§ 23-7. Powers and duties.

The powers and duties of the Commission shall be to:

A. 

Advise the Village Board of Trustees on matters affecting the preservation, development 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 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.

B. 

Develop and, after receiving general approval by resolution of the Village 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.

C. 

Conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the natural and man-made features within the Village of Old Field and such other studies and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purposes of this chapter.

D. 

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.

E. 

Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private groups, institutions and individuals within the Village of Old Field in accord with the purpose of this chapter.

F. 

Maintain liaison and communications with public and private agencies and organizations of local, state and natural scope whose programs and activities have an impact on the quality of the environment or who can be of assistance to the Commission.

G. 

Working in cooperation with the Planning Board, recommend, from time to time, to the Village Board of Trustees features, plans and programs relating to environmental improvement for inclusion in the master plan of the Village of Old Field and similarly, recommend to the Village Board of Trustees appropriate and desirable changes in existing local laws and ordinances relating to environmental control or recommend new local laws and ordinances.

H. 

Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts and pamphlets in accord with the purposes of this chapter.

I. 

Obtain and maintain in orderly fashion maps, reports, books and other publications to support the necessary researches of the Commission into local environmental conditions.

J. 

When authorized by resolution of the Village Board of Trustees of the Village of Old Field, may accept, by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise, property, both real and personal, in the name of the Village of Old Field, 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 Old Field. 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.

K. 

Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Village Board of Trustees.