(A) Creation. There is hereby established the Historic Preservation Commission of the City of New Albany, Indiana (hereinafter referred to as the "Preservation Commission").
(B) Composition. The Preservation Commission shall consist of not less than three, nor more than nine, voting members. The membership may be expanded beyond the maximum nine members only upon amendment of this chapter by the Common Council. The voting members shall be residents of the city who are interested in the preservation and development of historic areas. Each designated historic district shall nominate a member from its Board of Directors to serve as a full voting member of the Preservation Commission. The member shall enjoy the same privileges and responsibilities as any other member of the Preservation Commission. No voting member of the Preservation Commission may transfer his or her right to vote by proxy to any other individual. The members of the Preservation Commission should include professionals in the disciplines of architectural history, planning and other disciplines related to historic preservation, to the extent that those professionals are available in the community. Nonvoting, advisory members may be appointed to the Preservation Commission by the Mayor with the approval of the Common Council. Preservation Commission members shall serve without compensation, except for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(C) Term. Voting members shall serve for a term of three years; however, the initial terms of the members shall be for one year, two years and three years, in order for the terms to be staggered. The term for nonvoting, advisory members shall be three years. A vacancy shall be filled within 90 days for the duration of the vacated membership.
(D) Commission Administrator. An Administrator designated by the Mayor shall serve as the ex-officio Administrator of the Preservation Commission. The Administrator shall also provide staff assistance to the Preservation Commission, act as the Commission's Secretary and issue certificates of appropriateness as directed by the Preservation Commission.
(E) Officers. The Historic Preservation Commission shall elect from its voting membership a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary (if the Commission is without an Administrator) who shall serve for one year and who may be re-elected.
(F) Rules. The Preservation Commission shall adopt rules consistent with the chapter for the transaction of its business. The rules must include the time and place of regular meetings and a procedure for the calling of special meetings.
(G) Meetings. It shall be necessary for the Historic Preservation Commission to have a quorum to conduct any official business. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the total number of the members of the Preservation Commission. The Preservation Commission meetings must be open to the public in accordance with Indiana's Open Door Law, being I.C. 5-14-1.5, and a public record shall be kept of the Preservation Commission's resolutions, proceedings and actions. The Preservation Commission shall hold regular meetings, at least monthly, except when it has no business pending. Special meetings may be called in a manner determined by the Preservation Commission and its rules.
(Ord. G-99-334, passed 6-28-1999)