285-B - Hudson valley agricultural advisory council. - New York Statutes

§ 285-b. Hudson valley agricultural advisory council. 1. The Hudson valley agricultural advisory council shall be appointed by the commissioner, and composed of representatives from consumer and producer organizations, county governments, conservation organizations and tourism organizations of the Hudson valley region. For the purposes of this section, the term "Hudson valley" shall mean the counties of Albany, Greene, Ulster, Orange, Rockland, Rensselaer, Columbia, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester. The membership of the council shall consist of no more than eleven persons, who shall be residents of the Hudson valley, and who shall meet at least three times annually. Council members shall serve without pay but shall be reimbursed for allowable and necessary travel expenses. 2. The advisory council, in consultation with the Hudson river valley greenway communities council, the upstate New York tourism council, and the downstate New York tourism council, may recommend programs and promotional activities designed to preserve and enhance Hudson valley region tourism and agricultural open space, address issues affecting the viability of agriculture, including real property tax policies and municipal land use issues, and promote greater agricultural marketing and promotional opportunities for the region's agricultural producers to the department. 3. From time to time, but at least every two years, the advisory council shall issue a report evaluating such programs and promotional activities to be transmitted to the commissioner, the chairperson of the Hudson river valley greenway communities council, the chairperson of the upstate New York tourism council, and the chairperson of the downstate New York tourism council and, upon request, any other interested party. The advisory council shall also do all other things necessary and proper for the completion of a feasibility study of developing a tour of the Hudson valley to be known as "The Hudson Valley Ag Trail" to highlight the unique and significant agricultural and natural resources of the Hudson valley region.