WIND TOWER COMMITTEE CHARTER

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Wind Tower Committee is to determine if wind towers are in the overall best interest of the Town of Hamlin and to develop proposed regulations accordingly.

Objectives:
• Determine what constitutes “best interest of the Town.”
• Assess the general Town opinion regarding wind energy.
• Determine how wind towers can contribute to the Town.
• Communicate with and visit other municipalities with wind towers.
• Research and identify benefits associated with wind towers and determine how to optimally maximize and distribute the benefits.
• Research and identify negatives associated with wind towers and determine how to mitigate same.
• Identify impact of wind towers and wind tower construction on infrastructure, e.g., protection of road ways, underground lines, landscaping, wells, etc.
• Develop proposed regulations on wind towers which conform to and reflect the best interests and desires of the Town and submit to Town Board.

Chairperson:

A chairperson will be selected by the committee at the first meeting. The chairperson will:

• Facilitate and conduct the meetings of the committee.
• Schedule additional meetings and form sub-committees as necessary.
• Be a voting member of the committee.
• Be authorized direct liaison with the Town Supervisor.
• Be provided with assets as necessary and affordable to complete assigned committee responsibilities, including access with consultants, engineers and/or attorneys. Town Board approval will be required on all contracted items.
• Follow up on assigned responsibilities.
• Schedule and develop an agenda for meetings based on member input.
• Prepare a monthly report of the committee's accomplishments, difficulties encountered and recommendations for Town Board.
• Ensure the effectiveness of the meeting by directing discussions to meet mission and objectives.
• Designate a co-chairperson and other “officer” positions as desired, including a recorder.

Meetings:

• Meetings will initially be held monthly, on the third Tuesday of each month starting at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall Board Chambers.
• Special or additional meetings of the committee may be called by the Chairperson upon his/her initiative, or upon the request of at least five (5) members.
• Additional/special meetings must be scheduled with the Town Clerk and publicly announced.
• Meetings will be open to the public. After the initial, organizational meeting, a minimum of one Public Forum will be held at each meeting. The Public Forum may be conducted at the beginning or at the end of each meeting, as desired by the Chairperson.

Quorum:

A quorum for the conduct of business at each meeting shall be a simple majority of the committee members.