N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 47-0107: Powers of council

§ 47-0107. Powers of council.

1. The council may advise on all matters affecting the preservation,

conservation and ecologically suitable use of the natural resources of

the county.

2. The council shall review the state of the county environment as a

whole, and shall prepare and submit an annual report of its findings to

the county's governing body. This report also shall include an account

of the council's activities and accomplishments which shall be based on

accurate records of its meetings and other works.

3. The council in cooperation with the county planning agency and

other appropriate agencies, shall prepare a plan for the protection of

the county's environment and the management of its natural resources,

and shall transmit it to the county governing body as soon as

practicable after the effective date of the establishment of the

council. In addition, each such council shall obtain from the department

of environmental conservation a copy of the state environmental plan. To

the extent practicable, the preparation, content and subsequent

revision, if any, of the county environmental plan shall be coordinated

with the state environmental plan and a copy of said county plan and any

subsequent revision shall be filed with the state commissioner of

environmental conservation.

4. It shall investigate and recommend to the county governing body

ecologically sound methods of planning the use of the county's

resources.

5. The council shall keep an index of all open areas within the

county, with the plan of obtaining information pertinent to sound

ecological utilization of such areas including land owned by any

municipality within the county. It shall keep an index of all open marsh

lands, swamps, and all other wet lands in a like manner, and may

recommend a program for their ecologically suitable utilization.

5-a. The council shall develop and maintain an inventory of natural

resources within the county and such other environmental information as

may be appropriate. Said inventory shall include wetlands and open

spaces and may include, but not be limited to, factors relating to

geology, soils, slope, water resources, vegetation, wildlife habitat,

unique natural areas, and scenic, historic, and archaeological sites.

6. The council may cooperate with and assist such other governmental

or non-governmental boards or organizations in the preparation of plans

or reports or the review of proposals or applications as the county may

direct.

7. The council may also conduct research into the land area of the

county and may seek to coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies

organized for similar purposes. It may advertise, prepare, print and

distribute books, maps, charts, and pamphlets if in its judgment it

deems them necessary for its work.

8. In those counties in which a county executive officer exercises

supervisory and managerial responsiblility for agencies in the executive

branch of county government, pursuant to charter or local law, the

council shall submit the reports described in subdivisions 2 and 3 to

both the county governing body and said executive officer.

9. When authorized by resolution of the county governing body, a

council may accept by gift, grant, bequest, or otherwise, money or other

personal property in the name of the county, for use in furtherance of

the provisions of this article. A county governing 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 article.

In addition, upon the written recommendation of the council, the

county governing 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 article.