(A) Establishment. There is hereby established the Historic Preservation Commission of the City of Westfield, Indiana (hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”).
(B) Composition; appointment. The Commission shall consist of five voting members. The voting members shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of the City Council, and shall be residents of the city who are interested in the preservation and development of historic areas. The members of the Commission should include professionals in the disciplines of architectural history, planning and other disciplines related to historic preservation, to the extent that those professionals are available in the community. Up to four nonvoting, advisory member(s) may be appointed to the Commission by the Mayor with approval by the City Council. Commission members shall serve without compensation, except for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(C) Term. Voting members shall each serve for a term of three years; however, the terms of original voting members shall be for one year, two years and three years in order for the terms to be staggered. The term for nonvoting, advisory members shall be for three years. A vacancy shall be filled within 90 days for the duration of the term.
(D) Commission Administrator. A City Administrator designated by the Mayor shall serve as the ex officio Administrator of the Commission. The Administrator shall provide staff assistance to the Commission, act as the Commission’s secretary, and issue certificates of appropriateness as directed by the Commission.
(E) Officers. The Commission shall elect from its membership a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, and a Treasurer, who shall serve for one year and who may be reelected. The Commission Administrator shall serve as the Commission’s secretary.
(F) Rules. The Commission shall adopt rules consistent with this subchapter for the transaction of its business. The rules must include the time and place of regular meetings and a procedure for the calling of special meetings. All rules shall first be presented to the Council and shall not be effective until approved by Council.
(G) Meetings. All Commission meetings must be open to the public and a public record must be kept of the Commission’s resolutions, proceedings and actions. The Commission shall hold tegular meetings, at least monthly, except when it has no business pending. Special meetings may be called in a manner determined by the Commission and its rules.
(Ord. 22-09, passed 7-11-2022)