The Town Board may appoint two alternate members to the Planning Board, which the Town Board shall designate as the first alternate and second alternate. The first alternate member, so appointed, shall serve for a term expiring three years from the end of the official year in which they are appointed, and his successors shall serve for a term of three years from and after the expiration of the terms of their predecessors in office. The second alternate member, so appointed, shall serve for a term expiring two years from the end of the official year in which he is appointed, and his successors shall serve for a term of three years from and after the expiration of the terms of their predecessors in office. Should a vacancy occur for reason other than the natural expiration of a term, the Town Board may fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.

All provisions of state law related to Planning Board Member eligibility, vacancy in office, removal, compatibility of office and service on other boards, as well as any provisions of a local law related to training, continuing education, compensation and attendance, shall also apply to alternate members.

The Town Board shall have the power to remove any alternate member of the Planning Board for cause and after a public hearing.

The normal voting members of the Planning Board shall be the five regular members. If any regular member is unable to participate in a matter(s) or meeting(s) due to a conflict of interest, illness, or extended absence, the Chairman of the Planning Board may designate the second alternate member to participate in the deliberations and action of the Planning Board on such matter(s) and shall have all the powers and duties of a duly appointed member of the Planning Board for the matter(s) under consideration. Such designation shall be entered into the minutes of the meeting at which the substitution is made.

Whenever two or more regular members of the Planning Board, or one regular member plus the first alternate member thereof, are unable to participate in a matter(s) or meeting(s) due to a conflict of interest, illness, or extended absence, the Chairman of the Planning Board may designate the second alternate member to participate in the deliberations and action of the Planning Board on such matter(s) and shall have all the powers and duties of a duly appointed member of the Planning Board for the matter(s) under consideration. Such designation shall be entered into the minutes of the meeting at which the substitution is made.

Authority to approve. The Planning Board shall have the authority to approve preliminary plats within the Town of Westfield outside the limits of the Village of Westfield in accordance with the requirements of §§ 276, 277, and 278 of Article 16 of the Town Law, as amended from time to time.

Prior authority. This authority supplements the authority to approve plats which the Planning Board may have by any prior resolution.

Filing with the county clerk. The Town Clerk shall file with the Chautauqua County Clerk a certificate certifying that the Planning Board has been authorized to review and approve preliminary plats as well as final plats for new subdivisions of land in the Town of Westfield, in accordance with §§ 276, 277, and 278 of Article 16 of the Town Law, as amended from time to time.