A. Appointment. The McHenry County Board shall, by ordinance, appoint members to the McHenry County Historic Preservation Commission from recommendations submitted by the presiding officer of the McHenry County Board as per Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, Ch. 34, Par. 5-30012.
B. Composition.
1. The Commission shall consist of nine members. All members shall be residents of McHenry County. The presiding officer of the McHenry County Board shall make every reasonable effort to nominate to the Commission at least one attorney, one historian or architectural historian, one architect and/or engineer and one real estate professional knowledgeable in preservation; the other members shall be persons with a demonstrated interest in pre-history, history or architecture.
2. In addition to the nine voting members, the Director of the McHenry County Department of Planning or a designee shall serve as an ex-officio, nonvoting member of the Commission and shall be responsible for providing staff support, upon approval of, and as deemed appropriate by the Planning and Development Committee of the McHenry County Board. The Executive Director of the McHenry County Conservation District or a designee shall also serve as an ex-officio, nonvoting member of the Commission.
C. Terms. Terms of the initial members shall be staggered so that at least five serve respectively for the following terms: one for one year, one for two years; one for three years; one for four years; and one for five years. Any additional initial members shall also serve terms staggered in the same sequence. Successors to initial members shall serve for five-year terms. All ex-officio members shall serve the term of their elected or appointed office. All members shall serve until their successors are appointed.
D. Officers. One of the appointed members shall be appointed chairman by the McHenry County Board at the time of appointment and vice-chairman and secretary shall be elected by the Commission. The chairman shall preside over meetings. In the absence of the chairman, the vice-chairman shall perform the duties of the chairman. If both the chairman and the vice-chairman are absent, a temporary chairman shall be elected by those present. The secretary shall ensure that the following duties are performed:
1. That minutes are taken of each Commission meeting;
2. That copies of the minutes, reports and decisions of the Commission be published and distributed to the members of the Commission and the McHenry County Board;
3. That the McHenry County Board Chairman is advised of vacancies on the Commission and expiring terms of members;
4. That there be prepared and submitted to the McHenry County Board a complete record of the proceedings before the Commission on any matters requiring McHenry County Board consideration; and
5. That the notice of public hearing shall be in accordance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
E. Vacancies. Vacancies shall be filled by the McHenry County Board from recommendations submitted by the presiding officer of the McHenry County Board. Any Commission member may be removed by the McHenry County Board for cause after a hearing and recommendation on the matter by the Planning and Development Committee to the McHenry County Board.
F. Rules and Procedures. The McHenry County Historic Preservation Commission shall have the authority to develop and adopt rules and procedures necessary to carry out its functions under the provisions of this chapter. These rules and procedures shall be reviewed by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office and acknowledged by the McHenry County Board. A copy shall be kept on file in the McHenry County Clerk’s office.
G. Meetings.
1. Meetings of the Commission shall be held no less than monthly, except in those months when no business is pending, and shall be held at such times and places within the county as the Commission shall decide. All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the public. The Commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing a vote of each member upon every question, or if absent or failing to vote, and shall also keep records of its official actions. Such minutes and records shall be open to the public for inspection and maintained at offices of the McHenry County Department of Planning. Notification of meeting dates and times will be in accordance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
2. A quorum shall consist of five members. The transaction of business shall be made by a majority vote of those members in attendance while a quorum is present, except that the adoption, modification or decision of any rule or part thereof shall require the affirmative vote of five members.
3. No member shall vote on any matter that may materially or apparently affect the property, income or business interest of that member.
H. Compensation. The members shall serve without compensation, but they shall be reimbursed for their expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties as such.
I. Annual Report. The Commission shall submit an annual report of its activities to the McHenry County Board.
(Ord. O-9110-1200-49, Art. 2, § 1, passed 10-15-1991)