[Amended 8-9-2010 by Ord. No. 49-2010; 8-23-2010 by Ord. No. 62-2010; 10-9-2023 by Ord. No. 89-2023]
There is hereby established a "Blighted Property Review Committee" (hereinafter "Committee").
A. Duties. The Committee will be responsible for the certification to the Redevelopment Authority of all properties deemed to be vacant or abandoned.
B. Membership. The Committee shall be composed of not less than five members and two alternates who shall served without compensation. The Committee shall include at least one member of the governing body, a representative of the Redevelopment Authority, a representative of the Planning Commission, two citizen representatives of the City of Reading, one appointed by the Mayor and one appointed by Council, and two alternates appointed by Council. The citizen representative shall be nominated by the Mayor. In the event mayoral nomination does not occur, Council may appoint unfilled positions. All citizen members shall be approved by Council.
C. Terms. The term of each member shall be for a period of four years and until his or her successor is appointed. A member may be reappointed upon expiration of his or her term. The position of any member of the Committee appointed in his or her capacity as a member of the governing body, representative of the Redevelopment Authority, representative of the Planning Commission, representative designated by the Mayor, who ceases to be so engaged shall be automatically considered vacant. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term. [Amended 10-22-2012 by Ord. No. 106-2010]
D. Organization of the Committee. The Committee shall establish its own bylaws, establish offices, and elect officers from its own membership. For the conduct of any meeting and the taking of any action, a quorum shall be not less than a majority of the Committee as a whole. For the purpose of this Part, the Committee will be able to begin holding meetings as soon as a majority of the members have been appointed and approved by Council. Any action taken at any meeting shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the Committee as a whole. No member of the Committee shall be permitted to take part in the discussion or vote on any property in which said member has any financial interest, direct or indirect. The Committee shall keep full public records of its business and shall submit a report of its activities to City Council at least once a year.
E. Removal of members. Any member may be removed for misconduct or neglect of duty or for other just cause by a majority vote of Council taken after the member has received 15 days' advance notice of the intent to take such vote. Failure of a member to attend three consecutive regular meetings of the Committee will constitute grounds for immediate removal from the Committee by City Council. Failure of a member to attend at least 50% of the regular meetings of the Committee in a calendar year will constitute grounds for immediate removal from the Committee by City Council. The Chairperson of the Committee shall inform the City Clerk in writing when a member has failed to comply with this attendance policy. Following such notification, City Council may vote to remove the member and seek applicants to fill the vacant position.
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F. Expenditure for services. City Council may appropriate funds for legal, secretarial, clerk, consultant, and other technical assistance, and for the acquisition and maintenance of blighted properties, and any other such expenses incurred in the pursuit of achieving the aims of this Part.
13. Editor's Note: Amended during codification (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Part 2).