[HISTORY: Adopted by the Rockland County Legislature 10-15-1973 by L.L. No. 6-1973. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Freshwater wetlands — See Ch. 270.
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and man-made environment within the County of Rockland, in the face of population growth, urbanization and technologic change with their accompanying demands on natural resources, are of increasing and vital importance to the health, welfare and economic well-being of the present and future inhabitants of the County. It is recognized 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 local governments in the state working in concert with each other and with other public and private institutions, agencies and organizations. Establishment by the County of Rockland of a Council for Environmental Management is a necessary step in fostering unified action on environmental problems among local governments and among public and private agencies and organizations located within the County.
The Legislature of Rockland County hereby creates and establishes a Council, which shall be called the "Rockland County Environmental Management Council," hereinafter called the "Council."
[Amended 2-17-1976 by L.L. No. 3-1976; 6-2-1981 by L.L. No. 4-1981]
A. 
The Council shall consist of the members appointed by the Legislature of Rockland County as provided in this section. In addition to the members appointed from Town and Village Commissions for Conservation of the Environment and ex officio members as provided herein, the Legislature of Rockland County shall appoint 13 members, who shall be persons other than members of Town or Village Commissions for Conservation of the Environment, residing within the County of Rockland and who are interested in the improvement and preservation of environmental quality.
[Amended 5-21-1985 by L.L. No. 4-1985]
B. 
The membership of the Council also shall consist of one member from each Commission for Conservation of the Environment that has been established by the governing body of each Town and Village within the County of Rockland.
C. 
The Legislature of Rockland County shall choose one of its members to be an ex officio member of the Council. In addition, the Chairman of the County Planning Board, the Superintendent of Highways of Rockland County, the County Attorney, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Soil and Water Conservation District, the President of the Rockland County Cooperative Extension Association, the Chairman of the Rockland County Drainage Agency and the Chairman of the Rockland County Park Commission shall be ex officio members of the Council.
D. 
All appointees to membership in the Council shall serve for terms of two years. Of the members first appointed, however, four shall be appointed for terms of one year and five for terms of two years. Their successors shall be appointed for terms of two years. The terms of members appointed from Town Commissions for Conservation of the Environment shall be concurrent with their terms on such Town Commissions, but not exceeding a period of two years. Vacancies on the Council shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, except that a vacancy occurring through circumstances other than by expiration of term of office shall be filled only for the remainder of the unexpired term.
[Amended 9-3-1985 by L.L. No. 9-1985]
The Legislature of Rockland County shall designate a member of the Council to act as Chairman thereof. At the first meeting of the Council, its members shall elect from among themselves a Recording Secretary. The Council 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 § 61-6 of this chapter.
The powers and duties of the Council shall be to:
A. 
Advise the Legislature of Rockland County on matters affecting the preservation, development and use of the natural and man-made features and conditions of the County insofar as they have a bearing on environmental quality 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 County.
B. 
Develop and, after receiving general approval by resolution of the Legislature of Rockland County, conduct a program of public information in the County which shall be designed to foster increased understanding of the nature of environmental problems and issues and support for their solutions.
C. 
Develop and recommend a program to improve the coordination and effectiveness of public and private projects and activities in the County in accord with the purposes of this chapter, working in cooperation with Commissions for Conservation of the Environment, insofar as such agencies have been established in towns and villages within the County, and with other public and private agencies, focusing particularly on those matters relating to environmental quality which require intergovernmental action.
D. 
Encourage the establishment of Commissions for Conservation of the Environment in towns and villages within the County, advise and assist them in developing their own programs and foster an effective interchange between the Council and such agencies.
E. 
Maintain liaison with regional planning agencies, regional water resources planning and development boards and other such public and private regional bodies affecting the conservation of environmental quality, with a view towards improvement of coordination.
F. 
Conduct, with appropriate coordination with existing or prospective work of a similar nature performed in municipalities within the County, studies, surveys and inventories in accord with the general purposes of this chapter, including but not limited to surveys and studies for identification of those open spaces, natural areas, marshlands, swamps and other wetlands and other natural and scenic features which are of a County or regional significance and for which an index shall be maintained and make recommendations to the Legislature of Rockland County for the appropriate preservation and use of such areas and features.
G. 
Recommend, from time to time, to the Legislature of Rockland County plans and programs for environmental improvement for inclusion in the County Master Plan, including but not limited to the recommendations in the report and plan required in § 61-6 of this chapter.
H. 
Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts and pamphlets in accord with the purposes of this chapter.
I. 
When authorized by resolution of the Legislature of Rockland County, the Council may accept, by gift, grant, devise, bequest, or otherwise, property, both real and personal, in the name of the County, as may be necessary to conserve and otherwise properly utilize open spaces and other land and water resources within the boundaries of the County. 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.
A. 
The Council shall submit an annual report to the Legislature of Rockland County no later than the first day of April of each year, concerning the activities and work of the Council and, from time to time, shall submit such other reports and recommendations as are necessary to fulfill the purposes of this chapter.
B. 
The Council also shall prepare a report on the state of the natural and man-made environment in the County. Such report shall include a plan for protection of the County's natural and man-made environment and for management of its natural resources. The report and the action plan contained therein shall be prepared in cooperation with the County Planning Board and with full consideration of related local and regional plans and reports and shall be submitted by the Council to the Legislature of Rockland County as soon as practical, but not later than three years after the effective date of this chapter. Thereafter, this report and the plan shall be revised by the Council and resubmitted to the Legislature of Rockland County at regular intervals not exceeding three years.
The members of the Council, 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 appropriations made available therefor.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the County to preserve and improve the quality of the natural and man-made environment on behalf of the present and future citizens thereof. This chapter is not intended and shall not be deemed to impair the powers of any Town or Village within the County of Rockland.