[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Goshen 10-5-1978
by L.L. No. 2-1978. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and man-made
environment within the Town of Goshen, 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 Goshen. It is recognized that
the biological 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 the people of the Town working in
partnership with local and state officials and with various public and private
institutions, agencies and organizations. Establishment of a Conservation
Commission is a necessary step in fostering unified action on environmental
problems.
The Town Board of the Town of Goshen hereby creates a commission which
shall be known as the "Town of Goshen Environmental Review Board," hereinafter
called the "Commission."
A.
The Commission shall consist of not fewer nor more than
nine members, of which five shall be appointed by the Town Board and who shall
serve for two-year terms, and of which the remainder shall be ex officio members
as provided herein. Persons residing within the Town of Goshen who are interested
in the improvement and preservation of environmental quality shall be eligible
for appointment as a member of the Commission.
B.
Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment, except that a vacancy occurring other
than by the expiration of term of office shall be filled only for the remainder
of the unexpired term.
C.
One or more members of the governing body, the Chairman
of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals, the Building and Zoning
Inspector, and the Town Board and other officials that may be hereafter designated
by the Town Board shall be ex officio members of the Commission.
The Town Board shall designate a member of the Commission to act as Chairman thereof. 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 § 13-6 of this chapter.
The powers and duties of the Commission shall be to:
A.
Advise any officials or agencies of the Town of Goshen
on matters affecting the preservation, development and use of the natural
and man-made features and conditions of the Town insofar as quality, biological
integrity, beauty and other environmental factors are concerned. In the case
of man's activities and developments,
it shall advise on any major threats posed to environmental quality, so as
to enhance the long-range value of the environment to the people of the Town.
B.
Develop and, after receiving general approval by resolution
of the Town Board, 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.
C.
Conduct and maintain an inventory of the natural resources
within the Town of Goshen.
D.
Maintain an up-to-date index of all open spaces, as defined
in § 239-y of the General Municipal Law, in public or private ownership
within the municipality, including but not limited to natural landmarks; glacial
and other geomorphic 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. Such index shall include
the ownership and present and proposed uses of such open areas so as to provide
a base of information for recommendations by the Commission for their preservation
and/or use.
E.
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private
groups, institutions and individuals within the Town of Goshen in accord with
the purposes of this chapter.
F.
Maintain liaison and communications with public and private
agencies and organizations whose programs and activities have an impact on
the quality of the environment or who can be of assistance to the Commission.
G.
Working in cooperation with the Planning Board, recommend,
from time to time to the Town Board, features, plans and programs relating
to environmental improvement for inclusion in the Master Plan of the Town
of Goshen and, similarly, recommend to the Town Board appropriate and desirable
changes in existing local laws and ordinances relating to environmental and
land use controls or recommend new local laws and ordinances.
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 Town Board of the
Town of Goshen, accept, by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise, property,
both real and personal, in the name of the Town of Goshen as may be necessary
to conserve and otherwise properly utilize open spaces and other land and
water resources within the boundaries of the Town of Goshen. 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.
Administer the implementations set forth in the provisions of Chapter 58, Environmental Quality Review (L.L. No. 4-1977), and shall:
(1)
Prepare and review environmental assessment forms.
(2)
Make recommendations on the significance and nonsignificance
of actions.
(3)
Prepare environmental impact statements and recommend
on the scope, adequacy and contents of environmental impact statements.
(4)
Prepare and circulate state environmental quality review
notices and documents.
(5)
Make recommendations to decision-makers.
L.
Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from time
to time by the Town Board.
The Commission shall keep accurate records of its meetings and actions
and shall submit an annual report to the Town Board, not later than the 31st
day of December of each year, concerning the activities and work of the Commission.
From time to time, the Commission shall submit such reports and recommendations
as may be necessary to fulfill the purpose of this chapter.
The members of the Commission shall receive compensation, as designated
each year in the adopted Town budget, for their services as members thereof
and 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
Goshen 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.
