[Adopted 12-19-2013 by Ord. No. 289-2013[1]]
There is hereby created and established an Agricultural Commission.
The Agricultural Commission shall consist of five members who shall
be substantially engaged in either the pursuit of agriculture or forestry
or supporters of agriculture and shall either be residents of Fitchburg
or owners and farmers of agriculture or forestry with the City.
Initially the Mayor shall appoint two members for three years,
two members for two years and one member for one year, and thereafter
each member shall be appointed for a three-year term. All appointments
shall be subject to confirmation by the City Council.
To assist in carrying out the duties of the Agricultural Commission
there shall be two associate members appointed by the Mayor, subject
to confirmation by the City Council. The associate members shall sit
on the Agricultural Commission in the case of absence, inability to
act or conflict of interest on the part of any member of the Agricultural
Commission or in the event of a vacancy on the Commission. Initially
the Mayor shall appoint one associate member for a one-year term and
one associate member for a two-year term, and thereafter each associate
member shall be appointed for a three-year term.
Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the Agricultural Commission,
it shall be filled in the same manner as provided for the regular
appointment of members, except that the member so appointed shall
be appointed to serve the balance of the unexpired term only.
The members of the Commission shall annually choose from their
own membership a Chairperson and a Secretary.
A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.
A.
The purpose of the Agricultural Commission will be to support commercial
agriculture and other farming and forestry activities in the City
of Fitchburg.
B.
The Commission's duties shall include but will not be limited to
the following:
(1)
Serve as facilitators for encouraging the pursuits of agriculture
in Fitchburg;
(2)
Promote agriculture-based economic opportunities in the City;
(3)
Act as mediators, advocates, educators, and/or negotiators on farming
issues;
(4)
Work for the preservation of agricultural and forest lands;
(5)
Advise the Mayor, City Council, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals,
Conservation Commission, Board of Health, Historical Commission, Board
of Assessors, and any other appropriate City boards, on issues involving
agriculture;
(6)
Pursue all initiatives appropriate to creating a substantial agricultural
community;
(7)
Receive gifts, grants, bequests, and devises, whether real or personal,
from any source, whether public or private, for the purpose of assisting
the Commission in the discharge of its duties with the approval of
the City Council.
[Amended 6-3-2014 by Ord. No. 100-2014]
No member of the Commission shall receive compensation for his
or her services.
