Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 52, December 24, 2024
WHEREAS, the primary sources of water for the New York City
water supply system originate in portions of the Catskill Mountain Region and
the Hudson River Valley, commonly referred to as the Watershed of the New York
City water supply and its sources, which includes over 1,900 square miles and
portions of eight counties, 60 towns and 12 villages;
WHEREAS, the continued adequate supply of exceptional
drinking water for the eight million residents of the City of New York and the
one million New York State residents outside the City who depend upon the City
of New York drinking water supply is vital to the health and social and
economic well-being of the New York City metropolitan area and environs;
WHEREAS, the people of the watershed region have long acted
as stewards of the watershed, enabling the continued supply of high quality
drinking water, contributing an invaluable resource to the New York City
metropolitan area;
WHEREAS, the State of New York, the City of New York, the
Coalition of Watershed Towns, the Catskill Watershed Corporation, Westchester
County, Putnam County, certain municipal corporations, the United States
Environmental Protection Agency and certain environmental organizations entered
into the New York City Watershed Memorandum of Agreement ("Watershed
Agreement") on January 21, 1997;
WHEREAS, the New York City Watershed Memorandum of
Agreement provides for the establishment of a Watershed Protection and
Partnership Council ("Partnership Council") to aid in the protection of
drinking water quality and the economic vitality of the Watershed communities.
The Partnership Council will represent a broad-based diverse group of interests
that share the common goal of protecting and enhancing the environmental
integrity of the Watershed and the economic vitality of the Watershed
communities; and
WHEREAS, the New York City Watershed Memorandum of
Agreement provides for the establishment of a 27-member Partnership Council; a
16-member Executive Committee and the following subcommittees which shall
report to the Executive Committee: an 11-member East of Hudson Advisory
Committee; a 14-member Technical Advisory Committee; and an 11-member East of
Hudson Sporting Advisory Committee. The membership of the Partnership Council,
Executive Committee and the subcommittees shall be through appointment of the
Governor of the State of New York, the Mayor of the City of New York, the
municipal corporations and the environmental organizations that are parties to
the New York City Watershed Memorandum of Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE E. PATAKI, Governor of the State
of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
Laws of the State of New York, do hereby establish the Watershed Protection and
Partnership Council.
1. MEMBERSHIP
(a) Twenty-seven members, consisting of: an
Executive Committee, whose membership is set forth below in subparagraph (b); a
member chosen by the Mayor of the City of New York to represent the City
business community; the commissioners of the New York State Department of
Agriculture and Markets and the Department of Economic Development, the New
York State Secretary of State and the President of the New York City Economic
Development Corporation, ex officio; a member who may be appointed by the
President pro tem of the State Senate; a member who may be appointed by the
Speaker of the New York State Assembly; one member chosen by the Speaker of the
New York City Council; one member chosen by the Westchester County Executive to
represent Westchester County consumers of the New York City water supply; one
member chosen by the Dutchess County Executive; and one member chosen by the
environmental organizations that are parties to the Watershed
Agreement.
(b) Executive Committee.
An employee of the Governor's office appointed by the Governor; a member
appointed by the Governor to represent the Watershed business community; two
members appointed by the Mayor of the City of New York, one of whom will be a
city employee to represent the Mayor's office and one of whom will represent
the rate-paying consumers of the city drinking water supply; three members
chosen by the municipal parties west of the Hudson River pursuant to the
Watershed Agreement; one member chosen by the Westchester County Executive; one
member chosen by the Putnam County Executive, subject to confirmation by the
Putnam County Legislature; one member chosen by the environmental organizations
that are parties to the Watershed Agreement to represent the environmental
community; the commissioners of the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation and the Department of Health, ex officio; the commissioners of the
New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Health,
ex officio; and, as non-voting, ex officio members, the United States
Environmental Protection Agency Region II Administrator and the chairperson of
the Watershed Agricultural Council.
(c) Subcommittees.
(i) East of Hudson Advisory Committee. An
East of Hudson Advisory Committee is established consisting of 11-members that
shall report to the Executive Committee. The membership shall consist of: one
member appointed by the Governor; one member to be appointed by the Mayor of
the City of New York; two members to be appointed by the Putnam County
Executive, subject to confirmation by the Putnam County Legislature; two
members to be appointed by the Westchester County Executive; one member to be
appointed by the Dutchess County Executive; one member to be appointed by the
environmental organizations that are parties to the Watershed Agreement to
represent the environmental community; and three ex officio non-voting members,
the commissioners of the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation and the Department of Health, and the commissioner of the New York
City Department of Environmental Protection. The chairperson shall be chosen by
a majority of the voting membership of the committee.
(ii) Technical Advisory Committee. A
Technical Advisory Committee is hereby established consisting of a 14-member
committee that shall report to the Executive Committee. All members shall have
the appropriate scientific or technical expertise to fulfill the purposes of
the committee as set forth in the Watershed Agreement. The membership shall
consist of: one member appointed by the Governor; one member to be appointed by
the Mayor of the City of New York to represent city consumers of the city's
water supply; three members to be appointed by the municipal parties west of
the Hudson River pursuant to the Watershed Agreement; one member to be
appointed by the Putnam County Executive subject to confirmation by the Putnam
County Legislature; one member to be appointed by the Westchester County
Executive; one member to be appointed by the Dutchess County Executive; one
member to be chosen by the environmental organizations that are parties to the
Watershed Agreement; four ex officio members: the Commissioners of the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health and the
New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Health;
and one ex officio non-voting member, the United States Environmental
Protection Agency Region II Administrator. The chairperson shall be chosen by a
majority of all committee members.
(iii) East of Hudson Sporting Advisory
Committee. An East of Hudson Sporting Advisory Committee is hereby established
and shall consist of: one member to be appointed by the Putnam County Executive
subject to confirmation by the Putnam County Legislature; one member to be
appointed by the Westchester County Executive; three members to represent
organized hunting, sporting, recreational or fishing groups, with the Putnam
County Executive, subject to confirmation by the Putnam County Legislature, the
Westchester County Executive and the Dutchess County Executive each appointing
one member; one member chosen by the environmental organizations that are
parties to the Watershed Agreement; three ex officio members, the commissioners
of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the
Department of Health and the New York City Department of Environmental
Protection; and two ex officio non-voting members: the United States
Environmental Protection Agency Region II Administrator and the Commissioner of
the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The
chairperson shall be chosen by a majority vote of the committee's
members.
2.
TERMS OF OFFICE
The terms of the members of the Partnership Council and its
committees and subcommittees and the manner of choosing the chairpersons
thereof shall be in accordance with the terms and conditions of article IV of
the Watershed Agreement and any amendments thereto. Each ex officio member may
designate an employee to act on the member's behalf.
3. FUNCTIONS
The functions of the Partnership Council and its committees
and subcommittees shall be in accordance with the terms and conditions of
article IV of the Watershed Agreement and any amendments thereto.
4. COMPENSATION
The members of the Partnership Council and its committees
and subcommittees shall receive no compensation, however, members who are not
employees of the State, Federal or City of New York governments or who do not
serve ex officio, shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary
expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Membership on the council
shall not constitute public employment for the purposes of disqualification
from holding of public office or employment.
5. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
The Partnership Council, the Executive Committee, the East
of Hudson Advisory Committee, the Technical Advisory Committee and the East of
Hudson Sporting Advisory Committee shall conduct meetings consistent with
sections 103, 104, 105 and 106 of the New York State Open Meetings Law. Section
87 of the New York State Freedom of Information Law shall be applicable to the
records of the Partnership Council, Executive Committee, East of Hudson
Advisory Committee, Technical Advisory Committee and the East of Hudson
Sporting Advisory Committee.
6. ADMINISTRATION
The State, through the New York State Department of State,
shall consistent with the terms and conditions of the Watershed Agreement,
administer the Partnership Council and its committees and subcommittees.
Signed: George E. PatakiDated: October 23,
1997
