Establishment and Procedures. A Zoning Board of Review, herein called the Board, is hereby created. The Board, with the approval of the Town Council, may engage technical assistance to aid in the discharge of its duties. The Secretary of the Zoning Board (the "Secretary") shall serve as staff to the Board. The Town Solicitor or Assistant Town Solicitor shall serve as legal counsel to the Board. The Board shall establish written rules of procedure within six months of the adoption of this chapter. Appeals and correspondence to the Board shall be sent to the Board in care of the Secretary. The Secretary shall file all records and decisions of the Board.

Membership. The Zoning Board of Review shall consist of five members who are residents of the Town, appointed by the Town Council, each to hold office for the term of five years; provided, however, that the original appointments shall be made for terms of one, two, three, four, and five years respectively. The Zoning Board of Review for the Town of Little Compton shall also include three alternates to be designated as the first, second, and third alternate members for terms of five years. These alternate members shall sit and may actively participate in hearings. The first alternate shall vote if a member of the board is unable to serve at a hearing; the second shall vote if two members of the board are unable to serve at a hearing; and the third shall vote if three members of the board are unable to serve at a hearing. In the absence of the first alternate member, the second alternate member shall serve in the position of the first alternate. No member or alternate may vote on any matter before the Board unless they have attended all hearings concerning such matter. No member or alternate may participate in any way whatsoever on any matter for which they would have a conflict of interest as defined by the Rhode Island law and the Rhode Island Ethics Commission. Vacancies in unexpired terms of Board members shall be filled by the Town Council no more than 90 days following the vacancy. Members may be removed by the Town Council for due cause and for not attending three consecutive meetings.

All members and alternate members of the Board shall be voters of the Town of Little Compton and no member or alternate member shall be an elected official or salaried employee of the Town. If any vacancy occurs in the membership or alternate membership of the Board, the Town Council shall fill said vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Prior Members. Members of the Board serving on the effective date of adoption of this chapter shall be exempt from provisions of this section respecting terms of originally appointed members until the expiration of their current terms.

Organization. The Board shall organize annually by electing, from its membership, a Chairperson and a Vice-chairperson. The Board may engage the services of a secretary using funds available for that purpose or may elect a secretary from its membership.

Rules and Meetings. The Board shall adopt such rules of procedure as it may deem necessary to perform the duties assigned to it. Meetings shall be held at the call of the Chairperson, or if absent, the Vice-chairperson; or at such times as the Board may determine. The Chairperson, or if absent, the Vice-chairperson may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses and the submission of data pertinent to the subject of the meeting.