[HISTORY: Adopted by the Planning Board of the Town of Orleans 11-30-1994. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Appointed town boards — See Charter, Ch. 6.
The Planning Board (Board) shall consist of seven (7) members that are appointed by the Board of Selectmen. Each member will serve a three year term. Terms shall be staggered such that in any given calendar year no more than three terms expire.
The Board will reorganize annually at the first meeting in July. At that time the Board will elect a Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Clerk. The previous year's Chairman of the Board shall chair the meeting during reorganization.
A. 
Chairman.
(1) 
The Chairman shall preside at all meetings and shall decide all points of order unless unable to act for any reason.
(2) 
The Chairman may be overruled by a majority of the members present. The Chairman may vote on all matters before the Board.
(3) 
The Chairman will work in concert with the Town Executive in supervising the work of the Town Planner and assist the Town Planner in supervising the work of the Planning Department Secretary.
(4) 
In the absence of the Town Planner the Chairman shall have authority to sign the Planning Department payroll and budget expenditures.
B. 
Vice-Chairman. If the Chairman is unable to act for whatever reason, the duties and responsibilities of the Chairman shall become those of the Vice-Chairman.
C. 
Clerk. In the absence of both the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, the Clerk shall assume their duties and responsibilities. The Clerk or Town Planner are authorized to endorse Approval Not Required Plans on behalf of the Board, following a favorable vote on the plan.
The powers and duties of the Board are set forth in the Orleans Home Rule Charter, Chapter 9 and in MGL Chapter 41 Sections 81 A-1 through 81-GG inclusive, MGL Chapter 40A and the Orleans Subdivision Rules and Regulations.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 192, Subdivision Rules and Regulations.
Four (4) voting members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
The Board will hold its regularly scheduled meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. If there is a serious conflict the meeting may be rescheduled by the Chairman, Vice-Chairman or Clerk.
Special meetings may be called by either the Chairman, Vice-Chairman or Clerk. Forty-eight (48) hours of advanced notice and posting the meeting in accordance with the Open Meeting Law is required.
The Planning Board Secretary shall tape-record all meetings. Tapes will be available for inspection during regular office hours. Tapes will be saved for three (3) years. Minutes will be presented to the Board for approval as soon as possible after a meeting, usually within one (1) month of the meeting.
Board members shall not discuss the merits of any pending applications with the public, applicants or their agents outside of meetings. Board members shall refrain from giving any opinion regarding state or local laws, regulations or procedures that pertain to the Board. Any such questions shall be referred to the Town Planner.
Robert's Rules of Order shall be followed in any circumstances not specifically covered in the above mentioned regulations.