(A) Creation and purpose. There is created a Community Development Department, an executive department of the Village. The Community Development Department shall be under the jurisdiction and control of the Village Manager. The Community Development Department shall provide for the administration and coordination of all economic and land development, planning and zoning issues and related activities within the Village.
(B) Composition. The Community Development Department shall be composed of such officials, deputies, assistants and employees, including supervisors, inspectors, clerks, project assistants and other employees as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Department and as may be financed by the President and Board of Trustees in the annual budget of the Village.
(C) Director of Community Development. The head and direct supervisor of the Community Development Department shall be known as the Director of Community Development. The Director of Community Development shall be appointed by the Village Manager and shall be an official of the Village. The Director of Community Development shall report directly to the Village Manager. The duties and responsibilities of the Director of Community Development shall include oversight of the economic and land development, planning and zoning activities of the Village, as set forth in more detail below. All of the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Director of Community Development as set forth below may be performed by the Director of Community Development, in his or her discretion, or may be performed at his or her direction. A bond shall be posted and paid for by the Village on behalf of the Director of Community Development in an amount to be determined by the Village Manager at the time of his or her appointment.
(D) Powers, duties and responsibilities. The powers, duties and responsibilities of the Director of Community Development, and his or her subordinates, shall be under the supervision and at the direction of the Village Manager, and shall include, but are not limited to:
(1) Oversight of all planning and zoning matters, including, but not limited to:
(a) General oversight of all planning activities within the Village, including the development and periodic updating of a comprehensive plan for the Village.
(b) Enforcing the zoning regulations adopted by the Village.
(c) Providing public information on the provisions of the Village zoning regulations.
(d) Processing and forwarding to the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals all applications for appeals, variations, special uses, map or text amendments, or other matters on which the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals is required to review pursuant to law, this Code, or the Village’s zoning regulations.
(e) Reviewing and preparing recommendations on all matters going before the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals and otherwise assisting the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals in the administration of its duties and responsibilities.
(f) Maintaining possession of appropriate records and files pertaining to the zoning regulations of the Village, including, but not limited to, zoning maps, amendments, special uses, variations, and appeals.
(g) Acting as Zoning Administrator and carrying out the powers and duties of the Zoning Administrator as set forth in the Village’s zoning regulations.
(2) Oversight of all economic development activities within the Village, including but not limited to:
(a) Monitoring all new residential, commercial and industrial development within the Village.
(b) Planning, managing and developing programs related to residential, commercial and industrial redevelopment within the Village.
(c) Activities related to protecting and strengthening the character of the residential, commercial and industrial areas located within the Village.
(d) Oversight of properties owned by the Village and coordinating the acquisition and/or transference of same.
(e) Striving to have properties placed back onto the tax rolls and/or to otherwise become economically productive.
(3) Oversight of all community development functions and grant activities related to community development within the Village, including, but not limited to:
(a) Investigation of matters pertaining to community development and federal and state grant aid programs.
(b) Preparation of applications and supporting documentation regarding requests to federal and state agencies for funds for local housing and community development needs, and at the authorization of the President and Board, to file such applications as may be required.
(c) Carrying out activities related to housing and housing rehabilitation.
(d) Supervising the inspection of substandard housing, the preparation of cost estimates, and the preparation of rehabilitation job specifications.
(e) Reviewing and recommending to the President and Board of Trustees or other appropriate Village body approval of loans and grants related to community development and rehabilitation.
(f) Submitting to the appropriate funding agencies such reports as may be required quarterly, semi-annually, annually, biannually, and the like. Such reports include any reports required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. A copy of all periodical reports shall also be submitted to the President and Board of Trustees.
(4) Other miscellaneous duties, including, but not limited to:
(a) Keeping all records of transactions of the Community Development Department, including all records required by federal and state funding agencies, all financial records, records and files related to applications for rehabilitation loans and grants, and other such records as may be necessary for the efficient operation of the Department.
(b) Oversight and management of all environmental Brownfield areas within the Village.
(c) Managing the registration of landlords pursuant to § 150.100 of the Village Code.
(d) The performance of any other duties at the direction of the Director of Community Development.
(E) At-will employee. Notwithstanding wording contained in other parts of the Village Code, the Director of Community Development is an at-will employee and shall serve at the pleasure of the Village Manager.
(1997 Code, § 3.23) (Res. R-77-15, passed - -; Am. Ord. C0-07-25, passed 6-5-2007; Am. Ord. CO-09-27, passed 10-6-2009; Am. Ord. CO-2013-24, passed 4-16-2013; Am. Ord. CO-2014-04, passed 1-21-2014; Am. Ord. 2018- 04, passed 2-6-2018; Am. Ord. CO-2021-19, passed 8-17-2021; Am. Ord. CO-2021-21, passed 8-17-2021)