The name of this Commission shall be the
Agriculture, Seafood and Forestry Commission.
ARTICLE II. Purpose
The purpose of this Commission shall be to
identify and implement activities aimed at preserving agriculture and
seafood harvesting as prosperous components of the County's economy;
to promote the agriculture, aquaculture and forestry industries of the
county; to provide a permanently established forum for the discussion
of public policy issues relating to concerns of agriculture, seafood
and forestry; and to recommend and advise the Board of County
Commissioners on issues related to agriculture, seafood and forestry.
ARTICLE Ill. Members
Section 1. The membership of this
Commission is not limited to a specific number of members, though
membership shall represent certain commodities, agencies, professions
and interest groups.
Section 2. The County Commissioners shall
make all appointments to the Commission. Any adult resident of St.
Mary's County representative of agriculture, seafood or forestry
interests shall be eligible to serve on the Commission. Appointees
shall be recommended to the County Commissioners by a majority vote of
the Commission. A notice of any vacancy shall be sent to the County
Commissioners. The term of membership is limited to no more than two
consecutive three-year terms for any one individual member. Initial
appointments shall be staggered so that an equal number of members
shall be appointed to one-year terms, two-year terms and three-year
terms. New appointments shall be made from nominees of the industry,
agency, profession or interest group represented by the member whose
term is expiring.
Section 3. Members shall serve without
compensation except for investigative and other Commission related
expenses approved by the Commission.
Section 4. Any member desiring to resign
from the Commission shall submit his resignation in writing to the
Committee Chairperson and the Board of County Commissioners. Any
vacancy on the Commission shall be open to the public for nominations.
Section 5. Two consecutive unexcused
absences at Commission meetings will result in consideration of a
member's replacement on the Commission.
ARTICLE IV. Officers
Section 1. The officers of the Commission
shall be Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary/Treasurer and other
officers the Commission deems appropriate. These officers shall
perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws.
Section 2. The Commission shall elect from
among its members a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary/Treasurer
and other officers it deems appropriate. The positions Agriculture and
Seafood Development Coordinator and Office Specialist shall be
provided by County Government staff.
Section 3. The officers shall serve for a
term of one year or until their successors are elected, and their term
of office shall begin with their appointment or election.
Section 4. No member shall hold more than
one office at a time, and there shall be no limit placed on the number
of consecutive terms an officer could serve.
ARTICLE V. Meetings
Section 1. The regular meetings of the
Commission shall be held at least quarterly within a calendar year on
the third Thursday of the selected months and in accordance with the
Open Meetings Act. All meetings shall be advertised one week in
advance.
Section 2. The first meeting of the year
shall be known as the annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of
electing new officers; receiving reports from officers and committees
as well as for preparing the Annual Report to the County
Commissioners, and for any other business that may arise.
Section 3. Special meetings may be called
by the Chairperson or County Commissioner President upon the written
request of any member. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in
the call. Except in cases of emergency, at least three days notice
shall be given.
Section 4. A majority of the Commission
members shall constitute a quorum, except in matters relating to the
bylaws which would require two-thirds of the members.
ARTICLE VI. The Executive Board
Section 1. The officers have the duties
and responsibilities usually incumbent upon these offices.
Section 2. The Chairperson shall not vote
unless it is necessary to break a tie.
Section 3. The Chairperson will determine
the meeting agendas. Members may contact the Chairperson to advise of
any items they wish to include on the agenda of an upcoming meeting.
ARTICLE VII.
Sub-Committees
Section 1. The Commission shall form
Sub-committees related to certain agriculture and seafood commodities
and concerns. The Chairperson of each Sub-committee will be appointed
by the Chairperson of the Commission.
Section 2. Members may serve on more than
one Sub-committee and all members shall serve on at least one
Sub-committee.
Section 3. The Chairperson of the
Sub-committee shall report to the Commission any activities, meetings
and plans of the Sub-committee. Also the Chairperson shall prepare and
present the Sub-committee's Annual Report to the Board of County
Commissioners.
ARTICLE VIII. Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition
of ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER NEWLY REVISED shall govern the Commission
in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not
inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the
Commission may adopt.
ARTICLE IX. Amendment of Bylaws
Subject to the final approval by the Board
of County Commissioners, these by-laws may be altered, amended, or
repealed and new By-laws may be adopted by a vote of a majority of all
members of the Council, at any monthly meeting or at any special
meeting when the proposed amendment has been sent out in the notice of
such meeting.
