(a) A Connecticut River Watershed Advisory Commission is established to develop ways to cooperate, and to initiate and encourage interstate cooperation and coordination with and between the appropriate officers of the State of Vermont and the State of New Hampshire to achieve the purpose of this subchapter. In a manner consistent with New Hampshire law, the Advisory Commission may designate citizens from Vermont municipalities bordering the Connecticut River to serve on, or coordinate with, local river management advisory groups established pursuant to New Hampshire law.

(b) The Advisory Commission shall consist of 15 members: the Secretary of Natural Resources; one member selected by each of the five regional planning commissions bordering the Connecticut River and nine at-large members appointed by the Governor who shall be residents of the Connecticut River watershed. The at-large members may include persons who are members of the General Assembly and shall include others who represent diverse interests such as forestry, tourism, fishing, boating, and land preservation and historic preservation. One or more members shall be actively farming land they own bordering the Connecticut River or its tributaries.

(c) The Secretary of Natural Resources shall promptly convene the first meeting of the Advisory Commission at which time a chairperson will be elected by the members. The chairperson shall serve for one year or until his or her successor is elected.

(d) A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum.

(e) Members shall be entitled to compensation in accordance with the provisions of 32 V.S.A. § 1010.

(f) In the event of a vacancy occurring in the membership of the Commission, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. (Added 1987, No. 208 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1991, No. 224 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)