§ 484 - Travel information council; creation, membership, terms - Vermont Statutes

§ 484. Travel information council; creation, membership, terms

(a) The travel information council is created to administer the provisions of this chapter. The agency of transportation shall be responsible for the administration and maintenance of the official business directional sign program, information plazas and other tourist information facilities deemed appropriate by the council. The agency of commerce and community development shall be responsible for the collection and distribution of travel information, as deemed appropriate by the council.

(b) The travel information council may make rules, consistent with this chapter relating to the determination of locations for official business directional signs and to all other matters necessary and appropriate to the administration of this chapter. In making those rules it shall give consideration to the adequacy of information provided by highway directional signs and the preservation of scenic and aesthetic values and shall consult with the agency of transportation as to matters of highway safety. It shall determine whether official business directional signs at a particular location shall be displayed in tiers or upon panels. It shall advise the agency of commerce and community development on policies and matters pertaining to collection and distribution of tourist information.

(c) The travel information council shall have seven members, one the secretary of commerce and community development or his or her designee, who shall chair the council and six appointed members as follows: one representing the lodging industry, one the restaurant industry, one the recreation industry, one the agency of transportation, one the general public and one agriculture. The six appointed members shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate with the six initially appointed members appointed as of the effective date of this chapter, with three initial members appointed for one year terms, and three for two year terms. Three appointed members shall be appointed biennially thereafter. The members are eligible for reappointment.

(d) The travel information council shall designate, in each state transportation district, a person to represent business, a person to represent the public, and a person to represent the district planning or development agencies as a committee to act for it in those districts in considering applications for signs and the location thereof. The members of the committee shall serve at the pleasure of the council, and a majority of a committee shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of any business. A person aggrieved by a decision of a committee may ask for and shall be granted a hearing before the travel information council and may appeal on questions of law to the superior court under Rule 74 of the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure from a decision of the council. (1967, No. 333 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. March 23, 1968; amended 1969, No. 92, § 2, eff. April 19, 1969; 1971, No. 115, § 1, eff. April 26, 1971; 1983, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1993, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 1995, No. 190 (Adj. Sess.), § 1(a), (b).)