(A) There is hereby created and established a Village Tree Board for the village, which shall consist of at least three members, who shall be residents of the village, and a village employee for the Village Board of Trustees, of which one shall be named Village Forester with Village Tree Board voting privileges. All Village Tree Board members shall be appointed by the Chairperson with the consent of the Board of Trustees.
(B) The term of the Village Tree Board appointees shall be three years, except that the terms of two of the members appointed to the first board shall be for only two years, and the term of one member of the first board shall be for one year. In the event that a vacancy shall occur during the term of any member, the replacement shall be appointed by the Chairperson with the consent of the Board of Trustees for the unexpired portion of the term.
(C) Members of the Village Tree Board shall serve without salary but can, with prior approval of the Board of Trustees, be reimbursed for expenses.
(D) (1) It shall be the responsibility of the Village Tree Board to study, investigate, counsel and develop and/or update annually, and administer a written plan for the care, including planting, culture, preservation, pruning, replanting, removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, streets, alleys and other lands owned or managed by the village. Such plan will be presented annually to the Village Board of Trustees and, upon its acceptance and approval, shall constitute the official comprehensive village tree plan.
(2) The Village Tree Board, when requested by the Board of Trustees, shall consider, investigate, make findings, report and recommend back to the Board of Trustees any matter of question coming within the scope of its work as defined in this section.
(E) The Village Tree Board shall choose its own officers, make its own regulations and rules and keep a journal of its proceedings. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Quarterly meetings shall be conducted at a minimum and shall be public meetings with prior notice publicized.
(F) The Board of Trustees shall have the right to review the conduct, acts and decisions of the Village Tree Board. Any person may appeal any ruling or order of the Village Tree Board to the Board of Trustees which may sustain, reverse or modify the acts and decisions of the Village Tree Board.
(Prior Code, § 2-204)