(A) Establishment. An Historical Commission of the village is hereby established and composed of a Chairperson, Secretary, and seven members.
(1) The Chairperson and seven members shall be appointed by the Mayor, by and with the consent of the Board of Trustees.
(2) The members of the Historic District Commission shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Board of Trustees. The Chairman of the Commission shall be designated by the President with the advice and consent of the Board of Trustees. A Commissioner having been duly appointed shall continue to serve after the expiration of his term or until his successor has been appointed. All terms shall be for one year and shall expire on April 30. Vacancies shall be filled by appointments for unexpired terms only.
(3) The Historic Preservation Commission shall hold meetings at regular intervals established at the beginning of each year, and in no event less than four times each year. Additional meetings may be scheduled from time to time upon the call of the Chairperson.
(4) All meetings of the Historic Preservation Commission shall be open to the public, except as authorized by the provisions of the State Open Meetings Act. Official minutes shall be kept available for public inspection.
(5) A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Historic Preservation Commission. All decisions or actions shall be made by a majority vote of those members present and voting at any meeting where a quorum exists.
(6) No action shall be taken by the Historic Preservation Commission that could in any manner hinder or cause undue hardship on the part of a property owner relating to the property's use, modification, maintenance, disposition, or demolition until the owner has received due notice and has had an opportunity to be heard at a public meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission. The Chairperson may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses.
(B) Powers and duties. The Historic Preservation Commission shall have the power and duty to:
(1) Adopt its own procedural regulations;
(2) Conduct an ongoing survey and inventory of historically or architecturally significant properties, buildings, structures, and areas within the village that exemplify the architectural, social, cultural, economic, and political history of the village, state, or nation;
(3) Investigate and recommend to the Board of Trustees the adoption of ordinances designating properties, buildings, structures, or areas having special historical, architectural, community, or aesthetic interest or value as "landmarks" or "historic districts";
(4) To investigate and recommend to the Board of Trustees the acceptance of any gifts of property, either as easements, development rights, or in fee, transferred to the village by any entity for the purpose of preserving properties, buildings, structures, or areas;
(5) Administer on behalf of the village, by means of annual inspections and reports of condition, all properties, easements, or development rights transferred to the village for the purpose of preservation;
(6) Keep a register of all properties and structures that have been designated as landmarks or historic districts, including all information required for each designation;
(7) Maintain an archive of preservation-related documents, and keep it available in the Clerk's office for public use;
(8) Determine an appropriate system of street signs and make recommendations for the design and implementation of specific street signs on routes leading from one landmark or historic district to another;
(9) Advise and assist owners of landmarks and buildings, property, or structures within historic districts on physical and financial aspects of preservation, renovation, rehabilitation, and reuse, and on procedures for inclusion in the National and State Registers of Historic Places;
(10) Nominate landmarks and historic districts to the State and National Registers of Historic Places;
(11) Inform and educate the citizens of the village concerning the historic and architectural heritage of the village by publishing appropriate maps, newsletters, brochures, and pamphlets, and by holding programs and seminars;
(12) Develop specific design guidelines for the alteration, construction, or removal of landmarks, property, and structures within historic districts;
(13) Review proposed zoning amendments, applications for special use permits, or applications for zoning variances that affect proposed or designated landmarks and historic districts;
(14) Call upon available village staff members, as well as other experts, for technical advice;
(15) Appoint such citizen advisory committees as may be required from time to time, to reach the goals set forth hereunder;
(16) Testify before all boards and commissions on any matter affecting historically and architecturally significant property, structures, and areas;
(17) Confer recognition upon the owners of landmarks, property, or structures within historic districts by means of certificates, plaques, or markers; and
(18) Undertake any other action or activity necessary or appropriate to the implementation of its powers and duties or to the implementation of the purpose of this chapter.
(Ord. 88-0-029, passed 5-17-88; Am. Ord. 94-0-037, passed 6-21-94; Am. Ord. 95-0-061, passed 8-28-95)