In addition to any and all other qualifications for holding office as a member of the Planning Board, all present members of said Board must attend not less than four hours of training classes offered by the Rockland Municipal Planning Federation within one year from the effective date hereof, and complete such classes and receive certification from the Federation within two years from the effective date hereof. Members appointed after the effective date of this local law[1] shall be required to attend not less than four hours of such classes within one year from the date of such appointment, and receive certification within two years from the date of such appointment. Recertification of all members shall be required each year thereafter from the date of initial certification.

The Village Board is hereby authorized to remove a member of the Planning Board for cause, after a public hearing and an opportunity to be heard. Removal for cause shall include but not be limited to the following:

The Village Board may grant reasonable extensions of time to a member of the Planning Board to obtain certification or recertification for justifiable reasons only.

Minimum attendance requirements. Members of the Planning Board shall be required to attend 75% of all regularly scheduled meetings and special meetings conducted in each calendar year.

Removal for nonattendance. In the event a member does not attend at least 75% of all of the regularly scheduled and special meetings as set forth in Subsection D hereof, the Village Board shall have the discretion and authority, in accordance with the provisions of § 7-718(9) of the New York State Village Law, following public hearing, to remove such member from the Planning Board. The Village Board, in reaching such a determination, shall consider whatever factors it determines to be relevant, including any reasons assigned for such absences, and attendance records in prior years; provided, however, that the Village Board shall not be required to accept any excuse for the member's absence.

The Village Board, in its discretion, may further appoint up to two alternate members to the Planning Board, either or both of whom shall serve when there is a conflict of interest precluding participation by a regular member or when a regular member shall otherwise be unable or unavailable to review, hear and determine an application.

The Chairperson of the Planning Board, in his or her discretion, may designate the alternate member to substitute for a regular member or members when a regular member is unable to participate because of a conflict of interest on an application or any matter before the Board or when a regular member shall be unable or unavailable to review, hear and determine an application or appeal. When so designated, an alternate member shall possess all the powers and responsibilities of such regular member of the Board. Such designation shall be entered into the minutes of the initial Planning Board meeting at which the substitution is made and specify the matter or matters which the alternate member shall hear.

All provisions of this article relating to Planning Board member training and continuing education, attendance, conflict of interest, compensation, eligibility, vacancy in office, removal, and service on other boards, shall also apply to an alternate member.

The term of office of the alternate member of the Planning Board shall be one year measured from the date of appointment at the annual Village re-organization meeting, or for such lesser period as may result in the case of an appointment made subsequent to the annual re-organization meeting ending on the date of the succeeding annual re-organization meeting.