(a) Any town, city or borough, by ordinance, may accept the provisions of this section and may establish an economic development commission for the promotion and development of the economic resources of such municipality. The ordinance shall specify (1) the number of members of such commission, which shall be not less than five or more than fifteen, and the number of alternates, if any, (2) whether the members and alternates shall be elected or appointed by the chief executive authority of the municipality and (3) the terms of the members and alternates, which (A) in the case of appointed members shall not exceed five years and shall be so fixed that the terms of approximately one-fifth of the members shall expire each year and (B) in the case of elected members shall not exceed six years and shall be so fixed that the terms of approximately one-fifth but no more than two-fifths of the members shall expire in each odd-numbered year. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, the legislative body of any town, city or borough which elects members and alternates may provide for a reasonable method of transition for such offices which may include reasonable extension of such terms and provision for interim terms. Any vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the chief executive authority. Any such alternate members shall, when seated, have all the powers and duties of a member of the commission. In any case in which the members of the commission or alternates are appointed by the chief executive authority, any member or alternate may be removed by such authority for cause and, on request of such member or alternate, after public hearing. The members and alternates of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services as such but shall be reimbursed for their necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. The commission may appoint employees necessary for the discharge of its duties.

(b) The commission shall conduct research into the economic conditions and trends in its municipality, shall make recommendations to appropriate officials and agencies of its municipality regarding action to improve its economic condition and development, shall seek to coordinate the activities of and cooperate with unofficial bodies organized to promote such economic development and may advertise and may prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts and pamphlets which in its judgment will further its official purposes.

(c) The commission shall annually prepare and transmit to the legislative body of its municipality a report of its activities and of its recommendations for improving such economic conditions and development.

(d) Any municipality which establishes an economic development commission may annually appropriate for its purposes a sum not exceeding one-twentieth of one per cent of the last-completed grand list of taxable property.

(1955, S. 263d; February, 1965, P.A. 245, S. 1; P.A. 82-55, S. 1, 3; P.A. 85-433, S. 2.)

History: 1965 act changed name of commissions from “development and industrial commissions” to “economic development commissions,” amended Subsec. (b) to provide that research be into “economic conditions and trends” rather than into “business and industrial conditions” and to provide for the making of recommendations by the commission and added Subsec. (c); P.A. 82-55 provided for alternates; P.A. 85-433 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that the term of office for elected members shall not exceed six years with approximately one-fifth but no more than two-fifths of the members' terms to expire in odd-numbered years and authorized provision of reasonable method of transition for such officers, including reasonable extension of such terms and provision for interim terms.

Cited. 28 CA 622.