§ 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.