[Adopted 9-18-2018]
There is hereby established a commission, known as the ''Taunton Agricultural Commission" (hereinafter the "Commission"), which shall be composed of five members, all of whom shall be residents of Taunton. The central mission of the Commission shall be to support current and future agricultural endeavors through education, technical assistance, and advocacy, and to represent the City's agricultural community and interests. This article is not intended to create and expressly does not create a municipal agricultural commission under MGL c. 40, § 8L, nor shall this article operate as an acceptance of said section by the City of Taunton.
A. 
Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor. In making the initial appointments to the Commission, the Mayor 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. Upon expiration of the initial terms of office, all appointments shall be for a term of three years. Any vacancies in Commission membership shall be filled by appointment by the Mayor of a qualified individual for the remaining unexpired term of office.
B. 
No less than three Commission members shall be farmers, persons employed in an agriculture-related field, or persons with knowledge, skills, and experience in agricultural practices or knowledge of related agricultural business.
A. 
The Mayor shall have the authority to appoint no more than two alternate members of the Commission for a term of three years. Alternate members, if appointed, shall be designated First Alternate and Second Alternate. Alternate members shall have the right to attend Commission meetings and participate in Commission discussions, but shall not, except as otherwise provided, have the right to vote. The First Alternate shall have the right to vote only in the event there are less than five Commission members present at the time a vote is taken. The Second Alternate shall have the right to vote only in the event that:
(1) 
Less than four Commission members are present at the time a vote is taken; or
(2) 
There are four Commission members present and the First Alternate is not present at the time a vote is taken.
B. 
The Mayor shall have the authority to appoint no more than three junior members of the Commission for a term of one year. Junior members, if appointed, shall have the right to attend Commission meetings and participate in Commission discussions, but shall not have the right to vote. In making such appointments, the Mayor shall give preference to high school students residing in Taunton.
C. 
At the first meeting in January of each year, the Commission shall appoint one of its members as Chairman, one of its members as Vice Chairman, and one of its members as Clerk, all of whom shall serve for a period of one year. The Commission, by majority vote, shall have the authority to make rules of procedure.
D. 
The Commission shall develop a work plan to guide its activities. Such activities shall include, but not be limited to, the following: to serve as facilitators for encouraging the pursuit of agriculture in Taunton, to promote agriculture-based economic opportunities in Taunton, to act as mediators, advocates, educators and negotiators, to act in an advisory capacity on farming issues for established municipal boards and departments, to pursue all initiatives appropriate to creating a sustainable agricultural community, and to encourage the pursuit of agriculture as a career opportunity and lifestyle. For the purposes of this article, the term "agriculture" is defined as farming/natural science in all of its branches. The Commission shall have the authority to appoint advisory subcommittees to involve nonmember residents in projects related to the Commission's work plan.