§ 239-u. Creation of drug abuse prevention council. 1. The local legislative body of any county, city, town, village or community boards, as such term is defined in article fifty-two-A of the education law, may by resolution create one or more drug abuse prevention councils. Such council shall develop a program of community participation regarding the control of the use of narcotics and dangerous drugs at the local level. Such council shall direct itself toward accomplishing the following:

(a) develop and implement community drug abuse prevention programs;

(b) recruit, train, and utilize volunteers from the community to serve without charge in its programs;

(c) make immediately available to the community, basic knowledge acquired in the field of drug abuse;

(d) create a climate in which persons seeking assistance in coping with narcotics and dangerous drug problems can meet, without embarrassment, with responsible individuals or agencies in a position to render assistance;

(e) authorize persons approved by the council to contact and counsel persons within the community suspected of using narcotics and/or dangerous drugs or those persons allegedly having knowledge of such usage; and

(f) cooperate with other drug abuse prevention councils, the local agency as defined in section 83.03 of the mental hygiene law, and with the state, and federal drug abuse agencies in planning and implementing local programs staffed by volunteers, for the prevention of drug abuse among those at risk within the local community. 2. Such council shall consist of not less than three nor more than seven members who shall be appointed by the local legislative body or community board for a term not exceeding three years and may include a member of the clergy, an attorney, a physician or other persons who have shown an active interest in the problems of drug abuse and, notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, persons under twenty-one years of age. 3. The presiding officer or chairman of the council shall be designated by the local legislative body from among the members so appointed to the council. The local legislative body shall have authority to remove any member of said council so appointed for cause, after a public hearing, if requested. A vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as an original appointment. The local legislative body may provide for compensation to be paid to the members of the council and is empowered and authorized to make such appropriation as it may see fit for expenses incurred by the council. Such council may appoint such clerks and other employees as it may from time to time require with the approval of the local legislative body. The expenses of the council shall not exceed the appropriation that may be made therefor by the local legislative body. In the event a town creates or continues a drug abuse prevention council which develops a program pursuant to the provisions of this article, the cost thereof shall be a town charge, provided, however, that in counties with a population in excess of seven hundred fifty thousand, no tax shall be levied on real property in a village wholly or partially within such town for such cost if the village creates and continues a village drug abuse prevention council. The council may, with the approval of the local legislative body, apply to the local agency designated to prepare and implement the comprehensive plan under article eighty-three of the mental hygiene law, for support from special grants for local volunteer programs which conform to and are included within the comprehensive plan.