[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen
of the Town of Guilford 8-7-2006. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Boards, commissions and committees — See Ch. 9.
Guilford is a community that is educated about,
understands, and supports agriculture.
The BOS shall appoint an Agricultural Commission
consisting of five members and three alternates. All members of the
Commission must be electors and residents of the Town.
The mission of the Agricultural Commission is
to support agriculture in Guilford through education, communication,
conflict resolution, regulatory guidance, and promoting the economic
viability of farming.
The powers and duties of the Agricultural Commission
are as follows:
B.
Education:
(1)
Recommend necessary changes to language and practices
across Town departments and other boards and commissions as necessary
regarding a local definition for agriculture, farming, and farms;
(2)
Educate Town government about agricultural laws, such
as Right to Farm, and legal issues regarding farm machines;
(3)
Provide information and guidance on agriculture-related
zoning issues to Town departments and other boards and commissions
as necessary;
(4)
Provide opportunities to support young farmers and
new farmers, such as the Farmer-to-Farmer Program, Landlink, and other
mentoring programs;
(5)
Support local, regional, and state vocational agriculture
education programs.
C.
Conflict resolution:
(1)
Serve in an advisory and/or conflict resolution capacity
to residents, established Town committees and departments.
D.
Economic opportunities:
(1)
Identify innovative opportunities for farming additional
lands in Guilford;
(2)
Promote opportunities for residents and local businesses
to support and value farming;
(3)
Serve as a conduit between nonprofit agencies, funders,
and local farmers;
(4)
Create a climate that supports the economic viability
of farming as a career in Guilford.
A.
The Agricultural Commission will consist of five members
and three alternates. Initial members shall be appointed within 30
days of approval of this regulation, with input from the Agricultural
Steering Committee.
B.
Members and alternates will be appointed without regard
to political affiliation by the Board of Selectmen, and not be subject
to nomination by any political party.
C.
Insofar as practical, members appointed shall be representative
of all groups interested in the management, protection and regulation
of agriculture as defined by C.G.S. § 1-1q, particularly
those directly involved in agriculture.
D.
The Agricultural Commission will recommend to the
Board of Selectmen persons for openings on the Commission.
Any vacancy in the membership of the Commission
which may be the result of the death, resignation or removal of a
member or from any other cause shall be filled for the unexpired term
of such member by the Board of Selectmen.
The members of the Commission shall meet and
elect a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary annually in December,
or as may be necessary.
A.
The Commission shall hold regular meetings and shall
designate the time and place thereof and shall have the power to adopt
rules and regulations for the conduct of business within its jurisdiction
and shall keep a record of all its proceedings.
B.
Three members shall constitute a quorum. When a member
shall fail to be present for four consecutive meetings or at 1/4 of
meetings held in any one fiscal year, his or her membership shall
be vacant, unless his or her absence is excused by the Commission
and the reason thereof entered into the record of the Commission's
proceedings. If a vacancy occurs by virtue of absences as described
above, the vacancy for the unexpired term shall be filled by the Board
of Selectmen.
The Agricultural Commission, at the regularly
designated time, shall submit an estimate of anticipated expenditures
for the coming fiscal year to the Board of Selectmen. The Commission
shall operate within the budget as approved.
The Commission shall from time to time, but
not less often than annually, submit a report for inclusion in the
Town's annual report, and may submit other such reports as may be
requested from time to time.
The Commission may solicit or receive gifts
or bequests or other personal property or any donation to be used,
as principal or income, for municipal and/or agricultural purposes.