(A) Creation. There is created and established the Economic Development Board, which shall have the composition, structure, organization, powers, duties and functions established herein.
(B) (1) Membership. The Economic Development Board shall consist of 18 members. Members shall be residents of York County, but in cases where a proposed member is a non-resident, qualification for membership can be established if the proposed member owns a business in York County or is actively employed by a York County business involved in a category described in division (B)(7). County Council shall appoint members as follows:
(a) Upon recommendation of the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce, one member shall be appointed by Council from among the membership of the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
(b) Upon recommendation of the Western York County Economic Development Alliance, one member shall be appointed by Council from among the active membership of the Western York County Economic Development Alliance.
(c) The Chief of the Catawba Indian Nation or designee shall be appointed by Council from the Catawba Indian Nation.
(d) The Winthrop University President or designee shall be appointed by Council to represent Winthrop University.
(e) The York Technical College President or designee shall be appointed by Council to represent York Technical College.
(f) Upon recommendation of the board of directors of York County Growth Partners, Inc., three members shall be appointed by Council from the membership of York County Growth Partners, Inc.
(g) Council shall appoint ten members from the public at large that shall be from each of the following business categories:
1. Four members representing a cross section of small, medium, and large manufacturers located in York County, with a preference for companies involved in the target industries for York County;
2. Two members from major service operations, which includes headquarter operations, back office operations, or customer service centers;
3. One member from the warehouse and distribution sector;
4. One member from the real estate sector, which includes firms involved in real estate development, brokerage, architectural services, or engineering services;
5. One member from the banking, financial, legal, insurance, or accounting service sectors; and
6. One member from the agri-business community, where the member owns 100 or more acres of agriculturally active land in York County.
(2) For purposes of this newly constituted Board, the seats assigned to York Technical College, Winthrop University, and the Catawba Indian Nation shall not be subject to the general term limitation provisions expressed in York County Code. Reappointment will occur only when a change occurs in the respective positions. This express provision shall supersede any contrary general provision in the York County Code.
(C) Terms of office; filling vacancies.
(1) The appointees to the Economic Development Board shall have the following initial terms of office:
(a) Six members shall be appointed to serve three-year terms;
(b) Six members shall be appointed to serve two-year terms;
(c) Five members shall be appointed to serve one-year terms.
(2) After members are appointed to the initial board, members shall thereafter be appointed to three-year staggered terms, with six members being appointed each year except that in each third year only five members shall be appointed provided, however, that of the members appointed by York Growth Partners, Inc., one member shall be appointed to an initial term of three years, one member shall be appointed to an initial term of two years, and one member shall be appointed to an initial term of one year. Board members shall hold office until their successors are appointed and qualified. Any vacancy in the membership of the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired term. All appointments to membership on the board shall be transmitted to the Clerk to Council for the county, who shall properly record the appointments among the permanent records in the Clerk’s office.
(3) No member shall be appointed to serve more than two full consecutive terms on the Board. Previous service on the board for a full term shall be counted in determining a member’s service on the Board for purposes of the limitations established by this section, but partial terms of service on the Board shall not be considered for purposes of the limitations contained in this section. No member shall be reappointed to the Board after serving two consecutive terms until a minimum of one year has elapsed since the last service of the member upon the Board.
(D) Ex-officio members. The members of the County Council, a member of the county legislative delegation, and the County Manager shall be ex-officio members of the Board. Ex-officio members shall not be entitled to a vote on any matter coming before the Board, nor shall ex-officio members be counted in determining the existence of a quorum for the transaction of business.
(E) Compensation of members. Members of the Board shall serve without pay, but travel and other incidental expenses may be provided by the Board upon the approval of the chairperson and the secretary- treasurer; subject, however, to the rules, policies and procedures established by the county for county boards, agencies and commissions.
(F) Organizations. The Board shall adopt by-laws and rules of procedure and shall maintain records of all proceedings. The Board shall meet at regular intervals, but no less frequently than once each two months. The chairperson or a majority of the members of the Board may call special meetings of the board at any time.
(G) Officers. The board shall elect from its membership a chairperson, a vice-chairperson and a secretary-treasurer. Officers shall be elected to serve a one-year term commencing January 1 of each year and shall continue in office until their successors are elected and qualified. Officers of the Board shall serve without pay, but officers may be reimbursed for travel and other incidental expenses; subject, however, to the rules, policies, practices and procedures applicable to boards, agencies and commissions of the county.
(H) Personnel. The Board shall have a staff consisting of a director and such other employees, consistent with the availability of funds, as may be necessary to implement and carry out its purposes and objectives and the policies of the Board. The Director shall be hired by the County Manager. The County Manager shall be responsible for the day to day supervision of the Director of the Economic Development Board and its Director, who may not be separated from county employment without the County Manager first informing Council of such prospective action. The Director shall be responsible to the Economic Development Board for implementing and carrying out Board policies; however, periodically, as determined by County Council and upon reasonable notice to the Director, the Director shall provide County Council, during a designated executive session, an update on such otherwise confidential proprietary information relative to county economic development pursuits and/or ongoing contract negotiations. Further, the Economic Director shall act as a liaison between the County Council and the Economic Development Board.
(I) Members and personnel subject to state statutes and county ordinances. Board members and all personnel employed by the Board shall be subject to and governed by the statutes of the state and the ordinances of the county and all rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto relating to county departments, agencies, boards and commissions and members, employees or personnel thereof.
(‘77 Code, § 14-8) (Ord. 35, passed 3-5-79; Am. Ord. 1589, passed 3-6-89; Am. Ord. 5890, passed 11-19-90; Am. Ord. 494, passed 2-7-94; Am. Ord. 1107, passed 8-20-07; Am. Ord. 1609, passed 4-20-09; Am. Ord. 1113, passed 4-22-13; Am. Ord. 4815, passed 11-16-15)