(A) A joint planning commission is hereby created which shall be known as the “Joint City- County Planning Commission of Ballard County, Kentucky.” Upon the appointment and subsequent approval of members, election of officers, and adoption of its by-laws, its existence shall begin subject to the provisions of KRS Chapter 100. The Commission may engage in planning operations within its jurisdiction which shall include all of the City of Barlow, the City of Kevil, the City of LaCenter, the City of Wickliffe, and the County of Ballard except where otherwise provided for by KRS Chapter 100. This Commission shall have the powers, duties and responsibilities set forth in KRS Chapter 100.
(B) The Commission shall consist of a total of 15 members with ten of the members being citizen members.
(1) Non-citizen members may be any elected official, appointed official or public employee of the cities or county.
(2) Citizen members may be any citizen who is not an elected official, appointed official or public employee of the cities or county.
(3) The Mayors and County Judge-Executive shall appoint the members of the Commission with the approval of their respective legislative bodies. The citizen members appointed by the Mayors shall be residents within the corporate limits of their respective cities and the citizen members appointed by the County Judge-Executive shall be residents of the portion of the county lying outside the boundaries of all legally incorporated cities but inside the area comprising the territorial jurisdiction of the Commission.
(4) Commission members shall be appointed according to the following:
(a) Ballard County - one non-citizen member; four citizen members.
(b) Barlow City - one non-citizen member; one citizen member.
(c) Kevil City - one non-citizen member; one citizen member.
(d) LaCenter City - one non-citizen member; two citizen members.
(e) Wickliffe City - one non-citizen member; two citizen members.
(5) The term of office of all elected public officials shall be the same as their official tenure in office. For other members, the term shall be four years, ending on February 15 of the designated year. The terms of those first appointed shall be staggered so that a proportionate number serve one, two, three and four years respectively, with later appointments or reappointments continuing the staggered pattern. All vacancies whether by resignation, dismissal or expiration of the term of office shall be filled within 60 days by the appropriate appointing authority or as otherwise provided for in KRS Chapter 100. The oath of office shall be administered to all members of the Commission before entering upon their duties. The oath shall be administered as provided by law. Any member may be removed by the appropriate appointing authority for inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or conflict of interest. The removed members shall have the right of appeal in the manner prescribed by KRS Chapter 100.
(6) Reimbursement for expenses lawfully incurred by a member in the performance of his duties may be authorized by formal action of the Commission. No member shall be compensated for his meeting time.
(7) The Commission shall elect a chairman, and any other officers which it deems necessary from among its citizen members. The term of office shall be one year with eligibility for reelection. the Commission may employ a staff as it may deem necessary for its work and may contract with professional planners and other parties for such services as it may require.
(8) The Commission shall conduct each year at least six regular meetings for the transaction of its business. The by-laws adopted by the Commission shall reflect the schedule of regular meetings. Special meetings shall be held at the call of the chairman who shall give written or oral notice to all members at least seven days prior to the meeting, which notice shall contain the date, time, place and the subject or subjects to be discussed. All members, except the Chairman, shall be entitled to vote and eight members of the total membership including the Chairman or acting Chairman shall constitute a quorum. After a quorum has been established a simple majority of that quorum can transact any official business except in those instances where there is to be an adoption or amendment of the Commission's by-laws or elements of the comprehensive plan or regulations, then a vote of the simple majority of the total membership shall be necessary. In any case of a tie vote or deadlock, the Chairman shall then have the power to vote and shall cast his vote and break such a tie or deadlock.
(9) The Commission shall adopt and approve its by-laws before it may properly transact any business. The by-laws shall set forth the procedures, rules, and regulations necessary for the Commission to conduct its business. The by-laws shall describe the method for administration of funds, and provide for an annual audit thereof.
(10) The Commission shall have general powers necessary to carry out its functions in accordance with this agreement and KRS Chapter 100. The Commission may be assigned any powers, duties and functions related to urban renewal or public housing by the legislative bodies of the participating cities or county. The Commission shall have the power to receive, hold, administer and disburse funds which it may lawfully receive from any and every source. Expenditures of such funds shall be in accordance with the formal action of the Commission, or pursuant to regulations lawfully established by the Commission. Officials, appointed officials and employees of the cities and county may be authorized and/or directed by the Mayors and the County Judge-Executive to attend meetings of the Commission, and otherwise to assist the Commission in advisory capacities, when deemed necessary by the members of the Commission. All other details of the Commission's operation which are necessary for the establishment and administration of the Commission, for the preparation of plans and for the aids to help implement the plans and shall be as described in KRS Chapter 100 and as may be amended in the future.
(Ord. 396, passed 1-1-68)