Draft guidelines have been developed. Guidelines address such items as bylaws, membership and sunshine law meeting notices. Barbara suggested the committee look at this document for guidance on how to operate the Chesapeake Bay Advisory Committee. Sue Wilson, Citizens Advisory Counsil to DEP, stated that DEP has 36 advisory committees. The bylaws are outdated, and should reflect Pennsylvania's tributary strategy.
Local governments are grass root organizations and can help with Bay issues.
These issues need to be sorted out and prioritized. Passage of House Bill 1400 has created some questions. This advisory committee now provides direction to DEP and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Chairman Lamonte asked for volunteers to serve on a work group to look at the existing bylaws. The work group should come back to the next meeting with a draft of revised bylaws and suggest the priority for the list of issues developed today.