(a) Establishment; duties. There is an Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board with the following duties and responsibilities:
(1) to advise the County concerning the establishment of County agricultural districts and purchases of easements by the County;
(2) to assist the County government in reviewing the status of County agricultural districts and land under easement;
(3) to advise the County concerning County priorities for agricultural and woodland preservation;
(4) to promote preservation of agriculture within the County by fostering such activities as a farmers' market and by offering information and assistance to farmers concerning establishment of County agricultural districts and the purchase of easements;
(5) to make recommendations to the County Executive concerning budget and appropriation requests;
(6) to recommend the delineation of areas of productive agricultural land in the County;
(7) to recommend procedures concerning the determination of values of easements;
(8) to review and make recommendations to the County concerning proposed regulations for State and County agricultural districts;
(9) to prepare and review recommendations to the County concerning County policies and programs for agricultural and woodland preservation;
(10) to seek the advice of and cooperate with the Agricultural Extension Service, the Soil Conservation District and the State foresters in carrying out its responsibilities; and
(11) to perform other, duties as may be assigned by the County Council or County Executive.
(b) Meetings. The Board shall meet at the direction of the Chair or on the request of two members of the Board, but in no event less than once every three months.
(c) Decisions. Decisions of the Board shall be made if a majority of the members is present at a meeting and if a majority of the members present concurs.
(d) Staff support. The Office of Planning and Zoning shall provide staff support to the Board.
(e) Public ethics issues. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7 of this Code, a person may be appointed to and may serve on the Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board even if the person has a district agreement with the State or County or has sold an easement on the person's agricultural land or woodland to the State or County. Nothing in this subsection excuses a member of the Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board from compliance with § 7-3-101 of this Code.
(1985 Code, Art. 24, § 2-202) (Bill No. 45-90; Bill No. 56-99; Bill No. 20-00; Bill No. 45-00)