[HISTORY: Adopted by the Annual Town Meeting of the Town
of Harvard 3-27-2006 by Art. 22; amended in its entirety 10-22-2018 STM by Art. 1; Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of the Agricultural Advisory Commission, sometimes
hereinafter "the Commission," is to support commercial agriculture
and other farming activities in the Town of Harvard. The Commission's
duties shall include, but are not limited to: serving as facilitators
for encouraging the pursuits of agriculture in Harvard; promoting
agricultural-based economic opportunities in Town; acting as mediators,
advocates, educators, and/or negotiators on farming issues; working
for preservation of prime agricultural lands; advising the Select
Board, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission,
Board of Health, Historical Commission, Board of Assessors, and the
Open Space Committee, or any other appropriate Town Boards, on issues
involving agriculture; and pursuing all initiatives appropriate to
creating a sustainable agricultural community.
A.
The
Agricultural Advisory Commission shall consist of five members appointed
by the Select Board, the majority of which Commission's membership
shall be substantially engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. All
members of the Commission must either be residents of the Town or
owners and farmers of agricultural property within the Town.
B.
There
may be up to three alternates appointed to the Commission by the Select
Board, each to serve for a term of one year. Said alternates shall
be designated by the Chair of the Commission to fill any vacancies
at meetings of the Commission, regardless of the reason for the vacancy.
C.
In
making its appointments, the Select Board shall consider the intent
of the Commission to represent the agricultural interests of the Town.
D.
The
members shall serve overlapping terms of three years. For the first
Agricultural Advisory Commission, the Select Board shall appoint two
members for a term of three years, two members for a term of two years
and one member for a term of one year. Thereafter, appointments shall
be made for three-year terms.
E.
The
Select Board shall fill a vacancy based on the unexpired term of the
vacancy in order to maintain the cycle of appointments, based upon
the recommendations of the Commission.
