Article 30.

[Western] North Carolina Arboretum.

§ 116-240.  Establishment of Arboretum.

The North Carolina Arboretum is established on land being provided by the United States Forest Service from property presently designated as the Bent Creek Experimental Forest.

The United States Forest Service has committed itself to continuing its work of the land provided to the Arboretum as many of its studies will be compatible with the work of the Arboretum. (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1014, s. 98; 1989, c. 139, s. 1.)

 

§ 116-241.  Purpose and scope of Arboretum.

The Arboretum shall be prepared for viewing and maintaining the necessary plantings that will be added to the present vegetation of the site in order to make the Arboretum fully representative of Western North Carolina. Extensive clearing of underbrush and other debris needed to prepare the area for demonstrations, installation of fencing for security purposes, land modifications and improvement, and plant acquisitions shall be carried out to make the Arboretum both representative and accessible to the public. Roads and pathways shall be constructed as necessary throughout the Arboretum to enable visitors to ride and walk through the area in order to observe and study the various kinds of vegetation. An extensive program of identification of trees, shrubs, and other living material shall be ongoing at the Arboretum. Necessary visitor and educational buildings, greenhouses, and a small lecture hall, with restrooms and other associated requirements, shall be constructed on the property. Machine sheds and service buildings shall also be constructed on the property to house equipment and to provide working space for the personnel employed in developing and operating the Arboretum. (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1014, s. 98.)

 

§ 116-242.  Administration of Arboretum; acceptance of gifts and grants.

The Arboretum shall be administered by The University of North Carolina and through the Board of Directors established in G.S. 116-243. State funds for the administration of the Arboretum shall be appropriated to The University of North Carolina for Western Carolina University to administer on behalf of the arboretum. The North Carolina Arboretum and The University of North Carolina may receive gifts and grants to be used for development or operation of the Arboretum. (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1014, s. 98; 2011-145, s. 9.15(a).)

 

§ 116-243.  Board of directors established; appointments.

A board of directors to govern the operation of the Arboretum is established, to be appointed as follows:

(1) Two by the Governor, initially, one for a two-year term, and one for a four-year term. Successors shall be appointed for four-year terms.

(2) Two by the General Assembly, in accordance with G.S. 120-121, upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, initially, one for a two-year term, and one for a four-year term. Successors shall be appointed for four-year terms.

(3) Two by the General Assembly, in accordance with G.S. 120-121, upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, initially, one for a two-year term, and one for a four-year term. Successors shall be appointed for four-year terms.

(4) The President of The University of North Carolina or the President's designee to serve ex officio.

(4a) Two by the President of The University of North Carolina. Members shall be appointed for four-year terms, except that the initial terms shall be as provided otherwise by law.

(5) Repealed by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 9.15(b), effective July 1, 2011.

(6) Repealed by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 9.15(b), effective July 1, 2011.

(7) Eight by the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina, Members shall be appointed for four-year terms, except that the initial terms shall be as otherwise provided by law.

(8) The executive director of the Arboretum shall serve ex officio as a nonvoting member of the Board of Directors.

(9) The President of The North Carolina Arboretum Society, Inc., to serve ex officio.

All appointed members may serve two full four-year terms following the initial appointment and then may not be reappointed until they have been absent for at least one year. Members serve until their successors have been appointed. Appointees to fill vacancies serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. Vacancies in appointments made by the General Assembly shall be filled in accordance with G.S. 120-122. Initial terms begin July 1, 2011.

The Chair of the Board of Directors shall be elected biennially by majority vote of the directors.

The Executive Director of the Arboretum shall report to the President of The University of North Carolina or the President's designee and to the Board of Directors. (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1014, s. 98; 1995, c. 490, s. 63; 2003-102, s. 1; 2004-203, s. 48; 2011-145, s. 9.15(b).)

 

§ 116-244.  Duties of board of directors.

The Board of Directors of the Arboretum has the following duties and responsibilities:

(1) Development of the policies and procedures concerning the use of the land and facilities being developed as part of the Western North Carolina Arboretum, Inc.;

(2) Approval of plans for any buildings to be constructed on the facility;

(3) Maintenance and upkeep of buildings and all properties;

(4) Approval of permanent appointments to the staff of the Arboretum;

(5) Recommendations to The University of North Carolina System Office of candidates for Executive Director of the Arboretum;

(6) Recommendations to The University of North Carolina System Office for necessary termination of the Executive Director or other personnel of the Arboretum;

(7) Ensurance of appropriate liaison between the Arboretum and the U. S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, The North Carolina Arboretum Society, Inc., Bent Creek Institute, Inc., Centers for Environmental and Climatic Interaction, Inc., NOAA Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites, and other scientific and economic development agencies and organizations of interest to and involved in the work at the Arboretum;

(8) Development of various policies and directives, including the duties of the Executive Director, to be prepared jointly by the members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Director;

(9) Approval of annual expenditures and budget requests to be submitted to The University of North Carolina System Office.

The Board of Directors shall meet at least twice a year, and more frequently on the call of the Chair or at the request of at least 10 members of the Board. Meetings shall be held at the Arboretum, any campus of a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, or at other public locations in support of the Arboretum mission and purposes. (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1014, s. 98; 2011-145, s. 9.15(c); 2018-12, s. 10.)

 

§§ 116-245 through 116-249.  Reserved for future codification purposes.