[Adopted 6-21-1971 by L.L. No. 5-1971]
The preservation and improvement of the quality
of the natural and man-made environment within the Village of Freeport
in the face of population growth, urbanization and technological 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 Freeport. It is recognized
that the biological integrity of the natural environment on which
man is dependent for survival and 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 Freeport 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 Board of Trustees of the Village of Freeport
hereby creates a commission which shall be known as the "Freeport
Commission for Conservation of the Environment," hereinafter called
the Commission.
A.
The Commission shall consist of five members, who
shall be appointed by the Mayor. Persons residing within the Village
of Freeport who are interested in the improvement and preservation
of environmental quality shall be eligible for appointment as members
of the Commission. Of the members first appointed to the Commission,
one shall hold office for a term of one year, one for a term of two
years, one for a term of three years, one for a term of four years
and one for a term of five years from and after his appointment. Successors
to first appointed members of the Commission shall be appointed for
a term of five years from and after the expiration of the terms of
their predecessors in office. A vacancy occurring other than by the
expiration of term of office shall be filled only for the remainder
of the unexpired term.
B.
The Mayor, the members of the Board of Trustees, the
Chairman of the Planning Board and other officials that may be hereafter
designated by the Board of Trustees shall be ex officio members of
the Commission.
The Mayor 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 with the Mayor and Board of Trustees.
A.
The powers and duties of the Commission shall be to:
(1)
Advise the Board of Trustees on matters affecting
the preservation, development and use of the natural and man-made
features and conditions of the Village of Freeport insofar as beauty,
quality, biological 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 Freeport.
(2)
Develop and, after receiving general approval by resolution
of the Board of Trustees, 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.
(3)
Conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the natural
and man-made features within the Village of Freeport and such other
studies and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purposes
of this article.
(4)
Maintain an up-to-date inventory or index of all open
spaces 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; 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.
(5)
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of
private groups, institutions and individuals within the Village of
Freeport in accord with the purposes of this article.
(6)
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. Specific
requests may be made to local organizations to designate one of their
members as liaison officer to the Commission.
(7)
Work in cooperation with the Planning Board, recommend
from time to time to the Board of Trustees features, plans and programs
relating to environmental improvement for inclusion in the Master
Plan of the Village of Freeport and, similarly, recommend to the Board
of Trustees appropriate and desirable changes in existing local laws
and ordinances relating to environmental control or recommend new
local laws and ordinances.
(8)
Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts
and pamphlets in accordance with the purposes of this article.
(9)
Obtain and maintain, in orderly fashion, maps, reports,
books and other publications to support the necessary researches of
the Commission into local environmental conditions.
B.
When authorized by resolution of the Board of Trustees
of the Village of Freeport, the Commission may accept, by gift, grant,
devise, bequest or otherwise, property, both real and personal, in
the name of the Village of Freeport 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 Freeport. Such real
property may be accepted in fee for land and water rights or as any
lesser interest, development right or easement, including conservation
easement, covenant or other contractual right, including conveyance
with limitations or reversions.
The members of the Commission, excluding ex
officio members, shall receive compensation for their services as
determined by the Board of Trustees and shall be reimbursed for reasonable
and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties
within the appropriations made available therefor.
This article shall be deemed an exercise of
the powers of the Village of Freeport 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.
