(a)There is hereby established and created a statewide agricultural lands preservation foundation, a body politic and corporate constituting a public instrumentality of the State established and created for the performance of an essential public and governmental function, to be known as the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation. The Foundation shall be comprised of 13 trustees, all of whom shall be resident of and qualified to vote in the State. The President Pro Tem shall appoint 1 member from the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall appoint 1 member from the House of Representatives each of whom shall serve an indefinite term. The Governor shall appoint the remaining 11 Trustees and shall designate 1 Trustee as Chairperson, which Trustee shall serve at the pleasure of
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(a) There is hereby established and created a statewide agricultural lands preservation foundation, a body politic and corporate constituting a public instrumentality of the State established and created for the performance of an essential public and governmental function, to be known as the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation. The Foundation shall be comprised of 13 trustees, all of whom shall be resident of and qualified to vote in the State. The President Pro Tem shall appoint 1 member from the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall appoint 1 member from the House of Representatives each of whom shall serve an indefinite term. The Governor shall appoint the remaining 11 Trustees and shall designate 1 Trustee as Chairperson, which Trustee shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor and be confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate. The composition of the 11 members appointed by the Governor to the Board of Trustees of the Foundation shall be as follows:
(1) The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture or authorized designee to serve an indefinite term.
(2) The Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control or authorized designee to serve an indefinite term.
(3) The State Treasurer or authorized designee to serve an indefinite term.
(4) A member and representative of the Delaware Farm Bureau, to be selected from a list of 3 nominees submitted by the Delaware Farm Bureau, who shall serve an initial term of 2 years.
(5) A member and representative of the Delaware State Grange, to be selected from a list of 3 nominees submitted by the Delaware State Grange, who shall serve an initial term of 2 years.
(6) An individual actively engaged in farming or some other form of agribusiness who is a resident of New Castle County and who shall serve for an initial term of 3 years.
(7) An individual actively engaged in farming or some other form of agribusiness who is a resident of Kent County and who shall serve for an initial term of 3 years.
(8) An individual actively engaged in farming or some other form of agribusiness who is a resident of Sussex County and who shall serve for an initial term of 3 years.
(9) An individual actively engaged in farming or some other form of agribusiness who may reside in any county of the State.
(10) An individual who is a resident of the State who is designated as Chairperson.
(11) The Chair of the Council on Forestry or authorized designee to serve an indefinite term.
(b) Upon the expiration of the terms of the original Trustees having designated terms, the terms of such Trustee positions thereafter shall be 3 years. For the 5 Trustees appointed to the positions indicated in paragraphs (a)(6)through (a)(10) of this section, Trustees registered in either major political party shall not exceed the other major political party by more than 1.
(c) In the event of death, permanent disability, resignation or failure to perform duties of a Trustee, the Governor shall appoint an interim Trustee to serve the unexpired term of the departing Trustee, or, in the case of the Chairperson, an interim term not to exceed 6 months, unless the Chairperson is confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(d) For purposes of conducting business of the Foundation, 7 Trustees shall constitute a quorum. A majority vote of members constituting the quorum shall be required for action on any matter before the Foundation. All votes on matters before the Foundation shall be conducted at meetings open to the public, and such meetings shall be timely noticed. Nothing shall prevent the Trustees of the Foundation from meeting at executive sessions which are closed to the public for purposes of discussing Foundation matters.
(e) The Trustees shall not be entitled to compensation for the services they provide to the Foundation; however, each Trustee shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred to enable the performance of official duties.
(f) No Trustee shall be entitled to vote on any matter before the Foundation if such Trustee knowingly has a financial interest in the outcome of such matter. In the event a Trustee knowingly has a financial interest, such Trustee shall indicate to the Chairperson the nature of the interest and the Chairperson shall note for the record that the Trustee did not vote by reason of conflict of interest. In situations in which a Trustee or Trustees do not vote by reason of conflict of interest, the matter pending before the Foundation shall be decided on the basis of a majority vote of the remaining Trustees present who do not have a conflict of interest. A Trustee or Trustees having a conflict of interest as set forth herein shall be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum provided such Trustee or Trustees are present at the meeting. The fact that a Trustee or Trustees have not voted by reason of conflict of interest shall in no way affect the validity of an act or actions taken regarding the matter before the Foundation.
(g) The Foundation shall continue until its existence shall be terminated by law. Upon termination of the existence of the Foundation, all of its rights, properties and liabilities shall pass to and be assumed by the State.
(h) A Trustee may be removed by the Trustee’s appointing authority at any time for gross inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office.
(1) A Trustee is deemed in neglect of duty if the Trustee is absent from 3 consecutive foundation meetings without good cause or attends less than 50% of foundation meetings in a calendar year.
(2) A Trustee who is deemed in neglect of duty is considered to have resigned and, upon appointment of a successor, is no longer a Trustee.