[Adopted 5-12-2014 by Ord. No. 4-2014 (Ch. 2, Art. XVII, of the 1976 Code)]
In recent years, farming as a way of life has experienced a resurgence in our community and across Maine. Winslow residents have expressed an interest in reviewing and enhancing municipal policies, practices, and ordinances relating to agriculture, with a goal of ensuring that the Town is friendly to agriculture while continuing to protect the health, safety and welfare of all residents.
A. 
The Commission shall be comprised of five to seven members appointed for three-year terms by the Town Council. Members shall represent a broad spectrum of active and retired farmers, and include a representative from the Planning Board and one or more residents with knowledge of forest management.
B. 
The Agriculture Commission shall include nonvoting representatives from the Parks and Recreation Department and the Assessor's Office.
[Added 8-9-2021 by Ord. No. 8-2021]
A. 
Act as an advisory and recommending body to the Town Council, Planning Board and other municipal committees on matters relating to agriculture and managed woodlands in our community.
B. 
Implement the recommendations, as approved by the Town Council, from the Agriculture Working Group's Cultivating Winslow's Agricultural Future report to the Town Council dated March 2014.
C. 
Periodically review the comprehensive plan and land use ordinances for provisions that relate to farming in order identify potential barriers for farming and identify opportunities to modify the documents to better support farming.
D. 
Propose modifications or amendments to the comprehensive plan and ordinances to better support farming while protecting the health, safety and welfare of all residents.
E. 
Recommend and facilitate broad public participation in changes to municipal policies and ordinances that affect farming, and provide multiple opportunities for public input as each change is proposed.
F. 
Research methods other communities are using to support agriculture and share information and ideas with community leaders.
G. 
Sponsor events related to local farming such as community suppers, farm forums or workshops, or a harvest festival.
H. 
Facilitate as practicable the distribution of locally grown food to schools, families, institutions and those dealing with food insecurity.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original provisions related to the Winslow Community Garden, which immediately followed this subsection, were repealed 8-9-2021 by Ord. No. 8-2021.
The following guidelines and procedures are intended to guide the Agricultural Commission in fulfilling its roles and responsibilities.
A. 
The Commission shall elect a Chair and a Secretary at its first meeting each calendar year and agree to a committee structure and process for decisionmaking.
[Amended 11-14-2022 by Ord. No. 16-2022]
B. 
A detailed work plan and timeline will be developed that reflects any priorities agreed to by the Commission members. This work plan and timeline will be distributed to the Town Council, Planning Board and other committees as appropriate for comments.
C. 
The Commission should strive to achieve consensus on all recommendations while remaining sensitive to diverse citizen views.
D. 
The Commission should keep any proposed changes or amendments to municipal documents as simple and straightforward as possible while ensuring that all proposed changes meet minimum state requirements for land use regulation.
E. 
All meetings of the Commission must be posted with required public notice and open to the public with the appropriate level of public participation to be decided by the Commission. At a minimum, an opportunity for public comment should be provided at each meeting.
F. 
Written minutes of each Commission meeting must be available to the public.
G. 
An annual report of the Commission's activities must be prepared and presented to the Town Council, and included in the annual Town report.