(A) Membership. The Commission shall have 16 members divided into 2 classes, and each member shall have the following qualifications, serve the terms, and be appointed as provided herein.
(1) Class I members shall be persons of outstanding ability and integrity and shall reside or have business within or not more than 1.5 miles from the corporate limits. They shall have full voting powers, be entitled to hold Commission office, and, except as otherwise herein provided, be appointed to a term of 4 years. Class I members shall not hold any municipal office or position other than the Commission membership.
(2) Class II members shall, at the time of appointment, be duly elected members of the City Council. They shall have no voting powers nor hold office of the Commission, and be appointed to a term of 4 years.
(3) Emeritus members shall have been a member in good standing or supporter of the Commission who meets the qualifications of membership who are to be recognized for their service to the community. These members are appointed for life and will have no voting power.
(4) Ex-officio members shall be appointed and a representative of a community partnership that include, but is not limited to, the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce, Litchfield School district, St. Francis Hospital/Litchfield Family Practice, and Ameren-IP.
(B) Appointments. The Mayor shall, with the consent and approval of the Council, appoint all members of the Commission, 13 of whom shall be Class I members and 3 shall be Class II members.
(C) Terms.
(1) Each term shall begin May 1 of each year and shall be staggered as in the carryover from the Industrial Commission.
(2) Members of the Commission shall serve until their successors have been named and qualified.
(D) Quorum and voting. Seven members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, and no matter coming before the Commission shall be approved unless it receives 7 affirmative votes.
(E) Vacancies. Any Class I or Class II member of the Commission missing 3 consecutive meetings of the Commission, except for cause approved by the chairperson, shall cease to be a member of the Commission and his or her term deemed vacant. The chairperson shall request the Mayor thereby entitled to appoint to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.
(1983 Code, § 17-24) (Ord. 2646, passed 12-10-1992; Am. Ord. 3146, passed 5-2-2006; Am. Ord. 3275, passed 4-6-2010)