(A) There is hereby established the Historic Preservation Commission of the City of Aurora, Indiana. The Historic Preservation Commission shall consist of not less than three nor more than nine voting members. The voting members shall be appointed by the Mayor subject to the approval of the City Council. Voting members shall serve for a term of three years; however, the initial terms of members shall be for one year, two years and three years in order for the terms to be staggered. Any vacancies shall be filled within 90 days for the duration of the term of the member who is being replaced.
(B) Voting members shall be residents of the city who are interested in the preservation and development of historic districts. To the extent available to the community, the Historic Preservation Commission shall include professional members from the disciplines of architecture, architectural history, preservation planning, archaeology, or other historic preservation-related disciplines, such as urban planning, American studies, art history, American civilization, cultural geography or cultural anthropology.
(C) The Mayor may appoint such advisory members as the Common Council considers appropriate.
(D) The City Building Inspector shall serve as the ex officio administrator of the Historic Preservation Commission. The Building Inspector shall provide staff assistance to the Historic Preservation Commission, act as the Commission's Secretary, and issue certificates of appropriateness as directed by the Commission.
(E) Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation but may be paid for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duty.
(F) The Commission shall elect from its membership a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson who shall serve for one year and who may be reelected. The Commission shall adopt rules for the transaction of its business not inconsistent with this subchapter. The rules must include the time and place of regular meetings and the procedure for the calling of special meetings. Meetings of the Commission must be open to the public in accordance with the Open Door Law and a public record shall be kept of the Commission's resolutions, proceedings and actions.
(G) The Commissions shall hold regular meetings, at least monthly, except when it has no business pending.
(H) Each official of the city who has responsibility for building inspection, building permits, planning, or zoning, shall provide any such technical, administrative, and clerical assistance as may be requested by the Commission. The attorney for the city is the attorney for the Commission. However, the Commission may employ other legal counsel authorized to practice law in Indiana if it considers it to be necessary or desirable.
(Ord. 1993-18, passed 12-6-93)