The Town of Bel Air hereby establishes an Economic
and Community Development Commission for the purpose of acting as
the Town's Community Development Agency in carrying out community
development projects. "Community development project" means any undertaking
or project, or portion thereof, including lands, buildings and improvements,
real, mixed and personal properties or interest therein, that is planned,
acquired, owned, developed, constructed, reconstructed, rehabilitated,
or improved for purposes of creating a healthy economic environment
in conjunction with increasing the quality of life in our community
or any undertaking or project, or portion thereof, consisting of facilities
such as streets, roads, sewer and water lines or other public and
private facilities intended for commercial, educational, cultural,
recreational, community or other civic purposes as may be deemed necessary
for sound community development.
The Town Economic and Community Development
Commission shall consist of an odd number of members, but not fewer
than five nor more than nine. The members shall be appointed by the
Board of Town Commissioners of Bel Air and shall be removable for
cause. Those first appointed shall be appointed to serve for terms
as follows: of a five-member Commission, one shall be appointed to
serve for one year, two for two years, and two for three years; of
a seven-member Commission, two shall be appointed to serve for one
year, two for two years, and three for three years; and of a nine-member
Commission, two shall be appointed to serve for one year, three for
two years and four for three years. Thereafter, members shall be appointed
for terms of three years each. Vacancies shall be filled by the Board
of Town Commissioners of Bel Air for the unexpired portion of a term.
Members shall serve without compensation but may receive such reimbursement
for travel and other expenses incurred in the interest of the Town
as the Board of Town Commissioners may from time to time allow. The
Commission shall elect a Chairman from its members by majority vote
of all its members. Meetings of said Commission shall be held at least
nine times per year and additional meetings shall be held at the call
of the Chairman and at such other times as the Commission may determine.
Three members shall constitute a quorum.
The Commission shall have those powers as set
forth in Appendix I, Urban Renewal Authority for Slum Clearance, of
the Charter of the Town of Bel Air.
The following powers are specifically withheld
from the area of authority of the Economic and Community Development
Commission and reserved to the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners:
A.Â
The power to pass a resolution to initiate an economic
or community development project pursuant to Appendix I, Urban Renewal
Authority for Slum Clearance, of the Charter of the Town of Bel Air.
B.Â
The power to appropriate funds and to levy taxes and
assessments pursuant to Appendix I, Urban Renewal Authority for Slum
Clearance, of the Charter of the Town of Bel Air.
The Board of Town Commissioners hereby ratifies
and confirms any and all actions taken by it pursuant to recommendations
or other actions by the Development Commission hitherto in existence
under the provisions of Ordinance No. 237 and direct that all records
of such Development Commission be transferred to the Economic and
Community Development Commission established hereby. It is thus the
intention hereof to continue in effect all previous community development
projects, all of which shall hereby be included within the definition
of economic and community development projects, and to affirm the
legal validity of all other actions taken by the previously established
Development Commission, insofar as such actions have been in accordance
with law. The Community Development Commission shall hereafter be
known as the "Economic and Community Development Commission."
