[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Brighton 1-27-1993. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The preservation and improvement of the quality
of the natural and built environment within the Town of Brighton,
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 Town of Brighton. It is recognized
that the biological integrity of the natural environment on which
all are 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 Town of Brighton working in partnership with
local and state officials and with various public and private institutions,
agencies and organizations. Establishment of a board for conservation
of the environment is a necessary step in fostering unified action
on environmental problems.
The Town Board of the Town of Brighton hereby
creates a board which shall be known as the "Brighton Conservation
Board," hereinafter called the "Board."
A.
The Board shall consist of seven (7) members who shall
be appointed by the Town Board and who shall serve at the pleasure
of the Town Board. Persons residing within the Town of Brighton who
are interested in the improvement and preservation of environmental
quality shall be eligible for appointment as a member of the Board.
The membership shall be appointed for a two-year term. Vacancies on
the Board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment,
except that a vacancy occurring other than by the expiration of a
term of office shall be filled only for the remainder of the unexpired
term.
B.
A member of the Town Board, and other officials as
may hereafter be designated by the Town Board shall be ex officio
members of the Board. Ex officio members shall not be voting members.
The Town Board shall, upon recommendation of the Commissioner of Public
Works, designate a member of the town staff as Secretary to the Board.
The Conservation Board shall designate a member
to act as Chair. At the first meeting of the Board, its members shall
elect from among themselves a Recording Secretary. The Board shall
adopt rules and procedures for its meetings, establish bylaws and
establish liaisons between other municipal boards and committees as
appropriate. It shall keep adequate records of its meetings and activities
and shall file an annual report.
The powers of the Board shall be to:
A.
Advise the Town Board, Planning Board and Parks and
Recreation Department on matters affecting the preservation, development
and use of the natural and built features and conditions of the Town
of Brighton insofar as aesthetics, quality of care and maintenance,
biological integrity and other environmental factors are concerned
and, in the case of people's activities and developments, with regard
to any major threats posed to environmental quality so as to enhance
the long-range value and care of the environment to the people of
the Town of Brighton.
B.
Develop and, after receiving general approval by resolution
of the Town Board, participate in programs 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.
C.
In conjunction with town staff and through the use
of consultants, oversee studies, surveys and inventories of the natural
and man-made features within the Town of Brighton and such other studies
and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purposes
of this chapter.
D.
Oversee the maintenance of 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 Board for their preservation and/or use.
E.
Ensure that the town's open space index shall be updated
on a regular basis; identifying and evaluating the open space planning
objectives as stated in the most current town Master Plan; providing
recommendations as to the most appropriate use or development of open
space areas; and recommending land uses that would be consistent with
areas identified in the index and other plans.
F.
Review each application received by the Town Board,
Building Department, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals or other
administrative body which seeks approval for the use or development
of any open area listed in the open space index or other open areas
deserving protection as a community resource. The Conservation Board
shall submit a written report to the referral body within the time
required by the referring body. Such report shall evaluate the proposed
use or development of the open area in terms of the open area planning
objectives of the municipality and shall include the effect of such
use or development on the open space index or other plans. The report
shall make recommendations as to the most appropriate use or development
of the open area and may include preferable alternative use proposals
consistent with open areas conservation and the sound conservation
of retained open spaces in areas planned for private development.
A copy of every report shall be filed with the Planning Board.
G.
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of
private groups, institutions and individuals within the Town of Brighton
in accordance with the purposes of this chapter.
H.
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 Board.
I.
Working in cooperation with the Planning Board and
Recreation and Parks Department, recommend from time to time to the
Town Board any features, plans and programs relating to environmental
improvement and, similarly, recommend to the Town Board appropriate
and desirable changes in existing local laws and ordinances relating
to environmental control or recommend new local laws and ordinances.
J.
Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts
and pamphlets in accordance with the purposes of this chapter.
K.
In conjunction with town staff, obtain and maintain
in orderly fashion all maps, reports, books and other publications
to support the necessary researches of the Board into local environmental
conditions.
L.
Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from
time to time by the Town Board.
The Board shall submit an annual report to the
Town Board, written for review during February of each year, concerning
the activities and work of the Board and, from time to time, shall
submit such reports and recommendations as may be necessary to fulfill
the purposes of this chapter.
The members of the Board, including ex officio
members, 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 Town of Brighton to preserve and improve the quality
of the natural and built 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.
