15.2-2403.2 - Virginia Wallops Research Park Leadership Council established.
§ 15.2-2403.2. Virginia Wallops Research Park Leadership Council established.
A. The Virginia Wallops Research Park Leadership Council (the Council) isestablished as a cooperative management and oversight body to superintend thedevelopment and operation of the Wallops Research Park, a service districtcreated pursuant to § 15.2-2400, consisting uniquely and exclusively ofadjacent lands being a portion of NASA/Wallops Flight Facility, the MarineScience Consortium, and lands of Accomack County, a political subdivision ofthe Commonwealth. The purpose of the Council shall be to advise the Governor,state economic development officials, state workforce development officials,and the Wallops Research Park landowners on appropriate development andoperations strategies for the Park with emphasis on policy recommendationsthat will enhance the Park's global competitive advantage in both researchand technology-based commercial endeavors.
B. Persons appointed to the Council shall be selected for their knowledge of,background in, or experience with basic and applied research, emergingtechnologies, workforce development needs of industries, commercialization ofthe results and outputs of research activities, and the development andfinancing of technology intensive enterprises.
C. The Council shall consist of six members, all of whom shall serve as exofficio members with voting privileges: the Director of the NASA/WallopsFlight Facility or his designee, who shall retain his absolute duty ofloyalty to the federal government; the Director of the U.S. Navy SurfaceCombat Systems Center or his designee, who shall retain his absolute duty ofloyalty to the federal government; the Director of the Marine ScienceConsortium or his designee, who shall retain his absolute duty of loyalty tothe Consortium; the Accomack County Administrator or his designee, who shallretain his absolute duty of loyalty to Accomack County; the Chancellor of theVirginia Community College System or his designee; and the Virginia Secretaryof Commerce and Trade, or his designee. All members shall be appointed toserve terms coincident with their terms of office.
D. The Council shall designate one member as its chair, and is authorized toadopt bylaws.
E. A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum.Council meetings shall be as specified in its bylaws or upon the call of thechair.
F. Members of the Council shall receive no compensation, but shall beentitled to be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurredin the performance of their duties.
G. The Council shall:
1. Undertake studies, gather and analyze information, and makerecommendations in order to accomplish its purposes as set forth insubsection A;
2. Apply for, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public,quasi-public or private sources, and state funds that may be appropriated bythe federal government, the General Assembly, or any state government tocarry out its purpose;
3. Report annually its findings and recommendations regarding the developmentand operation of the Wallops Research Park. The Council may make interimreports as it deems advisable; and
4. Assist the Virginia Community College System and Eastern Shore CommunityCollege, the lead education and training entities for the Park, in developingthe necessary infrastructure to meet the workforce and education needs of thePark to include the development of an Education and Training Center.
H. Funding necessary to support the Council's work, including but not limitedto the reimbursement pursuant to subsection F, shall be provided by AccomackCounty from the rent revenues generated by the Wallops Research Park.
I. Accomack County shall provide staff support to the Council. All agenciesof the Commonwealth shall assist the Council upon request.
(2009, cc. 302, 408.)