There is hereby established a planning and zoning commission, which may be hereinafter referred to as the planning commission, zoning commission, or the commission.

(Code 1967, § 4-134)

The commission shall consist of seven members who shall serve without pay. They shall consist of at least four members and up to six members at large and one member from the town council and shall be appointed by the town council. They shall be residents of the town qualified by knowledge and experience to make decisions on questions of community growth and development, provided that at least one-half of the members so appointed shall be freeholders. The term of the member from the town council and from the administrative branch, if there are any shall be co-extensive with the term of office to which the member has been elected or appointed unless the town council, at the first regular meeting each year, appoints others to serve as their representatives. The remaining members of the commission first appointed shall serve respectively for terms of one year, two years, three years, divided equally or as nearly equal as possible between the membership. Subsequent appointments shall be for terms of four years each unless the town council shall desire to establish different terms of office for initial and subsequent appointments. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term only. Members may be removed for malfeasance in office. One member may be a member of the administrative branch of the town.

(Code 1967, § 4-135)

(a)

The commission shall fix the time for holding regular meetings, but it shall meet at least at least once per year.

(b)

Special meetings of the commission may be called by the chairperson or by two members upon written request to the secretary. The secretary shall mail to all members, at least five days in advance of a special meeting, a written notice fixing the time and place of the meeting and the purpose thereof.

(c)

Written notice of a special meeting is not required if the time of the special meeting has been fixed at a regular meeting, or if all members are present at the special meeting or file a written waiver of notice.

(Code 1967, § 4-136; Ord. of unknown date(4), § 1)

A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum and no action of the local commission shall be valid unless authorized by a majority vote of those present and voting.

(Code 1967, § 4-137)

(a)

The local commission shall elect from the appointed members a chairperson and a vice-chairperson, whose terms shall be for one year. The commission may, with the prior approval of the town council:

(1)

Create and fill such other offices as it deems necessary;

(2)

Appoint such employees and staff as it deems necessary for its work; and

(3)

Contract with consultants for such services as it requires.

(b)

The commission shall adopt rules for the transaction of business and shall keep a record of its transactions which shall be a public record.

(Code 1967, § 4-138)

To effectuate this article, the local commission shall:

(1)

Exercise general supervision of, and make regulations for the administration of its affairs;

(2)

Prescribe rules pertaining to its investigations and hearings;

(3)

Supervise its fiscal affairs and responsibilities, under rules and regulations as prescribed by the town council;

(4)

Keep a complete record of its proceedings; and be responsible for the custody and preservation of its papers and documents;

(5)

Make recommendations and an annual report to the town council concerning the operation of the commission and the status of planning within its jurisdiction;

(6)

Prepare, publish and distribute reports, ordinances and other material relating to its activities;

(7)

Prepare and submit an annual budget in the manner prescribed by the town council.

(Code 1967, § 4-139)