NY Gen Mun L § 239-X (2021)
2021 New York Laws GMU - General Municipal Article 12-F - Conservation Advisory Councils and Conservation Boards 239-X - Creation of Conservation Advisory Council.

§  239-x.  Creation  of  conservation  advisory  council. 1. The local legislative body of any city, town or village may create a  conservation advisory  council,  hereafter  called  the  council,  to  advise  in the development, management and protection of its  natural  resources.  Such council shall direct itself toward accomplishing the following:  (a)  Conduct  researches  into  the  land area of the municipality for which it was created;  (b) Seek to coordinate the activities of unofficial  bodies  organized for  similar  purposes  and  to  cooperate with other official municipal bodies active in the area  of  community  planning  for  the  particular municipality;  (c)  It  may  advertise,  prepare,  print  and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which in its judgment it deems necessary for its work;  (d) It shall keep an inventory and  map  as  defined  in  section  two hundred  thirty-nine-y  of  this  article,  of all open areas within the municipality with the plan of obtaining information pertinent to  proper utilization  of  such open lands including lands owned by the state, any other municipality within the state or by  the  particular  municipality itself;  (e) It shall keep an inventory and map of all open marsh lands, swamps and  all  other  wet  lands  in  a like manner, and may recommend to the governing body of the municipality a program for  ecologically  suitable utilization of all such areas;  (f)  It  shall  keep  accurate records of its meetings and actions and shall file an annual report with  the  local  legislative  body  of  the municipality  on  or before the thirty-first day of December of each and every year. Once approved, such legislative body shall forward a copy of this report to the state commissioner of environmental conservation;  (g) In addition to the foregoing, carry out any other  duties,  tasks, or  responsibilities,  consistent  with  the objectives of this article, assigned to it by resolution of the local legislative body creating  the said council.   2.  When  authorized  by  resolution  of the local legislative body, a council may accept by gift, grant, bequest, or otherwise, money or other personal  property  in  the  name  of  the  municipality,  for  use   in furtherance  of the provisions of this act. A local legislative body may accept  by  gift,  conditional  or  unconditional,  grant,   devise   or otherwise,  real  property  in  fee,  or  any lesser interest, including conveyance with limitations or reversions, for the purposes of this act.   In addition, upon the written recommendation of the council the  local legislative  body may acquire by purchase in fee or any lesser interest, through negotiation or by condemnation, such real or  personal  property as may be needed to fulfill the purpose of this act.   3.  Such  council  shall  consist of not less than three nor more than nine members who shall be appointed by the local  legislative  body  and serve  at  the pleasure of such body for a term not exceeding two years. Such  local  legislative  body  may,  notwithstanding  any  inconsistent provision  of  law,  appoint  up  to  two members to the council who are between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one.   4.  The  presiding  officer  or  chairman  of  the  council  shall  be designated  by  the  local  legislative  body  from among the members so appointed  to  the  council.  The  local  legislative  body  shall  have authority  to  remove any member of said council so appointed for cause, after a public hearing, if requested. A vacancy shall be filled for  the unexpired term in the same manner as an original appointment.   The  local legislative body may provide for compensation to be paid to the members of the council and  may  provide  for  the  payment  of  the  expenses of the members of the council actually and necessarily incurred in  the  performance  of  their  duties.  Such  council may appoint such employees as it may from time to time see fit, all within  appropriation made therefore.   5.  In the case where the local legislative body is a town board, such salaries, charges and expenses so permitted by an appropriation  of  the town  board for such council shall be a charge upon the taxable property of that part of the town outside of incorporated villages and  shall  be assessed,  levied  and  collected  therefrom in the same manner as other town charges.   6. To assist a council in  carrying  out  its  functions,  powers  and duties, it may request the department of environmental conservation to:  (a)  prepare  reports  outlining  objectives,  priorities and proposed relationships of the council to the local legislative body;  (b)  prepare  description  of  work  to  be  undertaken,  advantageous techniques to be used and suggested roles of council members;  (c) provide research on conservation facts and procedures;  (d)  provide, on a consulting basis, technical and research assistance as may be required to assist the council in carrying out its work and to enable the council to offer recommendations  to  the  local  legislative body;  (e)  describe  particular  areas of natural resources within the city, town or village, as the case may be, which require particular  attention by the council.   7.  Within  thirty  days  following  the  establishment  of a council, written notification thereof shall be sent by the local legislative body to the state commissioner of environmental conservation.   8. Any conservation advisory council heretofore  created  pursuant  to the  provisions  of  section  sixty-four-b  of  the  town  law is hereby continued with the same powers and duties as when originally created.