[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Dudley 5-23-2011 by Art. 16 (Art. 47 of the 1952 General Bylaws). Amendments noted where applicable.]
There shall be an Economic Development Committee for the Town which shall perform the duties set forth in the following sections of this chapter and be governed by the provisions thereof.
A. 
The Economic Development Committee ("Committee") is established to assist the development of economic growth in our community by strengthening existing businesses and attracting new business to the community.
B. 
The Committee works to create, diversify and enhance job growth and to promote business development and stability. The Committee can assist businesses and other organizations to further economic development in the community.
[Amended 5-22-2017 by Art. 9]
A. 
The Economic Development Committee shall be composed of seven members who are residents of the Town. The Board of Selectmen shall appoint five members and the Planning Board shall appoint two members.
B. 
The Economic Development Committee shall have the ability to appoint two alternate members who will serve for a term of three years. The appointed alternate members will be nonvoting members when a full Committee is present for a meeting.
[Amended 6-22-2020 by Art. 11]
C. 
If a voting member of the Committee is not present for an Economic Development Committee meeting, the alternate member is authorized to step in and replace the voting member for the duration of the meeting and have the full legal status as a voting member in regards to quorums and any issues which need a legally cast vote.
D. 
Should the Economic Development Committee receive a resignation from any voting member of the Committee prior to their term expiration, the remaining appointed Economic Development Committee voting members and the Board of Selectmen shall appoint the alternate member with the longest tenure as a voting member of the Committee to fulfill the unexpired term of the member who resigned.
E. 
Members shall serve staggered three-years terms, as established by the Board of Selectmen. Terms shall expire at the end of the respective fiscal year.
F. 
Whenever a vacancy shall occur in said Committee, the appropriate appointing authority shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.
G. 
All members shall be sworn to the faithful performance of their duties on said Committee.
H. 
The Committee shall select its own officers.
The quorum for said Committee shall be the majority of the members currently appointed and sworn.
A. 
Economic development plan.
(1) 
The Committee shall prepare and present to the Town Meeting annually a proposed five-year economic development plan for the Town. The plan shall include actions to be carried out by the Town and proposed joint venture activities in cooperation with other public and private agencies and organizations, for the purpose of enhancing the prosperity and well-being of Dudley and its residents.
(2) 
The plan shall be made in consultation with the Board of Selectmen, Planning Board and the Finance, Appropriation and Advisory Committee. The Committee may seek assistance from the Town Administrator, Town Treasurer/Collector, planning office and other municipal departments.
(3) 
The economic development plan shall be reviewed and revised annually in accordance with the foregoing procedures.
B. 
Community economic resource guide. The Economic Development Committee shall develop and maintain a community economic resource guide ("guide"). The guide should contain key information regarding the community with the primary purpose of providing information/attracting business development in the community.
C. 
Other duties. The Board of Selectmen or Planning Board may request other projects or tasks to be undertaken by the Committee related to economic development. The Committee shall file a report to the requesting party once the task is completed or a project/task update when requested by the requesting party.
A. 
The Committee shall cause to be kept a true record of its proceedings.
B. 
The Committee shall hold a public hearing(s), with proper notice, as part of the Committee's process in developing an economic development plan, community resource guide or any other plan, policies or programs undertaken by the Committee.
C. 
The Committee shall provide an annual report to the Board of Selectmen of the Committee activities over the past fiscal year, said report to be included in the Town's Annual Report to its citizens.
D. 
The Committee shall comply with the open meeting laws of the Commonwealth.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See MGL c. 30A, §§ 18 to 25.