(a) Organization. There is hereby created and established a Board of Zoning Appeals which shall consist of five electors of the Municipality not holding other municipal office or employment. All members shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the members of Council, for terms of three years each, except that of the five members appointed for the term beginning January 1, 1962, two members shall be appointed for a term of one year, two for a term of two years, and one for a term of three years. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the manner authorized for an original appointment. Any member may be removed for cause by a vote of five members of Council after a public hearing.
The Board shall elect a Chairman at its first meeting in January of each year and shall cause to be kept a journal of its proceedings. All meetings of the Board shall be open to the public and shall be held at the call of the Chairman at such times as the Board may determine.
(b) Powers and Duties. The Board of Zoning Appeals shall have the following duties and powers:
(1) To approve or disapprove materials, types of construction, appliances, devices or appurtenances proposed for use pursuant to the Building Code of the Municipality.
(2) To hear and decide appeals made for exceptions to and variances in, the application of resolutions, ordinances, regulations, measures and orders of administrative officials or agencies governing zoning and building in the Municipality, as may be required to afford justice and avoid unreasonable hardship, subject to such procedures as shall be established by Council and subject further to such reasonable standards as shall be prescribed by Council, including, but not limited to, the existence of practical difficulties
or unnecessary hardships in the strict interpretation of the aforesaid ordinances, resolutions, regulations, measures or orders provided that the granting of such exception or variance will be in harmony with the general purpose and intent thereof.
(3) To formulate and submit to the Council proposed changes in and amendments to the Building Code which the Board determines desirable for the proper regulation of the construction of buildings and structures and the equipment thereof.
(4) To keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon every question, or if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact, and to keep records of its examinations and other official actions. Every order, requirement, decision or determination of the Board shall immediately be filed in the office of the Board and shall be a public record. The meetings of the Board shall be open to the public.
(5) To do and perform such other duties and functions as may be imposed upon it by ordinances and resolutions of the Council.