Resolution Withdrawn Feb 3rd 2009:
WHEREAS the Town Board of the Town of Southold strives to further the goal of management and conservation of the precious natural resources of the Town, and it is therefore
RESOLVED that the Town Board hereby establishes a Division of Natural Resources, within the Planning Department, and it is further
RESOLVED that the goal of the Division of Natural Resources is to assist every level of Town government with the management and protection of the Town’s natural resources and achieve a greater level of inter-governmental cooperation and cohesiveness regarding key natural resource management issues to better serve the citizens of Southold; and it is further
RESOLVED that the Division of Natural Resources shall operate in conformance with the guidelines set forth in the document entitled “Recommendations on the Formation and Structure of The Town of Southold Division of Environment and Natural Resources”, and is further
RESOLVED that all departments of the Town shall consult with the Division of Natural Resources on natural resource issues before them, in accordance with the procedures to be established by the Division; and it is further
RESOLVED that the Town Board appoints Mark Terry and Scott Hilary to the Division of Natural Resources, within the Planning Department.
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The Town Board did not have enough support from it’s own members to pass this Resolution earlier in the month, which would have created a Division of Natural Resources within the Planning Department. A second attempt this week also failed and the matter was referred for “private discussions” on Friday. What’s all this about?
Empire Building
SoutholdVOICE has obtained a copy of the document entitled “Recommendations on the Formation and Structure of the Town of Southold Division of Environment and Natural Resources”, which sets out the Mission Statement as providing “professional and technical assistance to the Town Board, Planning Board, ZBA, Trustees, Land Preservation, Building Dept., applicants and other internal and external departments, committees and agencies.” The goal is to assist at every level of Town government with the management and protection of the Town’s natural resources.
Wow, that must take an army of at least 18 people to accomplish? Not so! Apparently this “budget neutral” plan can be absorbed by the Planning Department as part of their normal work load, lead by Mark Terry and Scott Hilary. Really? One can’t help wondering about the weight of their current workload if they can so easily absorb these extra duties within their current budgets.
We requested an electronic copy of their recommendations Wednesday, but Mr. Terry’s email bounced with an “Out of Office” reply until the 27th and Scott Hilary had not yet responded to our request by posting time. So in the meantime, here’s a scanned version of the print out for your review. Click here.
We understand the matter has now been referred for “private discussions” on Friday. Who is invited, or can anyone go?
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Flickr photo courtesy of: Clairity
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