N.Y. General Municipal Law § 72-r: Adopt-a-beach stewardship program

§ 72-r. Adopt-a-beach stewardship program. 1. The governing body of

any municipality may enter into stewardship agreements with any person

or persons for the purposes of preserving, maintaining, or enhancing its

publicly-owned beach, shoreline area or portion thereof in accordance

with the policies of this section.

2. The stewardship agreement shall provide that the beach or shoreline

area be preserved and maintained in its natural state or managed to

enhance or restore the natural values they provide. Activities may

include: remediating vandalism and storm damage, picking up litter and

trash, establishing or maintaining access or nature trails, providing

interpretive services for school groups and other citizens, and

otherwise providing positive benefits to the beach or shoreline area.

3. Stewardship agreement with any person or persons may provide for

assistance of personnel, facilities and supplies of the municipality for

the purposes of supporting appropriate activities under such stewardship

agreement.

4. The municipality shall establish procedures by which a person or

persons may apply for a stewardship agreement, and shall be responsible

for working with such persons to identify specific sections of a

publicly-owned beach or shoreline area and specific activities deemed

appropriate for such stewardship agreement. The municipality may

consider factors such as safety, environmental sensitivity, need, cost

and other factors deemed relevant in determining which beach or

shoreline area or activities may be eligible or appropriate for a

stewardship agreement.

5. The municipality shall provide recognition of the stewardship

activities by appropriate signage on or near the adopted beach or

shoreline area, and may provide recognition by such other measures as it

may determine to be appropriate, including but not limited to press

releases, certificates, and newsletters.

6. The stewardship agreement may be modified in scope or altered in

any other manner at the sole discretion of the municipality, not

inconsistent with the provisions of this section. The person or persons

shall have the option of renewing the agreement subject to the approval

of the municipality and the continuation by the municipality of the

adopt-a-beach stewardship program. The municipality may immediately

remove the signs and it may terminate the agreement upon thirty days

notice, if in its sole judgment it finds and determines that the person

or persons are not meeting the terms and conditions of the agreement.

7. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, the municipality

which has entered into a stewardship agreement and its employees shall

not be liable for damages suffered by any person resulting from the

actions or activities of such volunteers.