(a) A municipality enacting an ordinance pursuant to this chapter, may elect to create an architectural review board, hereinafter sometimes called the board, to perform the duties and responsibilities of the historic preservation commission in accepting, considering and approving or rejecting applications for certificates of appropriateness, as set out in Sections 11-68-9 through 11-68-12.
(b) If such board is created, it shall be composed of not less than five members who shall have demonstrated training or experience in the fields of history, architecture, architectural history, urban planning, archaeology, or law. Members of the board need not be residents of the territorial jurisdiction of the municipality creating the board. No member of a municipal governing body shall serve as members of the board.
(c) Members of the board shall be nominated by the chief executive officer of the municipality creating the board, and appointed by the legislative body of that municipality or county. Nomination and appointment of members of the commission shall be made so that the board will be composed of persons with as much of the training and experience specified in subsection (b) of this section as possible.
(d) Except for the original members of the board, members of the board shall serve three year terms and shall be appointed in such manner as to serve overlapping terms. Two of the original members of the board shall be appointed to serve one year terms and the remainder of the original members of the board shall be appointed to serve three year terms. Members of the board may be reappointed.
(e) Members of the board may be removed for cause by the legislative body of the municipality creating the board.
(f) Vacancies on the board shall be filled by persons nominated by the chief executive officer of the municipality creating the commission and appointed by the legislative body of that municipality. Such appointments shall be for the unexpired term of the member replaced.
(g) Members of the board shall elect a chairman and vice chairman and such other officers as the members deem necessary. The board shall adopt rules of procedure and shall communicate those rules of procedure to the municipality creating the board. The rules of procedure of the board shall specify what number of members of the board shall constitute a quorum.
(h) Members of the board shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of the board, in accordance with the rules and regulations for the reimbursement of expenses adopted by the board.
(i) The board may employ such professional, technical, office, and other personnel, as may be necessary, to carry out the purposes and responsibilities of the board.
(j) Meetings of the board shall be public meetings and shall be held at times and places and pursuant to such notices as are specified in the ordinance creating the board.
(k) If, in the opinion of the governing body of the municipality creating a board, the work load of the board is, or is contemplated to be excessive, the governing body of the municipality creating the board may create more than one board, and designate the historic properties, and historic districts with which each board will be concerned, so long as each historic property and each historic district designated by the municipality shall be subject to the control of only one board. Each such board created shall have all of the powers and authority set forth in this chapter with respect to the historic properties and historic districts with which it is concerned.
Last modified: May 3, 2021