Powers & Duties of the Commission

The powers and duties of the Commission are:

  1. Advise the Board of Trustees on matters affecting the preservation, development and use of the natural and man-made features and conditions of the Incorporated Village of Sea Cliff, insofar as beauty, quality, biologic integrity and other environmental factors are concerned 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 Village.
  2. Develop and, after receiving 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 man-made features within the Incorporated Village of Sea Cliff 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 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 Commission for their preservation and/or use.
  5. Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private groups, institutions and individuals within the Incorporated Village of Sea Cliff 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 and activities have an impact on the quality of the environment or who can be of assistance to the Commission.
  7. Working in cooperation with the Planning Board, recommend from time to time to the Board of Trustees features, plans and programs relating to environmental improvement for inclusion in the Master Plan of the Incorporated Village of Sea Cliff and, similarly, recommend to the Board of Trustees appropriate and desirable changes in existing legislation relating to environmental control or recommend new legislation.
  8. When authorized by resolution of the Board of Trustees, 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 Commission into local environmental conditions.
  10. When authorized by resolution of the Board of Trustees, the Commission may accept, by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise, property, both real and personal, in the name of the Incorporated Village of Sea Cliff, as may be necessary to conserve and otherwise properly utilize open spaces and other land and water resources within the boundaries of the Village. 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.
  11. Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by resolution of the Board of Trustees.