[Amended 2-20-2008]
Unless extended by written agreement between the petitioner and the Board, all petitions shall be completely heard and closed for the taking of further testimony within 65 days from the official date as designated by the Town Clerk and shown on the correctly filed application.
A. 
All hearings and discussions of issues before the Board of Appeals shall take place in public, and all interested persons shall be given adequate time to express their opinions fully.
B. 
The Chairman of the meeting may determine any person or persons to be a serious hindrance to the prover workings of the Board and exclude any such person; and may temporarily postpone further discussion on any issue until later in the agenda or to a subsequent meeting within the limits of § 197-18.
[Amended 2-20-2008]
During a hearing and before it is closed for public discussion, the applicant may scale down the proposal before the Board (fewer units to be built, less square footage, less lot line setback encroachment, etc.).
An applicant who wishes to increase the dimensions or scope of a petition must withdraw the current petition, without prejudice, and reapply as if for a new hearing.
A. 
Order.
[Amended 2-20-2008]
(1) 
The Chairman calls the meeting to order.
(2) 
The petition, as advertised, is read by the Chairman or Clerk.
(3) 
The Chairman identifies any Board conflicts and contacts with interested parties, and identifies voting members.
(4) 
The petitioner, or petitioner's representative, explains the petition and gives the reasons why it should be granted.
(5) 
Board questions to petitioner or representative.
(6) 
Members of the audience are invited to speak in favor of the petition.
(7) 
Members of the audience are invited to speak in opposition of the petition.
(8) 
Any correspondence in the case file concerning the merits of the petition is read or summarized into the record.
(9) 
In the event opposition to the petition is presented at the hearing, the petitioner or representative is invited to make rebuttal comments.
(10) 
When all who wish to speak have been heard and all relevant communications have been read, the Chairman closes the meeting for the taking of further testimony.
(11) 
The Board discusses the case and comes to a decision.
B. 
Discussion by the Board members may be carried over to one or more subsequent meetings before rendering an opinion. Members of the Board may ask questions of those present at any time, including the period after the hearing is closed.
Interested parties may file a brief to the Board, either approving or opposing a petition, at any time prior to closing the hearing for testimony.
[Amended 2-20-2008]
The Secretary shall electronically record all meetings in order to capture salient points of discussion. The minutes shall not be transcripts. Recordings will be available for inspection, with the Clerk's approval, during the twenty-day period while the decision may be contested. Minutes shall be filed as soon as possible after a meeting, but in any case within three weeks of a hearing.