[Adopted 7-16-1998 by L.L. No. 2-1998]
It is important that duly appointed members
of the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board for the Town
of Ghent attend the monthly Board meetings on a regular basis in order
to effectively serve as Board members. It is also important that such
Board members use their best efforts to participate in such training
programs which are available in order to increase their knowledge
and skills. In this regard, § 267 and § 271 of
the Town Law provide for removal of a Zoning Board or Planning Board
member for noncompliance with the minimum requirements relating to
attendance and training as may be established by the Town Board by
local law.
A.
Any Zoning Board member of the Town of Ghent shall
be removed from the Board upon his or her failure to attend at least
3/4 of the regular meetings per calendar year. Also, any Zoning Board
member of the Town of Ghent shall be removed from the Board where
he/she is absent without prior notice to the Zoning Board Chairperson
from two Zoning Board application nights in any one calendar year
to which such member has been assigned.
B.
Any Planning Board member of the Town of Ghent shall
be removed from the Board upon his or her failure to attend at least
3/4 of the regular meetings per calendar year. Also, any Planning
Board member of the Town of Ghent shall be removed from the Board
where he/she is absent without prior notice to the Planning Board
Chairperson from two Planning Board application nights in any one
calendar year to which such member has been assigned.
[Amended 5-20-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
A.
Each Planning Board member and Zoning Board of Appeals member shall
complete at least six hours of training each calendar year designed
to enable such members to more effectively carry out their duties.
Such training shall be approved by the Town Board and may include,
but not be limited to, training provided by a municipality, regional
or county planning office or commission, county planning federation,
state agency, statewide municipal association, college or other similar
entity. Training may be provided in a variety of formats, including
but not limited to, electronic media, video, distance learning and
traditional classroom training.
B.
In addition to such annual training requirements, each Planning Board
member and Zoning Board of Appeals member shall watch the overview
video applicable to their board made available by the New York Department
of State Division of Local Government Services within 90 days of appointment
to either board for new members or within 90 days of the effective
date of this section for existing members.
C.
Each Planning Board member and Zoning Board of Appeals member shall
submit to the Chairperson of their respective board written documentation
verifying compliance with the training requirements of this section.
The Chairperson of each respective board shall then submit such compliance
documents to the Town Board.
D.
Each Planning Board member and Zoning Board of Appeals member shall
receive compensation for attending the training required by this section
at the same rate as the member is compensated for attending meetings.
E.
The training required by this section may be waived or modified by
resolution of the Town Board when, in the judgment of the Town Board,
it is in the best interest of the Town to do so.
F.
No decision of a Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals shall
be voided or declared invalid because of a failure to comply with
this section.
