<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 6-22. - Agricultural advisory board.</div>
<div class="chunk-content">
            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Creation.</span> The board of commissioners, in accordance with G.S. 106-739, hereby establishes an
               agricultural advisory board to implement the provisions of this program.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Membership composition; representation.</span> The advisory board shall consist of no less than seven voting members appointed by
               the board of commissioners. One each shall be selected to represent each of the six
               districts in the regions set out in <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH6AG_ARTIIAGDI_S6-23CRVOAGDI" class="section-link" data-product-id="13953">section 6-23</a>(a). There shall also be one at-large member.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (c)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Membership requirements.</span> Membership requirements are as follows:
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Each advisory board member shall be a county resident or landowner.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (2)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               At least five of the members shall be actively engaged in farming.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (3)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               The board of commissioners shall select the members actively engaged in farming, as
               well as other members, for appointment to the advisory board. The board of commissioners
               may consider names submitted by the Soil and Water Conservation District Board of
               Supervisors, the County Office of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, the U.S. Farm
               Service Agency County Committee, nonprofit agricultural organizations, conservation
               organizations, agribusiness, and the public at large.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (d)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Tenure.</span> The initial board is to consist of two appointees for terms of one year; two 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 up to three
               consecutive terms permitted. Reappointment to additional terms is permitted after
               a full year off the board.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (e)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Vacancies.</span> Any vacancy on the advisory board is to be filled by the board of commissioners for
               the remainder of the unexpired term.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (f)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Removal.</span> The board of commissioners may remove any member of the advisory board for cause.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (g)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Funding.</span> The board of commissioners may appropriate funds for the agricultural advisory board
               to perform its duties. A budget request will be presented to the board of commissioners.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (h)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Advisory board procedure.</span> The advisory board procedure is as follows:
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <span class="ital">Officers.</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>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (2)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <span class="ital">Jurisdiction.</span> The advisory board may adopt rules of procedure not inconsistent with this article
               or with other provisions of state law.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (3)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <span class="ital">Advisory board year.</span> The advisory board shall use the county fiscal year as its meeting year.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (4)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <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 quarterly.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (5)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <span class="ital">Majority vote.</span> All issues shall be decided by a majority vote of the members of the advisory board,
               except as otherwise stated herein.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (6)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <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 and shall be a public record.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (7)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <span class="ital">Administration.</span> The advisory board may contract for recordkeeping, correspondence, application procedures
               under this article, and whatever services the board needs to complete its duties.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (i)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Duties.</span> Duties of the advisory board are as follows:
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               The advisory board shall:
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               a.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Review and approve applications for qualified farmland and voluntary agricultural
               districts and make recommendations concerning the establishment and modification of
               agricultural districts;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               b.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Advise the board of commissioners on projects, programs, or issues affecting the agricultural
               economy or activities within the county that will affect agricultural districts;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               c.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Review and make recommendations concerning proposed amendments to this article provided
               however that the board of commissioners may revise and/or amend this article without
               the advisory board review or advice.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (2)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               The advisory board may:
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               a.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Develop a draft countywide farmland protection plan as defined in G.S. 106-744(e)(1)
               for presentation to the board of commissioners;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               b.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Study additional methods of farmland preservation and make recommendations to the
               board of commissioners; and
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               c.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Perform other agricultural related tasks or duties assigned by the board of commissioners
               including but not limited to conducting public hearings.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. of 8-3-2004, art. V)
               </p>
            <p class="refstatelaw0" block_type="hang"><b>State Law referenceâ€” </b>
               Agricultural advisory board, G.S. 106-739.
               </p></div>