Chapter 12

GENERAL REFERENCES Residency requirements — See Ch. 50. Duties with regard to trees — See Ch. 208, Art. I. Environmental quality review — See Ch. 116. § 12-1. Legislative intent. The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and manmade environment within the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, in the face of population growth, urbanization and technologic 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 to require forthright action by the governing body of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson. 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 life experience, cannot be protected without the full cooperation and participation of all the people of the village 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. § 12-2. Establishment. The Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson hereby creates a commission which shall be known as the "Croton Conservation Advisory Council," hereinafter called the "Croton CAC." § 12-3. Membership; terms. A. The Croton CAC shall consist of not fewer than three nor more than nine members who shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees and serve at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees for a term not exceeding two years. B. The Board of Trustees shall set the membership number by resolution. Initial appointments to the Croton CAC shall be split between one-year and two-year terms so that half or the next lowest whole number shall be appointed to one-year terms and half or the next-highest whole number shall be appointed to two-year terms. Successors of all initial appointees shall be appointed to full two-year terms. C. Vacancies on the Croton CAC occurring other than by the expiration of term of office shall be filled only for the remainder of the unexpired term. D. The Mayor, the Chairman of the Planning Board and any others designated by the Mayor shall be ex officio members of the Council. § 12-4. Officers; rules, records and reports. The Mayor shall designate a member of the Croton CAC to act as Chairman thereof. At the first meeting of the Croton CAC, its members shall elect from among themselves a Recording Secretary. The Croton CAC 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 § 12-6 of this chapter. § 12-5. Powers and duties. A. The powers and duties of the Croton CAC shall be to: (1) Advise the Board of Trustees on matters affecting the preservation and use of the natural and man-made features and conditions of the village insofar as beauty, quality, biologic integrity and other environmental factors are concerned so as to enhance the long-range value of the environment to the people of the village. (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 manmade features with the Village of Croton-on-Hudson and such other studies and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purposes of this chapter. (4) Maintain an up-to-date inventory or index of all open spaces in public or private ownership within the village, 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 Council for their preservation and/or use. (5) Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private groups, institutions and individuals with the Village of Croton-on-Hudson in accord with the purposes of this chapter. (6) Maintain liaison and communications with public and private agencies and organizations of local, state and national scope whose programs activities have an impact on the quality of the environment or who can be of assistance to the Council. (7) Recommend from time to time to the Board of Trustees features, plans and programs relating to environmental improvement and recommend to the Board of Trustees appropriate and desirable changes in the existing local laws and ordinances relating to environmental control or recommend new local laws. § 12-5 CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL (8) Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts and pamphlets in accord with the purposes of this chapter. (9) Obtain and maintain in orderly fashion maps, reports, books and other publications to support the necessary researches of the Council into local environmental conditions. (10) Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board of Trustees. B. When authorized by resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, the Croton CAC may accept, by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise, property, both real and personal, in the name of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson 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 Croton-on-Hudson. 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. § 12-6. Reports. The Croton CAC 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 Council and from time to time shall submit such reports and recommendations as may be necessary to fulfill the purposes of this chapter. § 12-7. Compensation; expenses. The members of the Croton CAC including ex officio members, shall receive no compensation for their services as members thereof but may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expanses incurred in the performance of their duties within the appropriations made available therefor. § 12-8. Interpretation of provisions. This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson to preserve and improve the quality of the natural and manmade 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. CROTON-ON-HUDSON CODE