[Adopted 2006 STM by Art. 2 (Ch. 4, Art. 14, of the General Bylaws); amended 2011 ATM by Art. 47]
A. 
A committee to be known as the "Agricultural Commission" shall be established and composed of five members who are engaged in farming. The appointing authority shall be the Board of Selectmen and the terms of office shall be: two members for an initial term of three years and thereafter for a term of three years; two members for an initial term of two years and thereafter for a term of three years; one member for an initial term of one year and thereafter for a term of three years.
B. 
In addition, the Board of Selectmen may appoint up to three nonvoting associate members for terms of one year, one of whom shall be a Selectman. The other two nonvoting associate members shall be engaged in farming or have a farming interest.
C. 
Any member of the Commission may be removed for cause after a hearing. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled by the Board of Selectmen for the remainder of the unexpired term after receiving recommendations from the Agricultural Commission as to the farming interests of the persons so making application.
[Amended 11-12-2019 STM by Art. 15]
The Commission shall develop a work plan to guide its activities. Such activities shall include but not be limited to the following: serve as facilitators for encouraging the pursuit of agriculture in the Town; promote agricultural-based economic opportunities in the Town; act as mediators, advocates, educators and/or negotiators on farming issues; act in an advisory capacity on farming issues for established Town departments, boards and commissions; pursue all initiatives appropriate to create a sustainable agricultural community and to encourage the pursuit of agriculture as a career opportunity and lifestyle. The Commission may promote and develop agricultural resources of the municipality and may accept, buy, hold, manage, license or lease land for agricultural purposes, subject to the provision of MGL c. 40, § 8L, as may be amended.
The Agricultural Commission shall not meet or conduct business without the presence of a majority of the members of the Agricultural Commission, except to postpone a meeting to a later date certain. The nonvoting associate members of the Agricultural Commission, if any, shall not count towards the quorum requirement. The Agricultural Commission shall comply with the provisions of the Open Meeting Law, as may be amended.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See MGL c. 30A, §§ 18 to 25.