(A) Establishment of Citizens Housing Committee; membership; appointment; terms; vacancies; oaths; compensation; removal; offices.
(1) The Citizens Housing Committee is hereby established pursuant to the authority set forth in § 8.11 of the Charter.
(2) The Citizens Housing Committee shall consist of five electors of the city none of whom may hold other public office in the city and each of whom shall have resided in the city for a period of two years.
(3) The City Council shall be the appointing authority of the Citizens Housing Committee.
(4) The term of office for each member of the Citizens Housing Committee shall be for three years; however, the terms of office of the members first appointed shall be staggered so that two members shall serve for one year, two members shall serve for two years, and one member shall serve for three years.
(5) Vacancies on the Citizens Housing Committee shall be filled within 60 calendar days. When an occupancy occurs, other than through expiration of the term of office, it shall be filled for the remainder of that term.
(6) All members of the Citizens Housing Committee shall, before entering upon their duties, qualify by taking the city’s oath of office.
(7) Reimbursement for expenses or compensation or both may be authorized for members on the Citizens Housing Committee.
(8) Any member of the Citizens Housing Committee may be removed by the City Council, for inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or conflict of interest.
(9) The Citizens Housing Committee shall elect annually a chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary, and any officer shall be eligible for reelection at the expiration of his or her term.
(B) Meetings of Citizens Housing Committee; quorum; minutes; bylaws; finances; subpoena power; administration of oaths.
(1) The Citizens Housing Committee shall conduct meetings at the call of the chairman, or upon written notice of an appeal of a violation notice issued by the Code Enforcement Inspector, who shall give written or oral notice to all members of the Citizens Housing Committee at least 15 days prior to the meeting; which notice shall contain the date, time, and place for the meeting, and the subject or subjects which will be discussed. Said written notice shall be posted in the City Building.
(2) A simple majority of the total membership of the Citizens Housing Committee, as established by regulation or agreement, shall constitute a quorum. Any member of the Citizens Housing Committee who has any direct or indirect financial interest in the outcome of any question before the body shall discuss the nature of the interest and shall disqualify himself or herself from voting on the question.
(3) The action of the Citizens Housing Committee shall be by motion or resolution. No motion or resolution shall be passed without the concurrence of at least three members of the Citizens Housing Committee.
(4) The Citizens Housing Committee shall adopt bylaws for the transaction of business and shall keep minutes and records of all proceedings including motions, resolutions, regulations, transactions, findings, and determinations and the number of votes for and against each question, and if any member is absent or abstains from voting, indicating the fact, all of which shall immediately after adoption, be filed in the office of the Citizens Housing Committee. A transcript of the minutes of the Citizens Housing Committee shall be provided if requested by a party, at the expense of the requesting party, and the transcript shall constitute the record.
(5) The chairperson of the Citizens Housing Committee shall have the power to administer an oath to witnesses prior to their testimony before the Committee on any issue.
(6) The chairperson of the Citizens Housing Committee shall have the power to administer an oath to witnesses prior to their testimony before the Committee on any issue.
(C) Duties, jurisdiction and responsibilities. The Citizens Housing Committee shall review all appeals of property maintenance violation notices in Chapter 1325, General Requirements of the Lebanon Codified Ordinances.
(D) Appeals procedure. The owner, or any person directly affected by a decision of the Code Enforcement Inspector based on Chapter 1325, of a premises, building, or structure aggrieved by an order of the Code Enforcement Inspector, or designee, may appeal such order or decision. Such appeal shall be in writing and shall state the refusal order or decision which is being appealed and the reason therefor. Written appeal must be made within 15 days of notification of the violation. Such appeal shall be filed with the Citizens Housing Committee who shall, within 15 days of the receipt of an appeal, call a meeting of the Citizens Housing Committee for the purpose of meeting to affirm, modify, or reverse the decision of the Code Enforcement Inspector. The appellant must be notified in writing of the meeting date, location, and time.
(E) The Board shall affirm, modify or reverse the decision of the Code Enforcement Inspector by a majority vote of the quorum. Action of the Citizens Housing Committee shall be duly recorded in its minutes, and written notice of the decision shall be furnished to the appellant.
(F) The Code Enforcement Inspector shall take immediate action in accordance with the decision of the Board.
(G) Any person, whether or not a previous party of the appeal, shall have the right to apply to the appropriate court to correct any errors of law. Application for review shall be made in the manner and time required by law following the filing of the decision of the Appeals Board.
(H) Fee for appeal. Each application for an appeal to the Citizens Housing Committee from an action of the Code Enforcement Inspector shall be accompanied by a fee of $50. All fees shall be deposited in the general fund.
(Ord. 5720, passed 8-27-85; Am. Ord. 9281, passed 3-14-06)