<div class="chunk-title">Article V. - Advisory Board</div>
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            <p class="incr0">
               A.
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               <span class="ital">Creation.</span> The Board of Commissioners shall establish an Advisory Board to implement the provisions
               of this program.
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               B.
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               <span class="ital">Membership.</span> The Advisory Board shall consist of no less than eight and no more than nine members
               appointed by the Board of Commissioners with an effort to have the broadest geographic
               representation and commodity interest as possible and feasible.
               </p>
            		
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               C.
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               <span class="ital">Membership Requirements.</span>
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               1.
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               Each Advisory Board member, except those serving in an ex officio capacity, shall
               be a Craven County resident and landowner.
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               2.
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               At least five of the members shall be actively engaged in farming, horticulture and/or
               forestry and meet the eligibility criteria for the Craven County Agricultural District
               program. Of the members actively engaged in farming, horticulture and/or forestry
               there shall be no more than one such member from each agricultural district or enhanced
               agricultural district from each Region as outlined in Article VI, Section A of this
               ordinance. Any additional members appointed by the Craven County Board of Commissioners
               or Craven County Soil and Water Conservation District shall have special interest,
               experience, or education in agriculture and/or rural land preservation. This determination
               shall be made without reference to ex officio members.
               </p>
            		
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               3.
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               The members actively engaged in farming, horticulture, aquaculture and/or forestry,
               as well as other members shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners from the
               names of individuals submitted to the Advisory Board by Craven County Soil and Water
               Conservation District, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, USDA Natural Resources
               Conservation Service, Farm Bureau, and the U.S. Farm Service Agency County Committee.
               Active agricultural producers, agricultural businesses, forestry, livestock production,
               horticultural producers, nonprofit agricultural organizations, and conservation or
               environmental organizations may submit nominations to these offices. The Board of
               Commissioners are not required to appoint any specific individuals submitted hereunder.
               </p>
            		
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               4.
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               Additional members may be appointed to the Advisory Board in an ex officio capacity
               from the Soil and Water Conservation District Board, North Carolina Cooperative Extension,
               the U.S. Farm Service Agency, or other agencies, as deemed necessary by the Board
               of Commissioners. Members serving in an ex officio capacity shall neither vote nor
               count toward quorum requirements.
               </p>
            		
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               5.
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               At least one of the Advisory Board members actively engaged in farming shall be appointed
               by the Craven County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors.
               </p>
            		
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               D.
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               <span class="ital">Tenure.</span> The initial Advisory Board is to consist of three appointees for terms of one year;
               three appointees for terms of two years; and three appointees for terms of three years.
               Thereafter, all appointments are to be for terms of three years, with reappointment
               permitted.
               </p>
            		
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               E.
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               <span class="ital">Vacancies.</span>
               </p>
            		
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               1.
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               Any vacancy on the Advisory Board is to be filled by the Board of Commissioners, after
               consultation by the Advisory Board, for the remainder of the unexpired term.
               </p>
            		
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               2
               </p>
            		
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               Any Advisory Board member may voluntarily resign by submitting a 30-day written notice
               to the Advisory Board.
               </p>
            		
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               F.
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               <span class="ital">Removal.</span>
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               1.
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               Any member of the Advisory Board may be removed by the Board of Commissioners upon
               a two-thirds vote of the Commissioners. No cause for removal shall be required.
               </p>
            		
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               2.
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               The Advisory Board may request in writing to the Board of Commissioners removal of
               an Advisory Board member for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.
               The membership of any Advisory Board member who is absent for three consecutive meetings
               may be subject to removal, unless such absence is excused by the Advisory Board for
               good and sufficient cause.
               </p>
            		
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               G.
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               <span class="ital">Funding.</span> The per diem compensation of the members of the Advisory Board may be fixed by the
               Board of Commissioners and funds may be appropriated to the Advisory Board to perform
               its duties.
               </p>
            		
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               H.
               </p>
            		
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               <span class="ital">Advisory Board Procedure.</span>
               </p>
            		
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               1.
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               <span class="ital">Chairperson.</span> The Advisory Board shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson each year at its
               first meeting of the fiscal year. The chairperson shall preside over all regular or
               special meetings of the Advisory Board. In the absence or disability of the chairperson,
               the vice-chairperson shall preside and shall exercise all the powers of the chairperson.
               Additional officers may be elected as needed.
               </p>
            		
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               2.
               </p>
            		
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               <span class="ital">Determination of Procedure.</span> The Advisory Board may not adopt rules of procedure inconsistent with this Ordinance
               or with other provisions of State law.
               </p>
            		
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               3.
               </p>
            		
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               <span class="ital">Advisory Board Year.</span> The Advisory Board shall use the Craven County fiscal year, July 1st - June 30th,
               as its fiscal year.
               </p>
            		
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               4.
               </p>
            		
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               <span class="ital">Meetings.</span> Meetings of the Advisory Board shall be held at the call of the chairperson and at
               such other times as the Advisory Board may specify in its rules of procedure or upon
               the request of at least a majority of the Advisory Board Membership. A meeting shall
               be held at least annually and notice of any meetings to the members shall be in writing,
               unless otherwise agreed to by all Advisory Board members. Meeting dates and times
               shall be posted as far in advance as possible on the door of the meeting site and
               by advertisement in local newspapers or by other means of public dissemination of
               the meeting dates as may be agreed upon by at least a majority of the Advisory Board
               Membership. All meetings shall be open to the public.
               </p>
            		
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               5.
               </p>
            		
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               <span class="ital">Majority Vote and Quorum Requirements.</span> All issues shall be decided by a majority vote of the members of the Advisory Board
               present, except as otherwise stated herein. A quorum will consist of one officer and
               at least one-half of the members. No business may be conducted by the Advisory Board
               without a quorum present.
               </p>
            		
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               6.
               </p>
            		
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               <span class="ital">Records.</span> The Advisory Board shall keep minutes of the proceedings showing the vote of each
               member upon each question, or if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact,
               and shall keep records of its examinations and other official actions, all of which
               shall be filed in the office of the Advisory Board, or its designee, and shall be
               a public record.
               </p>
            		
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               7.
               </p>
            		
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               <span class="ital">Administrative.</span> The Advisory Board may contract with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Craven
               County, office to serve the Board for record keeping, correspondence, application
               procedures under this, and whatever services the Board needs to complete its duties.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               I.
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               <span class="ital">Duties.</span> The Advisory Board shall:
               </p>
            		
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               1.
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               Review and approve or disapprove applications of landowners for enrollment of qualified
               farmland, horticultural land, or forestland in either voluntary agricultural districts
               or enhanced voluntary agricultural districts;
               </p>
            		
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               2.
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               Make recommendations concerning the establishment and modification of agricultural
               districts;
               </p>
            		
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               4.
               </p>
            		
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               Conduct public hearings pursuant to Article 10 of this ordinance;
               </p>
            		
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               5.
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               Advise the Board of Commissioners on projects, programs, or issues affecting the agricultural
               economy and agricultural, horticultural or forestry activities within the county that
               will affect agricultural districts;
               </p>
            		
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               6.
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               Review and make recommendations concerning proposed amendments to this ordinance;
               </p>
            		
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               7.
               </p>
            		
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               Develop a draft countywide farmland protection plan as defined in N.C.G.S. Â§ 106-744
               (e) for presentation to the Board of Commissioners;
               </p>
            		
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               8.
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               Study additional methods of protection for farming, horticulture, forestry, and the
               attendant land base, and make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners; and
               </p>
            		
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               9.
               </p>
            		
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               Perform other agricultural, horticultural, and forestry-related tasks or duties assigned
               by the Board of Commissioners.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. of 1-5-2009, Art. V; Ord. of 12-19-2011, Art. V)
               </p></div>