Section 12-G:44 Division of Ports and Harbors Advisory Council.
I. There is hereby established a division of ports and harbors advisory council consisting of 8 members, 6 of whom shall be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the council. Two of said appointive members shall be residents of the cities and towns of the seacoast region or state tidal waters that are not represented on the board, one appointive member shall be a commercial fisherman engaged in that industry on the seacoast, and 2 appointive members shall be experienced in a maritime industry. Each appointive member shall serve for a term of 5 years. Said members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the appointive members shall be filled by the governor and council for the unexpired term. In addition to the 6 appointive members, the commissioner of the department of resources and economic development, or designee, and the mayor of the city of Portsmouth, or designee, shall be, by virtue of their offices, members of the council.
II. The council shall elect one of its members as a chairman, one as a vice-chairman, and one as a treasurer. The members of the council shall receive no compensation for their services; but their reasonable expenses, incurred in the performance of their duties, shall be paid by the state. The council shall have the right to establish bylaws for the management of its affairs within the meaning of this chapter and the laws of the state. The division shall provide the council with the administrative support necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this chapter.
III. The council shall consult with and advise the division director with respect to the policy, programs, and goals of the division, the operation of the port, the selection of harbor masters and assistant harbor masters, and the procurement of services of a port terminal operating firm. In order to accomplish said purposes, the council shall meet with the division director no less frequently than quarterly, or at the call of the chairman or 3 council members. All potential conflicts of interest shall be adequately disclosed. The council shall file annually a report of its deliberations and recommendations with the board and the executive director. The authority, by 5 affirmative votes, may override any action of the council.
IV. The division director shall present all rules proposed to be implemented by the authority under RSA 12-G:42, X to the council for consideration prior to filing a notice of proposed rule under RSA 541-A:6. The council shall present any objections to the proposed rule to the division director and to the board in writing within 15 days of submission to the council by the division director. The authority may adopt a rule to which the council has objected only upon 5 affirmative votes of the authority and after presenting a written reply to the council detailing the reasons for adopting the rule over the objections of the council.
V. The council may propose rules to the authority for adoption under RSA 12-G:42, X. The authority shall adopt rules proposed by the council unless, within 15 days of their proposal, the authority, by 5 affirmative votes, objects to the adoption of such rules and presents a written reply to the council detailing the reasons for objection.
Source. 2001, 290:6, eff. July 1, 2001. 2003, 242:12, 13, eff. July 8, 2003. 2008, 356:5, eff. July 11, 2008.