§ 158-8.3. Creation of Southeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission.
§ 158‑8.3. Creation of Southeastern North Carolina Regional Economic DevelopmentCommission.
(a) There is created the Southeastern North Carolina RegionalEconomic Development Commission to serve Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus,Cumberland, Hoke, New Hanover, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, and ScotlandCounties, and any other county assigned to the Commission by the Department ofCommerce as authorized by law. The Commission shall be located administrativelyin the Department of Commerce but shall exercise its statutory powers andduties independently of the Department of Commerce. Funds appropriated for theCommission by the General Assembly shall be disbursed directly to theCommission at the beginning of each fiscal year.
(b) The Commission shall consist of 15 members appointed asfollows:
(1) Three members shall be appointed by the Governor;
(2) Two members shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;
(3) Five members shall be appointed by the General Assembly uponthe recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in accordancewith G.S. 120‑121; and
(4) Five members shall be appointed by the General Assembly uponthe recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate in accordancewith G.S. 120‑121.
(c) The appointing authority shall designate two of the initialappointees pursuant to subdivision (b)(1) of this section, one of the initialappointees pursuant to subdivision (b)(2) of this section, two of the initialappointees pursuant to subdivision (b)(3) of this section, and two of theinitial appointees pursuant to subdivision (b)(4) of this section to serve forterms ending June 30, 1995; the remainder of the initial appointees shall servefor terms ending June 30, 1997. Their successors shall serve for four‑yearterms ending on June 30 quadrennially thereafter.
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 filled 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 Southeastern North CarolinaRegional Economic Development Commission shall:
(1) Survey southeastern North Carolina and determine the assets,liabilities, and resources that the region contributes to the economicdevelopment process;
(2) Develop and evaluate alternatives for southeastern NorthCarolina economic development;
(3) Develop a preferred economic development plan for the regionand establish strategies for implementing the plan; and
(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(c).
(f) Within the limits of funds available, the Commission mayhire and fix the compensation of any personnel necessary to its operations,contract with consultants for any services as it may require, and contract withthe State of North Carolina or the federal government, or any agency ordepartment thereof, for any services as may be provided by those agencies. Withthe approval of any unit of local government, the Commission may contract touse officers, employees, agents, and facilities of the unit of localgovernment. The Commission may carry out the provisions of any contracts it mayenter.
Within the limits of funds available, the Commission may lease, rent,purchase, or otherwise obtain suitable quarters and office space for its staff,and may lease, rent, or purchase necessary furniture, fixtures, and otherequipment. (1993, c. 321, s.309.2(a); c. 561, s. 17(c); 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 769, ss. 28.7(m),28.8(e), 28.8(f); 1995, c. 509, ss. 110, 111; 1997‑155, s. 1; 1999‑237,s. 16.5(c).)