A. Creation; Membership. The Zoning Commission shall consist of those persons who are from time to time the members of the Zoning Board of Appeals. All members of the Zoning Commission shall serve without compensation.
B. Chairperson and Acting Chairperson. The Chairperson of the Zoning Board of Appeals shall serve as the Chairperson of the Zoning Commission. In the absence of the Chairperson, an Acting Chairperson designated by the members of the Zoning Commission shall act as chairperson and shall have all the powers of the chairperson. The Chairperson shall have the power to administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses.
C. Staff Secretary; Minutes; Public Records. The Village Manager shall designate a Staff Secretary of the Zoning Commission, who shall attend all of its proceedings. The Staff Secretary shall provide for the keeping of minutes of the proceedings of the Commission, showing the vote of each member upon every question or, if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact, and shall maintain permanent records of all Commission meetings, hearings, and proceedings and all correspondence of the Commission. The Staff Secretary shall provide for keeping a file of all records of the Commission, and such records shall, except to the extent provided by the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, be public records open to inspection.
D. Quorum and Necessary Vote. No business shall be transacted by the Zoning Commission without a quorum, consisting of four members, being present. The concurring vote of a majority of the Zoning Commission members present, consisting of at least three members, shall be necessary on any motion to recommend approval on any matter or application. Any lesser vote on any such motion, even if a majority of those voting, shall be considered a final decision to recommend denial of such matter or application. If less than a quorum is present, the public hearing or meeting may be adjourned from time to time as provided in the Illinois Open Meetings Act. The Staff Secretary shall in writing notify all members of the date of the adjourned public hearing or meeting and shall also notify such other interested parties as may be designated in the vote of adjournment.
E. Absent Members. No member absent from any portion of a proceeding shall be qualified to vote upon the matter heard unless that member shall first certify on the record that he or she has reviewed the entire record of any such portion of the proceeding during which he or she was absent and has fully informed himself or herself of the essential facts and issues of the matter being heard so as to be able to cast an informed and independent vote.
F. Meetings; Hearings; Procedures. Meetings of the Zoning Commission shall be held at the call of the Board of Trustees and at such other times as the Zoning Commission members may determine to complete an assigned task.
All meetings, hearings, and deliberations of the Zoning Commission shall be open to the public except when closed pursuant to the provisions of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
All testimony at any hearing of the Zoning Commission shall be given under oath.
The Zoning Commission may adopt its own rules of procedure for the conduct of its business not inconsistent with this Code and the statutes of the State of Illinois.
G. Record. The transcript of testimony, if any; the minutes; all applications, requests, exhibits, and papers filed in any proceeding before the Zoning Commission; and the decision of the Zoning Commission shall constitute the record.
H. Decisions. Every recommendation of the Zoning Commission shall be made by motion or resolution which shall be memorialized in writing. For amendments, such motion or resolution may refer to any pertinent facts, conditions, or considerations supporting the recommendation. For special use permits, such motion or resolution shall refer to all pertinent evidence in the record and to the exhibits, plans, or specifications upon which such recommendation is based, and shall expressly set forth any limitations or conditions imposed on any relief granted or work or use authorized. Such motions or resolutions may be incorporated into the minutes of the Zoning Commission.
I. Conflicts. No member of the Zoning Commission shall participate in the hearing or disposition of any matter in which that member has an interest. Any conflict of interest prohibited by the Glencoe Village Code or State law shall disqualify a member.
J. Jurisdiction and Authority. The Zoning Commission shall have the following jurisdiction and authority:
1. Subject to the provisions and standards of Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 24 ¶ 11-13-14 (1989), as may be amended from time to time, and Section 7-501 of this Code, to conduct hearings and to make recommendations to the Board of Trustees with respect to any proposed amendments to the regulations imposed and the districts created under this Code as the Board of Trustees may refer to the Zoning Commission from time to time.
2. Subject to the provisions and standards of Section 7-502 of this Code, to conduct hearings and to make recommendations to the Board of Trustees with respect to the granting or denial of any special use permit under this Code.
3. Subject to the provisions and standards of Section 7-503 of this Code, to review and make determinations with respect to certain plans for development for appearance review.