(A) Establishment. A Zoning Board of Adjustment is hereby established for the purpose of interpreting the zoning provisions of this chapter, hearing applications for appeals and variances from them, and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to it by the Township Committee.
(B) Membership.
(1) The Township Committee shall appoint seven members of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and may appoint two members, who shall be designated "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2".
(a) Members and alternates of the Zoning Board of Adjustment existent under the prior zoning ordinance shall retain their membership and their terms shall continue until their term would have expired under the prior ordinance.
(b) New appointments to the Zoning Board of Adjustment shall be for a term of four years for members and two years for alternates; except in the case of a vacancy created by the resignation or removal of a member or alternate, the appointment shall be for the duration of the unexpired term.
(c) No member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment may hold any elective office or position within the township.
(2) Members and alternates shall not participate in any hearing in which they have, either directly or indirectly, any personal or financial interest.
(3) Any member or alternate may, after public hearing if he or she requests it, be removed by the Township Committee for cause.
(4) The Zoning Board of Adjustment shall organize annually and elect a chairman and vice-chairman from its members.
(5) The Zoning Board of Adjustment shall select a secretary who may or may not be a member or a municipal employee.
(6) Alternate members.
(a) Alternate members may participate in discussions of the proceedings but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member.
(b) A vote shall not be delayed to permit the voting of an absent regular member.
(c) In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote.
(7) Substitute members. If the Zoning Board of Adjustment lacks a quorum because any of its regular or alternate members is prohibited from acting on a matter due the member's personal or financial interests therein, Class IV members of the Planning Board shall be called upon to serve, for that matter only, as temporary members of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The Class IV members of the Planning Board shall be chosen in order of seniority of continuous service to the Planning Board until there are the minimum number of members necessary to constitute a quorum to act upon the matter. If a choice has to be made between Class IV members of equal seniority, the Chairperson of the Planning Board shall make the choice.
(Ord. 945-99, passed 9-13-99)