7. a. The governing body of any county may, by resolution duly adopted, establish a public body under the name and style of “The County Agriculture Development Board,” with all or any significant part of the name of the county inserted. Every board shall consist of three non-voting members as follows: a representative of the county planning board; a representative of the local soil conservation district; and the county agent of the New Jersey Cooperative Extension Service whose jurisdiction encompasses the boundaries of the county; and seven voting members who shall be residents of the county, four of whom shall be actively engaged in farming, the majority of whom shall own a portion of the land they farm, and three of whom shall represent the general public, appointed by the board of chosen freeholders, or, in the counties operating under the county executive plan or county supervisor plan pursuant to the provisions of the “Optional County Charter Law,” P.L.1972, c.154 (C. 40:41A-1 et seq.), by the county executive, or the county supervisor, as the case may be, with the advice and consent of the board of chosen freeholders. With respect to the members actively engaged in farming, the county board of agriculture shall recommend to the board of chosen freeholders, the county executive or the county supervisor, as appropriate, a list of potential candidates and their alternates to be considered for each appointment.

b. Of the seven members first to be appointed, three shall be appointed for terms of two years, two for terms of three years, and two for terms of four years. Thereafter, all appointments shall be made for terms of four years. Each of these members shall hold office for the term of the appointment and until a successor shall have been appointed and qualified. Any vacancy in the membership occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only.

c. The board of chosen freeholders, county executive or county supervisor, as appropriate, may appoint such other advisory members to the board as they may deem appropriate.

d. Members of the board shall receive no compensation but the appointive members may, subject to the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for these purposes, be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in attending meetings of the board and in performance of their duties as members thereof.

e. The board shall meet as soon as may be practicable following the appointment of its members and shall elect a chairman from among its members and establish procedures for the conduct of regular and special meetings, provided that all meetings are conducted in accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” P.L.1975, c.231 (C. 10:4-6 et seq.). The chairman shall serve for a term of one year and may be reelected.

f. The chairman shall appoint three members actively engaged in farming to serve with the representatives of the general public for the purpose of mediating disputes pursuant to the provisions of section 19 of this act.

g. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections a. and b. of this section, any public body established by the governing body of any county prior to May 3, 1982 which was established to carry out functions substantially similar to the functions of boards pursuant to this act and which proposes to apply for grants pursuant hereto may carry out the functions authorized herein, provided that within five years following the effective date of this act those boards established prior to May 3, 1982 shall reorganize so that the board reflects no more than a simple majority of members actively engaged in farming or equal representation of the general public and those actively engaged in farming.

L.1983,c.32,s.7; amended 1993,c.19,s.1.