(1) The Board of Property Assessment Appeals ("Board of Appeals" or "Board") is hereby created, effective immediately.
(2) The Board of Appeals shall consist of seven members, all of whom shall be residents of the City. Two of the members shall have at least ten years' experience as, and currently be, a real estate appraiser or real estate assessor certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and two of the other members shall have at least ten years' experience as a practicing attorney at law with residential or commercial valuation expertise. The remaining members shall have relevant qualifications, so long as at least one is a homeowner and/or commercial property owner within the City.
(3) The members of the Board of Appeals shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of a majority of all the members of the Council, from among the nominations submitted to the Mayor by the Board of Property Assessment Appeals Nominating Panel.
(4) Except as provided for initial terms, members shall be appointed to terms of five years. Members shall serve until their successors have been appointed and qualified, except that all appointments to fill vacancies happening in any manner other than by the expiration of a term shall be only for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(5) Of the seven members first appointed, one shall be appointed to a term of two years, two shall be appointed to terms of three years, two shall be appointed to terms of four years, and two shall be appointed to terms of five years. Initial terms shall begin on October 1, 2010.
(6) Members may only be removed for cause. To remove a member, the Mayor shall present the member with a written statement of the reasons proposed for removal. The Mayor shall forward a copy of such statement to the Council. If the member wishes to contest removal, the member shall, within ten days after receiving the written statement from the Mayor, notify in writing the Mayor and the President of Council. The Council shall promptly thereafter provide the member an opportunity for a hearing before the Council. Following such hearing, or if the member waives the opportunity for a hearing, Council may remove the member by a resolution adopted by the vote of two-thirds of all the members of the Council.
(7) The Board of Appeals shall by majority vote select a Chair, a Vice-Chair and a Secretary from among its members.
(8) Except as Council may otherwise ordain from time to time, the Chair of the Board of Appeals shall receive an annual salary of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), the Secretary shall receive an annual salary of forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000), and each remaining member of the Board shall receive one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for each day the member attends a Board hearing or meeting or both, up to a maximum of forty thousand dollars ($40,000) per year.
(9) The Board of Appeals shall retain such employees as are required to conduct the work of the Board.