(A) A Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA herein) is hereby created to carry out the responsibilities and exercise the authority provided in this chapter and in Public Act 184 of 1943, being M.C.L.A. §§ 125.271 through 125.301, as amended. The ZBA shall carry out its duties so that the objectives and spirit of this chapter shall be observed, public safety secured, and substantial justice done.
(B) The ZBA shall consist of three members. The first member shall also be a member of the Township Planning Commission. The remaining members of the ZBA shall be selected from the electors of the township residing outside of incorporated cities and villages. The members selected shall be representative of the population distribution and of the various interests present in the township. One member may be a member of the Township Board. An employee or contractor of the Township Board may not serve as a member of the ZBA.
(C) The compensation, if any, paid to ZBA members for discharge of their duties shall be established by resolution of the Township Board. A failure of action on the part of the Township Board in any year shall be effective action to re-establish the same compensation from the prior year.
(D) Members of the ZBA shall be removable by the Township Board for nonperformance of duty or misconduct in office upon written charges and after public hearing.
(E) The term of each member shall be three years, except for members serving by reason of membership on the Planning Commission or Township Board, in which case the terms of such members shall be concurrent with and limited to their respective terms as members of the Planning Commission or Township Board and consistent with the periods stated in the resolutions appointing such members. When members are first appointed to the ZBA, the appointments may be for less than three years in order to provide for staggered terms.
(F) Following the expiration of the term of a ZBA member, a successor shall be appointed not more than one month after the term of the proceeding member has expired.
(G) All vacancies for unexpired terms shall be filled for the remainder of the term.
(H) The Township Board may appoint not more than two alternate members of the Zoning Board of Appeals who shall serve as a member of the Board upon the call of the chairperson where a regular member is absent from or unable to attend two or more consecutive meetings of the Board or for a period of 30 consecutive days. An alternate member may also be called to serve in the place of a regular member for the purpose of reaching a decision on a case in which the regular member has abstained for reasons of conflict of interest. The alternate member having been appointed shall serve in cases he or she hears as a regular member of the Board of Appeals. Appointments of alternate members for the first year shall be for a period of one and two years respectively, thereafter each alternate member shall hold office for the full three-year term.
(I) A member shall disqualify himself or herself from all discussion and voting in which the member has a conflict of interest.
(Ord. passed 10-11-2000)