§ 27-3. Establishment, membership, terms, vacancies, compensation, ethics.

A. 

There is hereby established an Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission for the Town of North Hempstead.

B. 

The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the Town Board.

C. 

All Commission members shall have a demonstrated interest in competence in or knowledge of historic preservation. The Town Historian shall serve as a permanent member of the Commission. At least one member shall be an attorney at law licensed by the State of New York. At least two members shall be architects licensed by the State of New York with experience in working with historic buildings.

D. 

The Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development, or a designee, shall be an ex officio nonvoting member of the Commission and shall provide staff for the Commission for the purpose of conducting and/or coordinating studies and research and providing other material and information necessary for the Commission to exercise its powers and duties.

E. 

Each member shall serve for a term of three years, except for the first appointments to the Commission, of whom two shall serve for three years, two shall serve for two years and two shall serve for one year. All members shall continue to hold office until their successors have been appointed and qualified. Whenever a vacancy occurs, the Town Board shall appoint a person with the requisite qualifications to fill the unexpired term of the former member.

F. 

The Supervisor shall annually designate one of the appointed members of the Commission to serve as its Chair. The Commission members shall annually designate a Vice Chair, who shall act as the Chair in the absence of the Chair. The Chair and the Vice Chair shall continue to serve in their positions until their successors shall have been appointed.

G. 

The Commissioner, or a designee, shall serve as the Executive Secretary. The Executive Secretary shall not be a member of the Commission. The Executive Secretary shall provide for minutes of the proceedings of the Commission to be kept, including a record of the vote of each member upon every question, or if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact, and shall maintain permanent records of all Commission meetings, hearings and proceedings and all correspondence of the Commission. The Executive Secretary shall provide for keeping a file of all records of the Commission, and such records shall be public records open to inspection at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice.

H. 

The members of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but may be fully reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, provided the Town's budget shall include monies for such purpose.

I. 

The Commission shall set meeting dates and adopt such procedures pertaining to its duties as are necessary for it to properly perform its functions as set forth herein and as are consistent with the laws of the Town.

J. 

Four members shall constitute a quorum, and actions may be taken by a majority of members present and voting, except that the affirmative vote of at least four voting members shall be required to recommend designation of an historic landmark or historic landmark district or to recommend rescission of such a designation.

K. 

Commission members shall be familiar with and shall be governed by Chapter 16A of the Code of the Town of North Hempstead, entitled “Ethics, Code of.”

L. 

A member who misses two consecutive meetings without an excuse may, upon a recommendation adopted by a majority of the voting members of the Commission, be removed from office by the Town Board.