuals within the Village
of Piermont in accord with the purposes of this chapter.
F.
Maintain liaison and communication 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.
Work in cooperation with the Piermont Planning Board
and recommend from time to time to the Board of Trustees features, plans and
programs relating to environmental improvement and, similarly, to recommend
to the Board of Trustees appropriate and desirable changes in existing local
laws, regulations and practices relating to environmental control or recommend
new local laws, regulations and practices.
H.
Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts and
pamphlets in accord with the purposes of this chapter.
I.
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.
When authorized by resolution of the Board of Trustees
of the Village of Piermont, the Commission may accept, by gift, grant, devise,
bequest or otherwise, property, both real and personal, in the name of the
Village of Piermont, 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 Piermont. 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 Board of Trustees.
The Commission shall submit an annual report to the Board of Trustees,
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 Piermont 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.
