A. Creation; Membership. The Contextual Design Review Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the Village President and confirmed by the Board of Trustees. All members shall be residents of the Village. The members of the Commission should have significant background in residential design and construction, land planning, or other related disciplines in order to facilitate the enhancement of single family dwelling developments seeking approvals pursuant to Section 7-505 of this Code. The Village President shall have the power to remove any member for cause and after a public hearing. A vacancy that may occur shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term by appointment of the Village President and confirmation by the Board of Trustees. Initial appointments to the Commission shall be as follows: one member for a one-year term; two members for a two-year term; two members for a three-year term; and two members for a four-year term. All re-appointments and appointments of successors upon the expiration of any term of any member shall be for a period of four years and until a successor has been appointed and has qualified for office. All members of the Contextual Design Review Commission shall serve without compensation.
B. Chairperson and Acting Chairperson. The Village President shall name one member of he Contextual Design Review Commission as Chairperson, who shall preside at all public meetings and hearings and fulfill the customary functions of that office. In the absence of the Chairperson, an Acting Chairperson designated by the members of the Contextual Design Review Commission shall act as chairperson and shall have all the powers of the chairperson. The Chairperson shall have the power to administer oaths.
C. Staff Secretary; Minutes; Public Records. The Village Manager shall designate a Staff Secretary of the Contextual Design Review 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 Village Clerk 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 Contextual Design Review Commission without a quorum, consisting of four members, being present. The concurring vote of at least four members of the Contextual Design Review Commission shall be necessary on any motion to decide in favor of the applicant on any application made pursuant to Section 7-505 of this Code. 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 Contextual Design Review Commission 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. Regular meetings of the Contextual Design Review Commission shall be held in accordance with the annual schedule posted in the Manager's office and at such other times as the members of the Contextual Design Review Commission may determine. All meetings, hearings, and deliberations of the Contextual Design Review Commission shall be open to the public except when closed pursuant to the provisions of the Illinois Open Meetings Act. The Contextual Design Review Commission shall 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, and papers filed in any proceeding before the Contextual Design Review Commission; and the decision of the Contextual Design Review Commission shall constitute the record.
H. Decisions. Every decision of the Contextual Design Review Commission shall be memorialized in a written resolution which shall include findings of fact; shall refer to all pertinent evidence in the record and to the exhibits, plans, or specifications upon which such decision is based; shall specify the reason or reasons for such decision; shall contain a conclusion or statement separate from the findings of fact setting forth the specific relief granted or declining to grant relief; and shall expressly set forth any limitations or conditions imposed on any relief granted or work or use authorized. Such resolution may be incorporated into the minutes of the Contextual Design Review Commission. The Contextual Design Review Commission may take final action on any decision pertaining to an application pending before it prior to the preparation of a written resolution, but in such event it shall, before taking such action, first state its findings and conclusions as above required at a meeting open to the public. The Contextual Design Review Commission's decision shall be deemed made as of the date of the taking of such final action. The written resolution incorporating such findings and conclusions shall be presented and approved at the next regular public meeting of the Contextual Design Review Commission.
I. Conflicts. No member of the Contextual Design Review Commission shall appear before the Contextual Design Review Commission on, or participate in the hearing or disposition of, any matter or application in which that member has an interest (including interests as a consultant, representative, or other person receiving, or who may be receiving, remuneration), either directly, indirectly, or through one's business or employment activities or immediate family. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a member of the Contextual Design Review Commission may appear before the Commission with respect to that member’s personal residence, provided that such member shall disclose on the record his or her interest in the application and thereafter not participate in the Commission’s consideration or disposition of such matter. Any conflict of interest prohibited by the Glencoe Village Code or State law shall disqualify a member.
J. Appeals. The Contextual Design Review Commission shall only make final decisions regarding voluntary petitions for contextual design review pursuant to Section 7-505 of this Code, and any determination of the Commission declining to grant relief under Section 7-505 shall not deprive an applicant of its rights otherwise available under this Code; accordingly, no appeals may be taken from a final decision of the Commission pursuant to Section 7-505.
K. Jurisdiction and Authority. The Contextual Design Review Commission shall have the following jurisdiction and authority:
2. Upon reasonable written request of the Board of Trustees, to make its special knowledge and expertise available to any official, department, board, or commission of the Village, County, State, or Federal governments to aid them in the performance of their respective duties relating to contextual design or zoning and its administration in the Village.
3. In furtherance of the above jurisdiction and authority, to make such investigations, maps, reports, and recommendations in connection therewith, relating to contextual design or zoning and its administration in the Village as requested by the Board of Trustees; provided, however, that the expenditures of the Contextual Design Review Commission shall not exceed the amount appropriated therefor.