(a) Appointment. There is hereby established a Board of Zoning Appeals which shall consist of five electors appointed by Council. Council, by a majority vote of its members, shall choose a successor to fill any vacancy. 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. Vacancies shall be filled by Council and shall be for the respective unexpired term. The member of the Board of Zoning Appeals may receive such compensation as Council provides.
(b) Hearings, Rules, Etc. The hearings of the Board of Zoning Appeals shall be public. However, the Board may go into executive session for discussion but not for vote on any case before it. The Board shall organize annually and elect a President and Vice President from its members. The Board shall adopt such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance. A secretary of the Board may be appointed by such Board who shall have such duties as correspond to the title. He shall serve at the will of the Board and receive such compensation as Council shall determine.
The Board shall hear any owner of property adjacent to the lot for which the granting of any zoning permit is pending, and shall also hear any other parties having substantial interests as determined by the Board.
(c) Minutes and Records. The Board shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question; or if absent 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 of Council and shall be a public record.
(d) Witnesses, Oaths, Etc. The Board shall have the power to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and punish for contempt, and may require the production of documents, under such regulations as it may establish.
(e) 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 be required.