Ag Advisory Committee Operating Procedures - Canandaigua Lake Watershed

Ag Advisory Committee Operating Procedures
Canandaigua Lake Watershed

Goal: To promote agricultural practices that help maintain the water quality of the Canandaigua Lake watershed

Purposes and Objectives:
To lead in developing an agricultural conservation program
To communicate with others in the agricultural community
To assist with the development of educational programming for
   the farm and general watershed community
To set policy and provide advice on management of the
   agricultural program
To oversee the planning, design and implementation of
   agricultural best management practices on farms of the
   Canandaigua Lake watershed

Definitions:

Agricultural Advisory Committee - a group of active farmers who first volunteered in June of 1996 to assist the Local Government Watershed Policy Committee in creating an agricultural component of the Watershed Management Plan for Canandaigua Lake.
Local Government Watershed Policy Committee - an informal watershed 'council' formed in December, 1994 and made up of the Chief Elected Officers of the municipalities in the Canandaigua Lake Watershed which is engaged in reviewing remedial actions contained in The State of the Canandaigua Lake Watershed, 1994 to create a Watershed Management Plan.
Soil and Water Conservation District - an agency enabled by NYS Law and formed in 1940 which works at the county level of government and whose purpose is the protection of natural resources.
Canandaigua Lake Watershed Task Force - an umbrella organization founded by agencies, organizations and individuals in August, 1989 to protect the water resources of the Canandaigua Lake watershed through educational means. Since 1994, a non-profit organization under section 501(c)3 of IRS Tax Code.
Canandaigua Lake Watershed Commission - an organization enabled by NYS Public Health Law, comprised of the five purveyors of Canandaigua Lake water for public consumption, which promulgated Watershed Rules and Regulations in 1953 and hires a Watershed Inspector to enforce them.
Best Management Practices - in this case chiefly agricultural practices which can prevent or reduce the availability, release, or transport of substances which can adversely effect water quality.
Whole Farm Planning - a long-term tool for the management of farm and natural resources, usually including an inventory of resources, cropping plans, economic data, goals for profitability, pollution prevention, analysis of management options and a strategy for putting the plan into action. The concept of a tiered approach to Whole Farm Planning was developed in the late 1980s in the New York City Catskill Watershed.
Agricultural Environment Management - the statewide program of Whole Farm Planning

Membership:
Membership is open to all active farmers of the watershed who wish to serve. The AAC shall be made up of not less than five and not more than eleven persons.

Nomination:
A call for nominations shall be issued by the Chair of the AAC in April of each year. Farmers shall be asked to offer to serve. Considering geographic and farm-type balance, the AAC will recommend candidates to be AAC members to the LGWPC, who will ask them to serve. If there is an excess of candidates, the AAC shall maintain a waiting list.

Terms:
AAC members shall serve a term of one year, beginning July 1. Members may not serve more than four consecutive terms.

Officers:
Officers of the AAC shall consist of a Chairman and Vice Chairman elected by the AAC members at the annual re-organization meeting in July.

Payment:
Members of the AAC shall not be paid but may receive reimbursement for duly documented expenses incurred as a result of AAC activities. Reimbursable activities shall be determined by the AAC.

Withdrawal:
A member may resign at any time by submitting a letter to the Chairs of the AAC, SWCD, and LGWPC but is requested to offer a brief explanation.

Public Notice:
Meetings of the AAC shall be open to the public, and proper notification of meeting times and places shall be made.

Quorum:
A quorum shall be constituted of 50% of AAC members plus one.

Procedures:
A majority vote shall be required to carry any resolution. Ties shall be deemed a defeat of the resolution. Roberts Rules of Order shall be observed. All funds shall be expended through resolutions.

Personnel:
In order to meet project goals and short-term objectives, the SWCD with the advice and consent of the AAC may hire staff and contract for services. The Personnel Policy of the Ontario Co. SWCD shall pertain. In decisions and evaluations of personnel assigned to the Whole Farm Planning Program, the SWCD shall seek the advice and consent of the AAC.

Relationship of the SWCD Board and the AAC:
The SWCD shall apply for funding and serve as Treasurer for funds received. The AAC shall provide leadership, guidance, and oversight of the program's progress. The planning process and design of improvements shall be the responsibility of the AAC. Decisions regarding disbursements and personnel shall be made jointly by the AAC and SWCD. Communication between AAC and SWCD is necessary and should be frequent; agendas and meeting minutes should be exchanged.

Participation:
Farmers have been involved from the beginning of the development of the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Management Plan. Continuing involvement of the agricultural community is required for the success of the Tiered Whole Farm Planning project and the Watershed Management Plan.

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