(A) Creation. There is hereby established the Historic Preservation Commission of the City of New Castle, Indiana (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission").
(B) Composition. The Commission shall consist of seven voting members. The voting members shall be appointed by the Mayor subject to the approval of the Council and shall be residents of the city who are interested in the preservation and development of historic areas. The members of the 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 member(s) may be appointed to the Commission by the Mayor with approval by the City Council. 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 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 for three years. A vacancy shall be filled within 90 days for the duration of the term.
(D) Commission Administrator. The Building Inspector shall serve as the ex-officio Administrator of the Commission. The Administrator shall provide staff assistance to the Commission, act as the Commission's secretary, and issue certificates of appropriateness as directed by the Commission.
(E) Officers. The Commission shall elect from its membership a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Treasurer who shall serve for one year and who may be reelected.
(F) Rules. The Commission shall adopt rules consistent with this 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. Commission meetings must be open to the public in accordance with Indiana's Open Door Law and a public record shall be kept of the Commission's resolutions, proceedings, and actions. The 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 Commission and its rules.
(Ord. 3431, passed 6-6-05)