CONSERVATION COMMISSION

 
The next Conservation Commission meeting will be Wednesday, February 21st at 6:30 at Parsons Memorial Library


Appointment of Commissioners    
The municipal officers may appoint at least 3, but not more than 7, conservation commissioners. Members shall initially be appointed for terms of one, 2 and 3 years, such that the terms of approximately 1/3 of the members will expire each year. Their successors shall be appointed for terms of 3 years each. Members shall serve until the appointment of their successors.


The commission may recommend to the municipal officers that associate members by appointed to assist the commission as the commission requires.  Associate members are non-voting members.  Their terms of office shall be for 1, 2 or 3 years.

Duties of commission
The commission shall: Keep records of its meetings and activities and make an annual report to the municipality; Conduct research, in conjunction with the planning board, if any, into the local land areas; Seek to coordinate the activities of conservation bodies organized for similar purposes; and Keep an index of all open areas within the municipality, whether publicly or privately owned, including open marshlands, swamps and other wetlands, for the purpose of obtaining information relating to the proper protection, development or use of those open areas.  The commission may recommend to the municipal officers or any municipal body or board, or any body politic or public agency of the State, a program for the better protection, development or use of those areas, which may include the acquisition of conservation easement. Any body politic or public agency of the State conducting planning operations with respect to open areas within a municipality having a conservation commission shall notify that conservation commission of all plans and planning operations at least 30 days before implementing any action under the plan.
Powers of commission: Advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which it considers necessary; Have the care and superintendence of the public parks and, subject to the approval of the municipal officers, direct the expenditure of all money appropriated for the improvement of those parks; Acquire land in the municipality's name for any of the purposes set forth in this section with the approval of the municipal legislative body; and Receive gifts in the municipality's name for any of the commission's purposes and shall administer the gift for those purposes subject to the terms of the gift.