(A) Creation of Board. There is hereby created the Whitesboro Preservation Board which shall function according to the laws of the state, the charter of the city and the provisions of this section.
(B) Purpose of Board. The purpose of the Whitesboro Preservation Board shall be to:
(1) Promote community pride and combat community deterioration;
(2) Preserve, rehabilitate, maintain, manage and promote the use of buildings of historic and/or architectural significance;
(3) Educate the public to the cultural, historic and economic benefits to the community for the protection and perpetuation of buildings which reflect elements of the area's cultural, social, economic, and architectural history; and
(4) Advise the city as to the most advantageous use of and best operation of the property received by the city from the estate of Mona Sullivan and to make recommendations to the City Council as to the administration of the Sullivan property, including formulating such rules as it may deem necessary for the orderly use of the Sullivan property.
(5) The Board shall be responsible for and shall establish procedures for the use and rental of the Sullivan property, subject to Council approval, which procedures shall not discriminate against any person, organization or entity because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. The Board shall do and perform such other acts and duties as it may be called upon to perform by the City Manager/Administrator or the City Council.
(6) The Board is purely advisory in nature and shall function in an advisory capacity to the Council. Nevertheless, the Board may do and perform such administrative functions as may be delegated by the Council.
(C) Appointment of Board members.
(1) The Board shall consist of seven members appointed by the City Council with one appointee, in so far as possible, from each of the following five civic organizations, which have expressed interest in the Board: Contemporary Woman’s Club; GFWC History Club of Whitesboro; Kiwanis Club of Whitesboro; Masonic Lodge; and PEO Chapter A. If these organizations are unavailable to furnish a representative of the Board, the City Council may designate a representative from a similar interest civic organization or any resident of the city.
(2) At least two members of the Board shall be residents of the city. The City Administrator, or designee, and a Whitesboro Chamber of Commerce Board member shall be a non-voting ex officio member.
(D) Terms of Board members. The members of the Board shall serve staggered two-year terms of office, and serve at the pleasure of the Council. Vacancies in office shall be filled by appointment by the Council. Vacancies in office shall be filled by appointment by the Council for the remainder of the unexpired term(s) of office.
(E) Selection of officers.
After initial appointments of the Board, and thereafter at least annually, the Board shall select one of its members to serve as President for a term of one year. The members shall also select a Vice Preseident to serve during the absence of the President. All records of the Board shall be kept and maintained by the city secretary in accordance with the city’s adopted records retention schedule.
(F) Financial matters. The Board shall recommend to the Council an annual budget for restoration, improvements and maintenance of the Sullivan Property and other city-owned historical sites in the city. The Board’s proposed budget shall be presented to the Council for consideration and approval as part of the city’s annual budget. The Board shall also have authority to seek gifts, donations and grants to the city for the purpose of acquiring, restoring, maintaining and operating such buildings or other properties as the Board may identify as being historic, economic, cultural or social importance to the city. Any such funds or services actually received by the city shall be designated as restricted funds to be used only for the purposes provided in this section.
(G) Meetings and rules of procedure of Board. The Board shall meet at least quarterly or more often as necessary in order to satisfy the purposes of this section. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board, and in the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside. The Board shall adopt such rules of procedure as are consistent with the orderly conduct of business. All meetings of the Board shall be conducted in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, as amended.
(H) Quorum. A quorum of the Preservation Board shall be a majority of the appointed membership.
(I) Limitations. The Whitesboro Preservation Board shall have no power to obligate the city except upon recommendation to and approval by the City Council.
(Ord. 779, passed 6-11-96; Am. Ord. 1220, passed - -)