(A) Creation. The Board of Commissioners shall establish an Agricultural District Advisory Board to implement the provisions of this program.
(B) Membership. The Agricultural District Advisory Board shall consist of no less than seven members appointed by the Board of Commissioners.
(C) Membership requirements.
(1) Each Advisory Board member shall be a county resident. Each district shall be assigned to a member of the Board who shall monitor and represent that district in all business conducted by the Board. Individual members will represent those districts closest to them geographically.
(2) At least five of the seven members shall be actively engaged in farming.
(3) The members actively engaged in farming, as well as other members, shall be selected for appointment by the Board of Commissioners from the names of individuals submitted to the Board of Commissioners by the Lincoln Natural Resources Committee, the Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, the county office of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, the USDA Farm Service Agency County Committee, nonprofit agricultural organizations, conservation organizations, agribusiness, and the public at large.
(D) Tenure. The initial board is to consist of two appointees for terms of one year; two appointees for terms of two years; and three appointees for terms of three years. Thereafter, all appointments are to be for terms of three years, with reappointment permitted.
(E) Vacancies. Any vacancy on the Agricultural District Advisory Board is to be filled by the Board of Commissioners for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(F) Removal. Any member of the Agricultural District Advisory Board may be removed for cause by the Board of Commissioners subsequent to written charges being presented to the member and after consultation with the Agricultural District Advisory Board.
(G) Funding. The per diem compensation, if any, for the members of the Agricultural District Advisory Board may be fixed by the Board of Commissioners and funds may be appropriated to the Agricultural District Advisory Board to perform its duties.
(H) Agricultural District Advisory Board procedure.
(1) Chairperson. The Agricultural District Advisory Board shall elect a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson each year at its first meeting of the fiscal year. The Chairperson shall preside over all regular or special meetings of the Agricultural District Advisory Board. In the absence or disability of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson shall preside and shall exercise all the powers of the Chairperson. Additional officers may be elected as needed.
(2) Jurisdiction. The Agricultural District Advisory Board may adopt rules of procedure not inconsistent with this subchapter or with other provisions of state law.
(3) Agricultural District Advisory Board year. The Agricultural District Advisory Board shall use the county fiscal year as its meeting year.
(4) Meetings. Meetings of the Agricultural District Advisory Board shall be held at the call of the Chairperson and at any other times as the Agricultural District Advisory Board may specify in its rules of procedure, or upon the request of at least a majority of the Agricultural District Advisory Board membership. A meeting shall be held at least annually and notice of any meetings to the members shall be in writing, unless otherwise agreed to by all Agricultural District Advisory Board members. Meeting dates and times shall be posted as far in advance as possible at the meeting site and by advertisement in local newspapers or by other means of public dissemination of the meeting dates as may be agreed upon by at least a majority of the Agricultural District Advisory Board membership. All meetings shall be open to the public. A quorum of the Agricultural District Advisory Board must be present to conduct business.
(5) Majority vote. The concurring vote of a majority of the members of the Agricultural District Advisory Board present shall be necessary to decide in favor of an applicant; or to pass upon any other matter on which it is required to act under this subchapter. To reverse any order, requirement, decision, or determination of the Agricultural District Advisory Board, the concurring vote of a majority of all members of the Agricultural District Advisory Board shall be necessary.
(6) Records. The Agricultural District Advisory Board shall keep minutes of the proceedings showing the vote of each member on each question, or if absent or failing to vote, indicating that fact, and shall keep records of its examinations and other official actions, all of which shall be filed in the office of the Agricultural District Advisory Board and shall be a public record.
(7) Administrative. The Soil and Water Conservation District will serve the Agricultural District Advisory Board for record keeping, correspondence, application procedures under this subchapter, and whatever services the Board needs to complete its duties.
(I) Duties. The Agricultural District Advisory Board shall:
(1) Review and approve applications for qualified farm land and enhanced agricultural districts and make recommendations concerning the establishment and modification of agricultural districts;
(2) Conduct public hearings on public projects likely to have an impact on agricultural operations, particularly if the projects involve condemnation of all or part of any qualifying farm;
(3) Advise the Board of Commissioners on projects, programs, or issues affecting the agricultural economy or activities within the county that will affect agricultural districts;
(4) Review and make recommendations concerning proposed amendments to this subchapter;
(5) Develop a county-wide farm land protection plan as defined in G.S. § 106-744(e) for presentation to the Board of Commissioners; and
(6) Study additional methods of farm land conservation and make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners; and perform other agricultural related tasks or duties assigned by the Board of Commissioners.
(Ord. passed 10-15-2007)