Sec. 14-4.1. - Guidelines and rules of procedure.

Historic district commission may establish rules of procedure consistent with the following: (1)

The chairperson shall preside over all commission meetings and shall have the right to vote.

(2)

The vice-chairperson shall, in the case of absence or disability of the chairperson, perform the duties of the chairperson.

(3)

The secretary or his/her designee shall keep a record of all historic district commission proceedings, resolutions and actions, and shall provide a copy of such record to the office of the town clerk where it shall be kept on file for public inspection.

(4)

At least four members of the historic district commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of its business.

(5)

The concurring vote of a majority of the members participating in a hearing shall be necessary for approval of any application and for establishing or modifying commission guidelines and rules for procedure. The historic district commission may delegate to a single member of its staff the authority to issue a certificate of appropriateness in certain circumstances, as such circumstances are defined in the rules of procedure as adopted or amended by the historic district commission at a public hearing. The staff may not deny a certificate of appropriateness, but shall refer such action to the historic district commission for a hearing.

(6)

The town solicitor or a designated assistant solicitor shall attend, when requested by the town council or commission, meetings of the historic district commission, but shall not have a vote, nor shall the solicitor's absence prohibit the historic district commission from taking any action otherwise authorized by this chapter.

(7)

The rules of procedure established by the historic district commission must provide for:

a.

The time and place of holding regular historic district commission meetings;

b.

The calling of special meetings by the chairperson or by at least two other members of the historic district commission;

c.

The adoption of forms and written guidelines for all applications; and,

d.

The adoption of standard certificates for the approval or rejection of applications submitted to the historic district commission for review.

(8)

All meetings of the historic district commission shall be open to the public, and all citizens or their duly constituted representatives shall be entitled to appear and be heard on any matter before the commission before it reaches its decision.

(9)

The commission shall provide notice of its meetings and comply in all respects with the requirements of the Open Meetings Act. Agendas for all regular historic district commission meetings shall be posted at least one week in advance in town hall and in a newspaper of general circulation in the town in the week prior to such meetings.

(10)

The commission shall keep a record, which shall be open to public view, of its resolutions, proceedings, findings, decisions and actions.

(Ord. No. 2003-14, 8-6-03; Ord. No. 2010-02, 2-17-10)