(A) Creation. There is hereby created and established a Village Tree Board which shall consist of five members, citizens and residences of the village, who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Council. Exception to the residency rule may be made in the case of a certified arborist willing to serve. One member of the Village Council shall be appointed to act as the Council’s representative for purposes of communication, but shall not be a voting member of the Village Tree Board.
(B) Term of office. The term of the five persons to be appointed by the Mayor shall be three years, except that the term of two of the members appointed to the first Board shall be for only one year, and the term of two members of the first Board shall be for two years. In the event that a vacancy shall occur during the term of any member, his or her successor shall be appointed for the unexpired portion of the term. There shall be no limit to the number of terms served by any member.
(C) Compensation. Members of the Board shall serve without compensation.
(D) Duties and responsibilities. It shall be the responsibility of the Board to study, investigate, counsel, and develop, and/or update annually, and administer a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal, or disposition of street and park trees as defined herein. Such plan will be presented annually to the Council, and upon their acceptance and approval shall constitute the official comprehensive Village Tree Plan. The Board, when requested by the Council, shall consider, investigate, make findings, report, and recommend upon any special matter of question coming within the scope of its work.
(E) Operation. The Board shall choose a Chairperson and a Secretary as its officers at its first meeting of each new year, make its own rules and regulations, and keep a journal of its proceedings. A majority of the members shall be a quorum for the transaction of business.
(F) Interference with Village Tree Board. It shall be unlawful for any person to prevent, delay, or interfere with the Village Tree Board, or any of its agents, while engaging in, and about, the planting, cultivating, mulching, pruning, spraying, or removing of any street or park trees, or trees on private grounds, as authorized in this chapter.
(Ord. 853, passed 1-20-2014) Penalty, see § 151.99