[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Manchester 7-13-1999 by L.L. No. 4-1999 (Ch. 2 of the 1989 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Right to farm — See Ch. 167, Art. I.
The Town Board of the Town of Manchester recognizes that the agricultural industry is the largest industry in the Town. The Town Board has a keen interest in assuring the continued viability of farming in the Town and, therefore, wishes to take action to create an entity to advise the Town Board and other Town officials on issues relating to agriculture. Further, the Town Board recognizes the need to seek advice from members of the Manchester community on measures that the Board might take to assure preservation of farmland and, generally, the continued success and growth of farming and related industries.
The Town Board of the Town of Manchester hereby creates a committee which shall be known as the "Town of Manchester Agricultural Advisory Committee" (hereinafter referred to as "Committee").
The Committee shall consist of nine members, all of whom shall be residents of the Town of Manchester. The members shall be appointed by the Town Board in accordance with the provisions herein. In making its appointment, the Town Board shall consider geographical distribution, employment or profession and special expertise upon issues relevant to the preservation and enhancement of farming in the Town. The Town Board shall, as soon as reasonably practicable following the effective date of this chapter, appoint five members to a term commencing immediately upon appointment and terminating December 31, 2004, and four members to a term commencing upon appointment and terminating on December 31, 2005. Successors shall be appointed for five-year terms commencing on the first day of January, except when appointed to fill a vacancy in an unexpired term.
Following its appointment of nine members to the Committee, the Town Board shall designate the date, time and place of the organizational meeting of said Committee. The Town Board shall further designate the time, date and place of an annual organizational meeting to take place during January of each year. At said organizational meeting, the Committee shall elect from its membership a Chairperson. The Chairperson shall serve until the next succeeding organizational meeting as provided for herein.
The power and duties of the Committee shall be to:
A. 
Advise the Town Planning Board on matters affecting the preservation and development of agricultural resources in the Town, but not limited to, land use measures to enhance the long-range prospects for farming and agriculture-related industries in the Town.
B. 
Conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the land currently utilized for agricultural purposes within the Town to identify areas where farmland preservation measures might be necessary, and such other studies and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purposes of this chapter.
C. 
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private groups, institutions and individuals within the Town in accordance with the purposes of this chapter.
D. 
Maintain liaison and communications with public and private agencies and organizations of local, state and national scope whose programs and activities have an impact upon the viability of agriculture in the community.
E. 
Make recommendations to the Town Board concerning features, plans and programs relating to agriculture for inclusion in the Master Plan of the Town of Manchester and recommend to the Town Board appropriate local legislation relating to the preservation and growth of agriculture in the Town.
F. 
All such duties as designated under Chapter 167, Farming, Article I, Right To Farm, of the Code of the Town of Manchester.
G. 
Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Town Board to the Committee.
A quorum for meeting of the Committee shall be five members. The Committee shall be deemed a public body for the purposes of Article 7 of the Public Officers Law.
The Committee shall submit an annual report to the Town Board, not later than the Town Board's organization meeting of each year, concerning the activities and work of the Committee.
The members of the Committee shall receive compensation for their services as determined and set by the Town Board.
A. 
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the Home Rule Powers of the Town of Manchester, pursuant to the Municipal Home Rule Law and other applicable laws, to preserve and improve the agriculture industry in the Town of Manchester. This chapter is not intended and shall not be deemed to impair the powers of any other public entity.
B. 
Insofar as the provisions of this chapter are inconsistent with the provisions of any other local law, rule or ordinance, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail.