[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of
Simsbury 8-13-2018. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Economic Development Commission — See Charter
Chapter VI, Section 609.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 7-136 of the Connecticut
General Statutes and Chapter VI, Section 609 of the Town Charter,
the Board of Selectmen hereby creates, by ordinance, an Economic Development
Commission. Pursuant to Section 609 of the Town Charter, the membership,
terms, duties and responsibilities, not inconsistent with the Town
Charter or state law, are hereby established. Hereinafter, the Simsbury
Economic Development Commission will be referred to as the "Commission."
The Commission shall serve as an advisory board to the Board
of Selectmen. The purpose of the Commission shall be to promote and
develop the economic resources of the Town and to advance the Town's
economic development goals as defined by the Board of Selectmen. The
Commission shall be empowered to conduct research into economic conditions
and trends and to collaborate with community organizations which promote
economic development.
A.
Voting
members.
(1)
The Economic Development Commission shall consist of seven voting
members who shall be Electors of the Town as defined in the Charter
and appointed by the Board of Selectmen. Each member shall be appointed
to three-year terms.
(a)
At the time of establishment of the Commission, three members shall
be appointed to two-year terms and four members shall be appointed
to three-year terms. Thereafter, all terms shall be for three years.
(b)
No member shall serve more than two full three-year terms, regardless
of whether those terms are consecutive.
(2)
Any vacancy on said Commission shall be filled by appointment of
an elector of the Town by the Board of Selectmen for the unexpired
portion of the term. No member shall be appointed to fill a partial
term caused by a vacancy on more than one occasion. A member may fill
one partial term in addition to the two full three-year terms referenced
above.
(3)
Member appointments are intended to be nonpartisan and based on qualifications
and experience as it relates to economic development. Member qualifications
and experience may be further defined by a separate resolution of
the Board of Selectmen. Voting members shall not be elected officials
of the Town, nor active full-time or part-time employees of the Town
who work the minimum number of hours to be considered benefits-eligible.
B.
Nonvoting
members. The Town Manager shall be an ex-officio member of the Commission
with full participation rights, but will not have the ability to vote
on Commission matters. Other ex-officio members may be added by a
separate resolution of the Board of Selectmen.
A.
Chair
and Vice Chair. On or before the 31st day of October each year, the
members of the Commission shall meet and elect from among the appointed
members a Chair and Vice Chair.
B.
Administrative
support. The Town Manager's Office will provide administrative
and technical support to the Commission. The Town Manager, in his
or her discretion, may assign other staff persons as needed to provide
administrative and technical support as needed.
C.
Meeting
schedule. Regular meeting schedules shall be established annually
and filed in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes.
D.
Quorum.
The presence of four members of the Commission shall constitute a
quorum to take action. No action shall become valid unless authorized
by a vote of the majority of the total membership present and voting.
A.
On
or before the 31st day of October each year, the Commission shall
prepare and submit to the Board of Selectmen an annual report of its
activities and, if applicable, recommendations for improving the economic
condition and development of the Town. The Commission may be asked
from time to time to present more frequent reports of its activities
and to appear before the Board of Selectmen to report on those activities.
B.
The
Board of Selectmen will provide direction and goals to the Commission
on an annual basis on or before the 30th day of November each year.
A.
No
compensation, reimbursement of expenses. Members of the Commission
shall receive no compensation for their services. However, members
shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance
of their official duties, when such funds are available in the Town's
approved budget and authorized in advance by the Town Manager.
B.
Commitment
of Town funds. In the performance of its duties, the Commission shall
not incur any expense, or obligate the Town to pay any expense, unless
funds have been appropriated by the Town specifically for the use
of the Commission and authorized in advance by the Town Manager.
A.
Removal
for cause. Any member of the Commission may be removed by the Board
of Selectmen, upon the recommendation of the Town Manager, for cause.
Such member will be afforded an opportunity for a public meeting with
the Board of Selectmen prior to a final decision being made regarding
their status for removal. The purpose of the public meeting is to
give the member an opportunity to be heard in person before the Board
of Selectmen prior to a final decision being made.
B.
Removal
for absences. Any Commission member who is absent from more than 50%
of Commission meetings during any twelve-month period may be removed
from the Commission, and the vacancy shall be filled by the Board
of Selectmen. An exception may be granted by and at the discretion
of the Town Manager due to a member's illness or other exigent
circumstances.
If any part, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or other portion
of this chapter is, for any reason, held invalid or unconstitutional
by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed
to be a separate, distinct and independent provision, and such holding
shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof.
