a. The Trust is governed by a twelve-member Board appointed by Greenville County Council in accordance with the following requirements:
i. One Board member shall be appointed from each County Council District. The primary residence of such Board member shall be in his or her County Council District. Board members shall elect by majority vote the chair of the Board.
ii. At least one of the appointed Board members shall be a board member or executive officer of a charitable corporation or trust authorized to do business in this State that is one of the following: (i) actively engaged in the acquisition of interests in land from voluntary sellers for the purposes of natural resource or land conservation in Greenville County; or (ii) represents hunting, fishing or outdoor recreation interests; and
iii. At least one of the appointed Board members shall be an owner of rural real property who is actively engaged in the management and operation of forestlands, farmlands, or wildlife habitat; and
iv. At least one of the appointed Board members shall be actively engaged in one of the following: (i) the real estate business; or (ii) the business of appraising forestland, farmland, or conservation easements; or (iii) the business of banking, finance or accounting; or (iv) the practice of law with a concentration in the field of real estate or land use law.
v. At least one of the appointed Board members shall be actively engaged in historic or cultural preservation.
vi. All appointed Board members shall have a serious interest in the conservation of lands with significant natural, cultural and/or historical resources.
b. The initial term of the Board members from Council Districts 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 shall be for two years and thereafter for two-year terms.
The initial term of the Board members from Council Districts 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 shall be for three years and thereafter for two-year terms.
Board members may not serve more than two consecutive terms, but are eligible for appointment after being off the Board for one term.
Vacancies shall be filled by Council for the unexpired portion of any term.
c. The members of the Board shall serve without compensation but may receive the mileage and per diem as may be authorized and appropriated by Greenville County Council. The Board shall adopt rules and procedures for conducting its meetings and carrying out its responsibilities.
d. The Board is a public body and its members are therefore subject to, among other applicable laws and regulations, the South Carolina Ethics Act, the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, and Greenville County Code of Ordinances § 2-83 and shall perform their duties in accordance with the provisions thereof.
e. The Board shall meet at least four times per year in regularly scheduled meetings open to the public and in special meetings as the chair may call. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act.
(Ord. 5247 § 3, passed 12-15-2020)