N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 49-0209 – Regional advisory committees

1. There are hereby established regional advisory committees in each of the department's regions to provide the department and office with advice and recommendations from the public on the implementation of the land acquisition programs of the department and office and in order to provide the public with information regarding the activities of the department and office pursuant to this title.
2. Each regional committee shall: a. recommend policies and priorities for protection of lands in the region potentially eligible for state acquisition; b. recommend to the department and office specific studies or assessments which would assist in the development of land acquisition policies and priorities for the region; c. establish working liaison relationships with neighboring regional advisory committees where such liaison will further overall land acquisition objectives; d. develop guidelines for use in identifying priorities of land acquisition and recommending specific parcels for possible acquisition. Such guidelines may include:
1. (i) the priority ranking of properties for the region;
2. (ii) the degree to which an acquisition will help to meet a regional or statewide need;
3. (iii) the future costs and benefits which may be associated with the project;
4. (iv) the economic impact on adjacent parcels, the community or region and the local governments therein; and
5. (v) the ecological value of the project taking into account the type, variety and relative scarcity of the resources therein. e. advise the commissioners and the state land acquisition advisory council annually with respect to plans and priorities for their respective region, and communicate at such other times as may be needed to fulfill its responsibilities. f. review the state land acquisition plan prepared by the department and office pursuant to section 49-0207 of this title at least biennially and make recommendations regarding such plan as it affects the region. g. review any community preservation project plans developed pursuant to section six-s of the general municipal law.
3. Regional advisory committee members shall be knowledgeable of, and concerned with, the land preservation, conservation, historic, cultural, recreation and acquisition goals of this chapter. No employee of the department or office shall serve on a regional committee. At any time that a member of a regional committee has or may have a direct or indirect financial interest in or resulting from the acquisition or decision not to acquire an interest in land pursuant to this title, such member shall not participate in any discussion or deliberation of the committee concerning such acquisition.
4. A regional advisory committee shall consist of at least thirteen, and not more than twenty-three members. Each county outside the city of New York or the city of New York in the case of a county contained within the city of New York shall appoint members to its region's advisory committee in a manner designed to provide equal representation for all counties within a region on such committee, provided that the total number of local government appointees to a regional advisory committee shall not exceed one-half of the committee's membership. The commissioners shall appoint to each regional advisory committee additional members equal to one more than the total number of members eligible for appointment by local government. Each member of a regional advisory committee shall be a resident of that region, provided however, the commissioners may appoint to each regional advisory committee up to two members who are not residents of that region. Each regional committee shall meet as it may deem necessary to carry out its responsibilities.
5. Regional committees may request and shall receive from the department and the office such assistance and data as may be determined reasonable for the proper execution of their responsibilities.
6. Regional committees shall be established no later than September first, nineteen hundred ninety, and shall make initial recommendations no later than December first, nineteen hundred ninety, to the commissioners and the state land acquisition advisory council and shall report at least biennially thereafter.