A. Creation: There is hereby created the McHenry County Agricultural Conservation Easement and Farmland Protection Commission (hereinafter the “Commission”).
B. Duties: The Commission shall be responsible for general supervision of the McHenry County Agricultural Conservation Easement and Farmland Protection Program, in an advisory capacity to the County Board’s Natural and Environmental Resources Committee, as set forth in this Ordinance, including the following:
1. The Commission shall maintain contact with public and private agencies to maximize the resources and coordinate efforts to preserve the rural character of the County.
2. The Commission shall determine the interest of owners of land within the County at least annually, to donate or sell interests in real property for the purpose of the McHenry County Agricultural Conservation Easement and Farmland Protection Program.
3. The Commission shall recommend qualifying criteria for real property to be acquired by the County for agricultural protection purposes. The Commission may recommend acquisition of interests in specific parcels of real property to be acquired by the County of McHenry for agricultural protection purposes.
4. The Commission may recommend changes to the McHenry County Agricultural Conservation Easement and Farmland Protection Program and suggestions as to how the McHenry County Agricultural Conservation Easement and Farmland Protection Fund acquisition program may be integrated with the McHenry County Historic Preservation Ordinance, the McHenry County Comprehensive Land Use Plan and the McHenry County Stormwater Management Ordinance and other local and regional land use plans.
5. The Commission may conduct public meetings or public hearings as it determines necessary or convenient to its work.
6. The Commission may prepare any application forms necessary for the McHenry County Agricultural Conservation Easement and Farmland Protection Program and prepare, review, and recommend any grant applications for State and Federal grants.
C. Membership: Commission members shall receive no compensation in any form whatsoever in exchange for or as a result of their service on the Commission. The Commission shall consist of nine (9) voting members consisting of:
1. The Chairman of the McHenry County Board.
2. The Chairman of the McHenry County Natural and Environmental Resources Committee or a duly chosen representative appointed by the Chairman of the McHenry County Board.
3. A representative of the McHenry County Farm Bureau.
4. Six (6) members appointed by the County Board Chairman, with the advice and consent of the Board. All members shall be electors of the County, and to the extent practicable, include persons with backgrounds and experience in agriculture, finance, conservation or planning. The terms of membership shall be staggered so that at least three (3) members serve for two (2) years and the remaining three (3) serve for a period of three (3) years. Successors to the initial members shall serve for a period of three (3) years or until the vacant term expires. All ex-officio members shall serve the term of their elected or appointed office. All members shall serve until their successors are appointed by the County Board Chairman, with the advice and consent of the Board. All terms shall begin 1 January 2009.
5. A representative from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, the McHenry County Conservation District and the Planning & Development Department shall be ex-officio members but shall have no right to vote and shall not be included in determining a quorum.
D. Officers. The Commission shall have the following officers:
1. The Commission Chair shall be appointed by the Chairman of the McHenry County Board and shall preside at all meetings of the Commission. The Commission Chairman shall serve for an initial term of one (1) year from the date of their appointment. Subsequently, the Commission shall elect a Chairman by a majority vote each January of the calendar year or shortly afterward. The elected Chairman shall serve for a term of one (1) year from the date of the Commission’s vote and shall be subject to reappointment by a majority vote of the Commission for additional one (1) year terms thereafter.
2. The Vice Chair shall be elected by a majority vote of the Commission each January of the calendar year and shall preside at meetings in the absence of the Chair. The Vice-Chairman shall serve for a term of one (1) year from the date of their appointment and shall be subject to reappointment by a majority vote of the Commission for additional one (1) year terms thereafter.
3. A Secretary shall be elected by a majority vote of the Commission each January of the calendar year. The Secretary shall serve for a term of one (1) year from the date of their appointment and shall be subject to reappointment by a majority vote of the Commission for additional one (1) year terms thereafter. The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping minutes of meetings.
4. A Treasurer shall be elected by a majority vote of the Commission each January of the calendar year. The Treasurer shall serve for a term of one (1) year from the date of their appointment and shall be subject to reappointment by a majority vote of the Commission for additional one (1) year terms thereafter. The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintain records of the Commissions budget.
E. Rules of Procedure: The Commission may adopt rules of procedure governing its deliberations. In the absence of any other such rules, the Commission shall conduct its proceedings in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order, latest revised edition. All recommendations regarding Rules of Procedure and/or by-laws shall be approved by the McHenry County Board. In the absence of any other such rules, the Commission shall conduct its proceedings in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order, latest revised edition, the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/1) and the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1). Under no circumstances should a rule of procedure or bylaw adopted by the Commission release the Commission from complying with Federal and State Statutes.
(Ord. O-200903-12-014, passed 3-17-2009)