57-0113 - Duties of the council.

§ 57-0113. Duties of the council.    The council shall have the following powers and duties:    1. to conduct scientific and environmental studies;    2.  to  review  and  approve proposed dedications of lands to the Long  Island  Pine  Barrens  maritime  preserve   and   recommend   additional  dedications to such maritime preserve;    3.  to  utilize  to  the  extent feasible, the staff and facilities of  state agencies, subject to the approval of the director of  the  budget,  and local agencies to carry out the provisions of this title;    4. to hold public hearings;    5.  to contract within amounts appropriated for or otherwise available  for professional and technical assistance or advice;    6. to meet not less than once every two months and  to  encourage  the  attendance  at such meetings of representatives of local governments and  interested parties affected by the deliberations of the council;    7. to send copies of the minutes of each  meeting  to  each  town  and  village  within  the  Long  Island  Pine  Barrens  maritime reserve, the  members of the assembly and senators  representing  such  area  and  any  other interested party upon request;    8.  to  encourage  individuals,  corporations, associations and public  entities to protect and preserve the unique  resources  of  the  reserve  including the preserve; and    9. to contract for and to accept assistance, including but not limited  to  gifts,  easements  or  loans  of  funds or real property or personal  property from the federal government or any  agency  or  instrumentality  thereof, or from any agency or instrumentality of the state, or from any  other  public or private source and to comply, subject to the provisions  of this title, with the terms and conditions  thereof,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the division of the budget. Notwithstanding the provisions  of section eleven of the state finance law, the  commission  may  accept  gifts,   grants,   devises   and   bequests,   whether   conditional  or  unconditional, with the approval of the director of the budget.