(A) Established. There is hereby created a Zoning Board of Appeals, which shall perform its duties and exercise its powers and jurisdiction, as provided in the Zoning Act, being M.C.L.A. §§ 125.3101 et seq., and by certain provisions of this subchapter; to the end that the objectives of this subchapter are observed, public safety, morals, and general welfare secured, and substantial justice done.
(B) Membership.
(1) The Zoning Board of Appeals shall consist of five members appointed in accordance with the requirements of the Zoning Act, being M.C.L.A. §§ 125.3101 et seq. The term of each member shall be three years and until a successor has been appointed and qualified, which successor must be appointed not more than one month after the expiration of the preceding term.
(2) One member of the Board shall be a member of the Planning Commission. One member of the Township Board may also be a member of the Board. Members from the Township Board and from the Planning Commission shall have terms limited to their respective other official terms or to such lesser period determined by resolution of the Township Board at the time of appointment.
(3) No employee of the township shall be a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
(4) Vacancies of the Board for unexpired terms shall be filled for the remainder of the term.
(5) Members of the Board may be removed by the Township Board for misconduct in office upon written charges and after public hearing.
(C) Alternate members.
(1) The Township Board may appoint not more than two alternate members to the Zoning Board of Appeals for the same term as regular members. If two alternate members have been appointed, they may be called on a rotating basis, as they are available to sit as regular members of the Zoning Board of Appeals in the absence of a regular member.
(2) An alternate member may also be called to serve in the place of a regular member when such member has abstained for reasons of conflict of interest or in the case of an absence of 30 days or more, or absence from two or more consecutive meetings. The alternate member having been appointed shall serve in the case until a final decision has been made.
(3) The alternate member shall have the same voting rights as a regular member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. An alternate member shall only serve to discuss or vote upon a case in the absence of or upon the declaration of a conflict of interest of a regular member.
(D) Procedures. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall fix rules and regulations to govern its procedures.
(E) Quorum. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall not conduct business unless a majority of the membership of the Zoning Board of Appeals is present, including alternates when sitting as a regular member.
(Ord. passed 7-30-2015)