The Havre de Grace Economic Development Advisory Board (hereinafter referred to as the "Advisory Board") is hereby established.
[Adopted 4-4-2005 by Ord. No. 863[2]]
A.
General purposes. The purpose of the Advisory Board will be to support and encourage economic development in the City of Havre de Grace (hereinafter referred to as the "City") under the guidance and the direction of the Department of Economic Development. The Advisory Board will identify and promote economic development opportunities, support and encourage industrial, commercial, retail and residential development within and nearby the City, and interface with local and other government agencies.
[Amended 10-4-2021 by Ord. No. 1060]
B.
Powers and duties of the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board shall have the following duties and powers:
(1)
To support and encourage the growth and development of economic development in the City.
(2)
To identify and promote incentives and attractions which the City may employ to foster economic development.
(3)
To support and encourage the location of new industrial, commercial, and retail enterprises and residential developments within the City and the expansion of present enterprises and development.
(4)
To support and encourage development of tourism infrastructure in the City.
(5)
To work with existing enterprises in order to identify problems that inhibit economic growth within the City.
(6)
To promote and support the Havre de Grace Main Street program in accordance with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Maryland Main Street guidelines.
[Amended 10-4-2021 by Ord. No. 1060]
(7)
To work with and support the Historic Preservation Commission in its efforts to create guidelines and design standards in the City consistent with the City's land use and zoning authority granted by the State of Maryland.
[Amended 10-4-2021 by Ord. No. 1060]
(8)
To review legislation and policy decisions of local, state, and federal agencies in order to identify their impact on economic development in the City.
(9)
To work with Mayor and City Council in order to improve the potential of economic development within the City.
(10)
To bolster the City as a potential site for economic development by exploring grant programs on the federal, state and local levels.
(11)
To create committees of the Advisory Board as needed.
C.
Additional powers and duties of Chairperson of the Advisory Board. The chairperson of the Advisory Board (hereinafter referred to as the "Chair") shall have the following additional duties and powers:
(1)
To serve as spokesperson for the Advisory Board;
(2)
To preside over meetings of the Advisory Board;
(3)
To be available to assist and advise the Department of Economic Development, and
[Amended 10-4-2021 by Ord. No. 1060]
(4)
To appoint committees from within the Advisory Board as needed to assist the Department of Economic Development.
[Amended 10-4-2021 by Ord. No. 1060]
A.
The Advisory Board shall have no less than seven and no more than 15 appointed members (hereinafter referred to as a "member" or "members"). Each person will hold a term of three years with eligibility for reappointment, except the City Council liaison (ex-officio), whose term will run concurrently with his/her time in elected office. The Advisory Board membership may include members selected based on their known experience, geographic location and interest in the economic development of Havre de Grace. Vacancies during any term shall be filled by the Mayor with recommendation from the Advisory Board and advice and consent of the City Council.
B.
The officers of the Advisory Board shall consist of a Chair, a Vice Chair, and a Secretary. The officers shall be elected annually by the voting members of the Advisory Board. All candidates for office will be nominated each April by the Advisory Board members, and elections will take place at the first meeting in June of each year. The newly elected officers will take office during the July meeting of the Advisory Board and will serve until the last day of June in the following year.
A.
Voting members. The Mayor shall, with the consent of the City Council, appoint all voting members of the Advisory Board from the nomination made and forwarded to the Mayor from the Department of Economic Development. The individual being proposed for such appointment must complete an application as provided by the City. When any vacancy occurs, any member of the Advisory Board may at any time submit the name and completed application of an individual for nomination to the Advisory Board to complete the term of vacancy. The Advisory Board shall vote on the nomination and, if approved, forward the nomination to the Department of Economic Development for submission to the Mayor.
[Amended 10-4-2021 by Ord. No. 1060]
B.
Ex-officio members. The Mayor and City Council shall appoint a member of the City Council as liaison member in June of each year for a one-year term. The Mayor and City Council shall appoint the individual member, or staff member, responsible for economic development and business retention for the City for an unspecified term to sit on the Advisory Board as an ex-officio member. Further, the Mayor and City Council shall appoint one ex-officio member each from: Harford County Office of Community and Economic Development, Havre de Grace Alliance Inc., Havre de Grace Office of Tourism, Havre de Grace Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and one member-at-large.
[Amended 10-4-2021 by Ord. No. 1060]
C.
Termination of membership. The membership of any member on the Advisory Board shall be automatically terminated 90 days after such member's absence is unexcused for three consecutive meetings, or after he or she misses 50% of the meetings in a calendar year, unless the Chair, before the expiration of such ninety-day period, has acted favorably on such member's petition to relieve him or her of loss of membership provided herein.
[Amended 10-4-2021 by Ord. No. 1060]
Members of the Advisory Board will serve a term of three years from time of appointment by the Mayor and City Council. The names of those members of the Advisory Board whose terms are to expire and who desire reappointment shall be submitted to the Department of Economic Development, who shall forward them to the Mayor and City Council for consideration for reappointment for another three-year term.
A.
Only those members of the Advisory Board may vote on matters coming before the Advisory Board as well as during the election of the Chair, Vice Chair, or Secretary. Any member of the Advisory Board serving as an ex-officio member has the rights and privileges as all members of the Advisory Board but may not vote on any matters coming before the Advisory Board or in any elections held by the Advisory Board.
B.
Subcommittee(s) made up of members of the Advisory Board shall be appointed by the Chair. Subcommittees shall be created, as recommended, by the Department of Economic Development or by the Advisory Board Chair. The Advisory Board will keep a record of its transactions, findings and determinations, and such records shall be kept public, except as may be otherwise required by law.
[Amended 10-4-2021 by Ord. No. 1060]
A.
General meetings. The Advisory Board shall meet no less than eight times a year. Any special meeting shall be at the request of the Chair or the City Department of Economic Development. The Advisory Board may meet monthly at a specified time and place.
[Amended 10-4-2021 by Ord. No. 1060]
B.
Special meetings. The Chair of the Advisory Board shall notify the members as to time, place, and purpose of any such special meeting. For any member, the actual receipt of notice in any manner at least five days in advance of the meeting shall be deemed sufficient notice. Attendance by a member at a special meeting constitutes a waiver of any right to notice.