Kent County Agriculture Advisory Commission

(Term 3 years - 7 members)

Sean Jones, 12/31/24	Herman E. Hill, 12/30/25
John Cahall, 12/30/25	Valerie W. Mason, 12/31/26
Catherine Abramavage, 12/31/26	Jeff Pettitt, 12/30/25
Jennifer Debnam, 12/31/24	Richard Winters, 12/31/26
John Henry Myers, Jr., 12/31/24

Date indicates expiration of term.

Agenda

AGENDA

County Commissioners' Hearing Room

Tuesday

November 26, 2024

10:00 A.M.

Virtual Meeting

Members of the public are welcome to attend meetings in person or listen to the meeting via the audio- only phone number and conference identification number listed below.

Dial 1-872-239-8359
Enter Conference ID: 526 224 704#

Members of the public are asked to mute their phones/devices, until the Commission Chair opens the floor for comment.

General Discussion

24-57 Wicomico Hunt Club, Inc. – Zoning Text Amendment Rec to CCs Adding Dog Kennels, Fox Hunting Club as a permitted use on farms in RCD

Minutes

October 23, 2023

Adjourn

PHONE PARTICIPATION – Members of the public are asked to mute their phones/devices, until the Chair opens the floor for comment. Please note that phone participation is dependent on service carriers and internet providers, this option may not be available for all meetings or be available during the entire meeting. In-person attendance is always recommended.

ONLINE VIEWING – Please note that although many meetings are recorded, the availability of video online is dependent on internet availability and functionality. Some members of the public may be able to watch a live video feed and/or view the video after the meeting at the County’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@kentcountygovernment2757.

PROTOCOL – Meetings are conducted in open session unless otherwise indicated. All or part of the meetings can be held in closed session under the authority of the MD Open Meetings Law by vote of the members. Breaks are at the call of the Chair. Meetings are subject to audio and video recordings. All applicants will be given the time necessary to assure full public participation and a fair and complete review of all projects. Agenda items are subject to change due to cancellations.

Posted Online: November 22, 2024

The Agriculture Advisory Commission meets as needed.

Agendas will be posted as meetings are scheduled.

Meeting Packet

Minutes

Code

Chapter 172, Agriculture Advisory Commission

This Commission was created under Code Home Rule Bill No. 6-80, as amended.

§ 172-1Appointments; residency requirements; vacancies; term.

[Amended 6-15-2021 by Bill No. 8-2021]

A. The Board of County Commissioners of Kent County shall appoint a commission of at least seven and no more than nine members, which shall be known as the "Kent County Agriculture Advisory Commission" and which may consist of representatives from various types of farms (farming sectors) and farm-supportive businesses of Kent County. All persons appointed must be residents of Kent County and must be engaged in an agriculture pursuit in a business that supports farms, farming, or the agricultural sector in general, at the discretion of the Board.

[Amended 9-7-2021 by Bill No. 9-2021]

B. If any vacancy occurs for any cause during the term of any Commission member, the Board of County Commissioners, with regard to those persons in agriculture, may fill the vacancy. The Board of County Commissioners shall have full power to remove any member of the Commission for incompetency or for improper conduct or for an inexcusable nonattendance of meetings by satisfactory evidence being presented to it of such condition. The term of each member shall be three years, or until a successor takes office, with some members being appointed for one year, some two years and some three years, as needed for staggering.

C. For the purposes of this chapter, "engaged" shall mean pursuing the production of agricultural products for profit, including but not limited to those who are lessors or lessees of land which is in agricultural production.

§ 172-2Chairman; records to be kept.

A. The Commission shall elect a Chairman from one (1) of its members and create and fill such other offices as it may determine. The term of the chairman shall be one (1) year with eligibility for reelection.

B. The Commission shall adopt rules for the transaction of business and shall keep records of its resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations. Each record shall be a public record. The Board of County Commissioners shall determine from year to year what, if any, expenses and/or salaries shall be paid the Commission members, and what, if any, budget shall be set. [Amended 6-15-2021 by Bill No. 8-2021]

§ 172-3Function of Commission.

A. It shall be the function of the Commission to provide advice to the Planning Commission of Kent County and to the Board of County Commissioners concerning any proposals and zoning changes coming before them affecting agriculture in Kent County. In this regard, the Planning Department shall notify the Commission of all such proposals, plans and changes, except those applications for permitted uses, within approximately 15 days of receipt of requests and applications. The Commission shall render its advice in writing to the appropriate body within a reasonable time frame. [Amended 6-15-2021 by Bill No. 8-2021]

B.Additionally, the Commission shall recommend proposed changes or programs for improving the Comprehensive Plan, the Zoning Ordinance for Kent County, the Subdivision Ordinance for Kent County, zoning district changes and any other changes and programs which will improve and promote agriculture in Kent County. All such recommendations shall be made in writing to the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners.

§ 172-4Report; review of Commission.

[Amended 6-15-2021 by Bill No. 8-2021]

The Commission shall prepare, adopt and file a report with the Board of County Commissioners when requested. The report shall be available for public inspection. The Commission shall be subject to review by the Board of County Commissioners and the decisions of the Commission shall be subject to review by the Board of County Commissioners, which shall be the final authority.

§ 172-5Quorum.

[Amended 6-15-2021 by Bill No. 8-2021]

A majority of all the members appointed to the commission shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting of the commission. If any members recuse themselves for specific items and/or votes, the remaining members shall be considered a valid quorum for the purposes of conducting business on said items and/or votes. In the event that only one member is available to vote on an item, this can be considered a valid vote by the Commission, as long as a quorum of members are present at the meeting. The Commission shall only meet as needed.

$30.00 per meeting to be paid to Chairperson and $25.00 per meeting for members.

2021	2022	2023	2024
January	January	September Proposed DRAFT Land Use Ordinance for Review - Clean Version Proposed DRAFT Land Use Ordinance for Review - Tracked Changes	November
September	May	October

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Kent County Agriculture Advisory Commission

(Term 3 years - 7 members)

Agenda

Meeting Packet

Minutes

Code

Chapter 172, Agriculture Advisory Commission

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