(A) A Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is hereby created, which shall perform its duties and exercise its powers as provided in § 18 of Public Act 184 of 1943, being M.C.L.A. §§ 125.271 through 125.301, as amended, and in a way that the objectives of this chapter shall be observed, public safety secured and substantial justice done.
(B) The Board shall consist of the following three members:
(1) The first member shall be a member of the Township Planning Commission, for the term of his or her office; and
(2) The remaining members shall be appointed to represent various interests present in the township and shall be appointed by the Township Board from among the electors residing in the unincorporated area of the township. However, no employee or contractor of the township may serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals or be an employee of it. An elected official of the township may not be Chairperson of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
(C) Terms shall be for three years, except for members serving because of their membership on the Planning Commission or Township Board, whose terms shall be limited to the time they are members of the Planning Commission or Township Board respectively, and the period stated in the resolution appointing them.
(1) When members are first appointed, the appointments may be for less than three years to provide for staggered terms.
(2) A successor shall be appointed not more than one month after the term of the preceding member has expired.
(3) Vacancies for unexpired terms shall be filled for the remainder of the term.
(D) The Township Board may appoint not more than two alternate members for the same term as regular members to the ZBA. An alternate member may be called to serve as a regular member of the ZBA in the absence of a regular member if:
(1) The regular member is absent from or will be unable to attend two or more consecutive meetings of the ZBA; or
(2) The regular member will be unable to attend meetings for a period of more than 30 consecutive days.
(E) An alternate member may also be called to serve as a regular member for the purpose of reaching a decision on a case in which the regular member has abstained for reasons of conflict of interest.
(1) The Chairperson shall determine when to summon an alternate.
(2) The alternate member appointed shall serve in the case until a final decision is made.
(3) The alternate member has the same voting rights as a regular member of the ZBA.
(Ord. passed 6-28-2006)