The duties and responsibilities of the Planning
Board are to make careful studies of the resources, possibilities
and needs of the Town, particularly with respect to conditions injurious
to the public health or otherwise in and about rented dwellings, and
make plans for the development of the municipality, with special reference
to proper housing of its inhabitants (MGL c. 41, § 70).
The Planning Board is also responsible for executing and administering
the Master Plan (MGL c. 41, § 81D).
The Planning Board shall consist of five members and one associate (alternate) member, appointed by the Board of Selectmen. "The associate member's term shall run for a period of two years" (Salisbury Zoning Bylaw, Article
XIV, Spring 2005). The members shall annually elect a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Clerk at the start of each fiscal year.
Meetings are held the second and fourth Wednesday
of each month. Workshops and other meetings can be held in addition
to the scheduled Planning Board meetings. Meeting and workshop agendas
are filed with the Town Clerk and posted in Town Hall and on the Town's
web site 48 hours prior to meetings, not counting Sundays or holidays.
A quorum is necessary for decisions to be made.
Minutes are to be taken by the Planning Board
Secretary as well as the Planning Board Clerk. The minutes are public
record and can be viewed in the Planning Department, Town Clerk's
office and the Town library. Minutes are sent to the Planning Board
members to be read and then voted on at the following meeting.
Robert's Rules of Order are the established
rules of conduct for Planning Board meetings.
The Town of Salisbury Charter, as amended through
May 2000, Section 7-11 states: "If any person appointed to serve as
a member of a multiple member body shall fail to attend four or more
consecutive meetings, or one-half or more of all of the meetings of
such body held in one calendar year, the remaining members of the
multiple member body may, by a majority vote of the remaining members
of such body, declare the office to be vacant, provided, however,
that not less than ten days prior to the date said vote is scheduled
to be taken the body has given in hand, or mailed by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, notice of such proposed
or pending vote to the last known address of such person."