PLANNING BOARD ORDINANCE

TURNER, MAINE

Amended April 5, 2008

 

 

1.         Establishment

 

Pursuant to Article VIII-A of the Maine Constitution and Title 30-A M.R.S.A. Section 3001, the Town of Turner hereby establishes the Turner Planning Board.

 

 

2.         Appointment

 

A.        Board members shall be appointed by the municipal officers and sworn by the clerk or other person authorized to administer oaths.

 

            B.        The Board shall consist of seven (7) members with a quorum consisting of four (4) members.

 

            C.        The term of each member shall be three years.  Terms shall run from July 1st through June 30.

 

            D.        When there is a permanent vacancy, the municipal officers shall, within 30 days of its occurrence, appoint a person to serve for the unexpired term.  A vacancy shall occur upon the resignation, including resignation by absence, or death of any member, or when a member ceases to be legal resident of the town.  The municipal officers may remove members of the Planning Board by unanimous vote, for cause, after notice and hearing.

 

            E.        A municipal officer may not be a member.

 

            F.         All members shall be legal residents of the Town of Turner.

 

 

3.         Organization and Rules

 

            A.        The Board shall elect a chairman, vice-chairman and secretary and fill such other offices as it may deem necessary.  The term of office shall be for one year with eligibility for re-election with elections held in July.

 

            B.        Any question of whether a member shall be disqualified from voting shall be decided by a majority vote of the members except the member who is being challenged.

 

            C.        The Chairman shall call at least one regular meeting of the Board each month.

 

            D.        No meeting of the Board shall be held without a quorum consisting of four (4) members.  The Board shall act by majority vote, calculated on the basis of the majority of the Board present and voting.

 

            E.        The Board shall adopt rules or bylaws for transition of business and the secretary shall keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, correspondence, findings and determinations.  All records shall be deemed public and may be inspected at reasonable times.

 

4.         Duties and Powers

 

            A.        The Board shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as are provided by town ordinances and the laws of the State of Maine.

 

            B.        The Board shall submit an annual report to be included in the annual town report.

 

            C.        The Board, together with the municipal officers, is authorized to contract with federal, state and private agencies to obtain goods and services necessary to its proper function.

 

 

5.         Repeal of Existing Planning Board

 

Adoption of this Ordinance shall repeal any and all previous Planning Board Ordinances.

 

 

6.         Effective Date

 

This Ordinance shall become effective when enacted by the legislative body of the Town of Turner.

 

 

7.         Validity and Severability

 

Should any action or provision of this Ordinance be declared by any court to be invalid, such decision shall not invalidate any other provision of this Ordinance.

 

8.         Amendments

 

This Ordinance shall be amended in accordance with procedures specified in Title 30-A MRSA Section 3002 at any Town Meeting.