Vermont § 3325 - Vermont Economic Progress Council

§ 3325. Vermont Economic Progress Council

• (a) Creation. The Vermont Economic Progress Council is created to exercise the authority and perform
  the duties assigned to it, including its authority and duties relating to: (1) the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive Program pursuant to subchapter 2 of this chapter; (2) tax increment financing districts pursuant to 24 V.S.A. chapter 53, subchapter 5 and section 5404a of this title; and (3) the Community and Housing Infrastructure Program pursuant to 24 V.S.A. chapter 53, subchapter 7. (b) Membership. (1) The Council shall have 11 voting members: (A) nine residents of the State appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent
  of the Senate who are knowledgeable and experienced in the subjects of community development
  and planning, education funding requirements, economic development, State fiscal affairs,
  property taxation, or entrepreneurial ventures and represent diverse geographical
  areas of the State and municipalities of various sizes; (B) one member of the Vermont House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the
  House; and (C) one member of the Vermont Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Committees. (2)(A) The Council shall have two regional members from each region of the State, one appointed
  by the regional development corporation of the region and one appointed by the regional
  planning commission of the region. (B) A regional member shall be a nonvoting member and shall serve during consideration
  by the Council of an application from the member’s region. (3) Exclusively for purposes of reviewing and approving housing infrastructure project
  applications under the Community and Housing Infrastructure Program, the Council shall
  additionally have three nonvoting members: (A) the Executive Director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency or designee; (B) the Executive Director of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board or designee;
  and (C) the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development or designee. (c) Terms. (1) Members of the Council appointed by the Governor shall serve initial staggered terms
  with five members serving four-year terms, and four members serving two-year terms. (2) After the initial term expires, a member’s term is four years and a member may be
  reappointed. (3) A term commences on April 1 of each odd-numbered year. (d) Compensation. (1) For attendance at a meeting and for other official duties, a member appointed by the
  Governor shall be entitled to compensation for services and reimbursement of expenses
  as provided in section 1010 of this title, except that a member who is a member of the General Assembly shall be entitled to
  compensation for services and reimbursement of expenses as provided in 2 V.S.A. § 23. (2) A regional member who does not otherwise receive compensation and reimbursement of
  expenses from his or her regional development or planning organization shall be entitled
  to compensation and reimbursement of expenses for attendance at meetings and for other
  official duties as provided in section 1010 of this title. (e) Operation. (1) The Governor shall appoint a chair from the Council’s members. (2) The Council shall receive administrative support from the Agency of Commerce and Community
  Development and the Department of Taxes. (3) The Council shall have: (A) an executive director appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the
  Senate who is knowledgeable in subject areas of the Council’s jurisdiction and who
  is an exempt State employee; and (B) administrative staff. (f) Rulemaking authority. The Council shall have the authority to adopt policies and procedures as necessary,
  and to adopt rules under 3 V.S.A. chapter 25, to implement the provisions of this chapter. (g) Decisions not subject to review. A decision of the Council to approve or deny an application under subchapter 2 of
  this chapter; to approve or deny a tax increment financing district pursuant to 24 V.S.A. chapter 53, subchapter 5 and section 5404a of this title; or to approve or deny a housing infrastructure project pursuant to 24 V.S.A. chapter 53, subchapter 7 is an administrative decision that is not subject to the contested
  case hearing requirements under 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 and is not subject to judicial review. (Added 2015, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), § H.1, eff. Jan. 1, 2017; amended 2025, No. 69, § 21, eff. July 1, 2025.)