§ 158-8.1. Creation of Western North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 158‑8.1. Creation of Western North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission.

(a)        There is created the Western North Carolina RegionalEconomic Development Commission to serve Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham,Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Polk, Rutherford, Swain,Transylvania, and Yancey Counties, and any other county assigned to theCommission by the Department of Commerce as authorized by law. The Commissionshall be located administratively in the Department of Commerce but shallexercise its statutory powers and duties independently of the Department ofCommerce. Funds appropriated for the Commission by the General Assembly shallbe disbursed directly to the Commission at the beginning of each fiscal year.

(b)        The Commission shall consist of 19 members appointed asfollows:

(1)        Three members shall be appointed by the Governor;

(2)        Two members shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(3)        Seven members shall be appointed by the General Assemblyupon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives inaccordance with G.S. 120‑121; and

(4)        Seven members shall be appointed by the General Assemblyupon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate inaccordance with G.S. 120‑121.

(c)        The appointing authority shall designate two of the initialappointees pursuant to subdivision (b)(1), one of the initial appointeespursuant to subdivision (b)(2), two of the initial appointees pursuant tosubdivision (b)(3), and two of the initial appointees pursuant to subdivision(b)(4) to serve for terms ending June 30, 1995; the remainder of the initialappointees shall serve for terms ending June 30, 1997. Their successors shallserve for four‑year terms ending on June 30 quadrennially thereafter. Theappointing authority shall designate the additional appointees undersubsections (b3) and (b4) that were added to the Commission membership pursuantto an act of the 1995 General Assembly to serve for terms ending June 30, 1999.

Any appointment to fill a vacancy on the Commission shall be for thebalance of the unexpired term. Vacancies in appointments made by the GeneralAssembly shall be in accordance with G.S. 120‑122.

(c1)      The initial meeting shall be called by the Secretary of theDepartment of Commerce.

(d)        Members of the Commission who are State employees shallreceive travel expenses as provided in G.S. 138‑6. Other Commissionmembers shall receive per diem of one hundred dollars ($100.00) a day for eachday of service when the Commission meets and shall be reimbursed for travel andsubsistence as provided in G.S. 138‑5. The Commission may adopt policiesauthorizing additional per diem of one hundred dollars ($100.00) a day for non‑Stateemployee members' additional days of service including Commission subcommitteemeetings or other Commission activities, plus reimbursement for related traveland subsistence as provided in G.S. 138‑5.

(e)        In addition to the powers and duties granted to economicdevelopment commissions in this Article, the Western North Carolina RegionalEconomic Development Commission shall:

(1)        Survey Western North Carolina and determine the assets,liabilities, and resources that the region contributes to the economicdevelopment process.

(2)        Develop and evaluate alternatives for Western North Carolinaeconomic development.

(3)        Develop a preferred economic development plan for the regionand establish strategies for implementing the plan.

(4)        Coordinate activities with and enter into contracts with anynonprofit corporation created to assist the Commission in carrying out itspowers and duties.

(5)        Repealed by Session Laws 1999‑237, s. 16.5(a). (1993, c. 321, s. 309(a); c. 561, s. 17(a); 1993 (Reg.Sess., 1994), c. 769, ss. 28.7(j), 28.8(a), 28.8(b); 1995, c. 488, s. 49(a),(b); c. 507, s. 25.5(a); c. 509, ss. 103‑105; 1999‑237, s.16.5(a).)