(a) Appointment. There is hereby established a Board of Zoning Appeals which shall consist of five electors appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by Council. Vacancies shall be filled by the same procedure. The five electors first appointed shall serve for terms of one, two, three, four and five years respectively; thereafter appointments shall be for five year terms, beginning January 1. Each member shall serve until his successor is appointed and qualified. Members of the Board shall be removable for nonperformance of duty, misconduct in office or other cause, by Council, upon written charges having been filed with the Clerk of Council and after a public hearing has been held regarding such charges, a copy of the charges having been served upon the member so charged at least ten days prior to the hearing, either personally or by registered mail or by leaving the same at his usual place of residence. The member shall be given an opportunity to be heard and answer such charges.
(b) Organization and Procedure. The Board shall organize annually to elect a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman and Secretary. It shall further adopt rules for its own government not inconsistent with law or with any other ordinances of the Municipality to hear appeals on any variance or hardship created by the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance.
(1) Meetings. Meetings of the Board shall be held at the call of the Chairman and at such other times as the Board may determine. The Chairman or in his absence, the Vice-Chairman may administer oaths and the Board may compel the attendance of witnesses. All meetings of the Board shall be open to the public. The Board shall keep minutes of its proceedings showing the vote of each member upon each question, or if absence or failing to vote, indicating such fact, and shall keep records of its examinations and other official actions, all of which shall be immediately filed in the office of the Clerk and shall be a public record.
(2) Quorum. Three members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. The Board shall act by resolution and the concurring vote of three members of the Board shall be necessary to reverse any order or determination of the Zoning Inspector or to decide in favor of an applicant any matter of which the Board has original jurisdiction under the Zoning Ordinance or to grant any variance from the requirements stipulated in the Zoning Ordinance.
(3) Department assistance. The Board may call upon the various departments of the Municipality for assistance in the performance of its duties, and it shall be the duty of such departments to render such assistance to the Board as may reasonably be required.
(Ord. 914. Passed 11-8-66.)