[Ord. 2016-002, 7/19/2016, § 1]
An advisory committee to be known as the "Solebury Township
Farm Committee," is hereby created and shall continue to function
until this Part 2D is repealed.
[Ord. 2016-002, 7/19/2016, § 2; as amended by Ord.
No. 2018-007, 8/14/2018]
A.
The Farm
Committee shall be composed of a minimum of three and a maximum of
seven members. All of the Committee members shall be Township residents.
The majority of members shall be engaged in agriculture.
B.
Associate members. The Board of Supervisors may appoint up to three
nonvoting associate members to the committee to serve a one-year term.
Associate members shall be entitled to participate in all proceedings
and discussions of the Board to the same and full extent as provided
by law, but shall not have the right to vote. Associate members shall
serve their full term unless voluntarily resigned or removed by the
Board of Supervisors and may be reappointed at the Board's discretion
to additional terms. Associate members shall not count as members
of the Farm Committee for purposes of the seven-person maximum. The
majority of associate members shall be involved in agriculture. Associate
members shall abide by the Township's Ethics Policy.
[Ord. 2016-002, 7/19/2016, § 3]
Committee members shall be appointed in accordance with the
following procedures:
1.
All Committee members shall be appointed by the Solebury Township
Board of Supervisors.
2.
Committee members' terms of office shall expire at the reorganization
meeting of the Board of Supervisors following the last year of their
term of office.
3.
Duly appointed committee members shall serve a term of three years,
except that initial appointment shall be so staggered that the terms
of one of the membership shall expire after one year, two of the membership
shall expire after two years and the balance of the membership shall
have the full term of three years.
[Ord. 2016-002, 7/19/2016, § 4; as amended by Ord.
No. 2018-007, 8/14/2018]
Committee members shall receive no compensation for their services,
but may be reimbursed for any actual and necessary expenses incurred
by them in the performance of their duties. Such expenses shall be
preapproved at the discretion of the Township Manager or Board of
Supervisors. Committee members shall abide by the Township's Ethics
Policy. Associate members are not entitled to be reimbursed for expenses
incurred in performing their duties.
[Ord. 2016-002, 7/19/2016, § 5]
The Farm Committee is to be advisory to and shall coordinate
its activities with those parties and/or Township committees as the
Board of Supervisors may from time to time designate.
[Ord. 2016-002, 7/19/2016, § 6]
The Committee may adopt bylaws with the approval of the Board
of Supervisors.
[Ord. 2016-002, 7/19/2016, § 7]
The Farm Committee responsibilities shall include the following
areas:
1.
Provide information to local farmers, residents and Township committees
about the benefits of balancing agriculture and other land uses.
2.
Educate Township officials about agricultural laws, safety issues,
and agriculture-related zoning issues.
3.
Make recommendations to create a climate that supports agriculture's
economic viability and sustainability within the Township, taking
into consideration the Township's Comprehensive Plan.
4.
Develop and maintain an agriculture inventory map or list describing
the location and size of the agricultural land base, including farm
markets, and illustrating significant areas of agricultural land.
5.
Carry out agricultural support tasks as requested by the Board of
Supervisors.
6.
Coordinate activities with the Agricultural Security Advisory Committee
when appropriate.
7.
Appoint a chair at the first meeting of each year. The Committee
may decide to appoint a vice chair.
[Ord. 2016-002, 7/19/2016, § 8]
The Farm Committee shall meet once per quarter of each calendar
year. Additional meetings shall occur as determined by the Committee
chair or the Board of Supervisors.
[Ord. 2016-002, 7/19/2016, § 9]
The Farm Committee shall keep written records of its meetings
and activities and shall make an annual report available to the Solebury
Township Board of Supervisors. All meetings shall be advertised in
advance in accordance with Pennsylvania law.
[Ord. 2016-002, 7/19/2016, § 10]
The Solebury Township Board of Supervisors may, from time to
time, appropriate funds for those expenses incurred by Farm Committee.
[Ord. 2016-002, 7/19/2016, § 12]
All provisions of this Part 2D shall be in full force and effect
five days after the approval and adoption, but Solebury Township shall
take such anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be
necessary for the implementation of this Part 2D. The prior actions
of the officers, representatives, agents or employees of the Solebury
Township in connection with and in furtherance of this Part 2D are
hereby authorized, ratified and confirmed.
