[Adopted 8-11-1999 by L.L. No. 7-1999]
The purpose of this article is to provide standards
of minimum attendance by members of the Town of Deerpark Planning
Board, Town of Deerpark Zoning Board of Appeals and all appointed
individuals, Board members and Commissioners at meetings and hearings
of such Boards and before the Town Board and to establish minimum
training and continuing education course requirements for such members.
This article is enacted under the authority of Town Law § 267,
Subdivisions 2 and 9.
Members of the Planning Board, Zoning Board
of Appeals, all appointed individuals, Board members and Commissioners
are expected to attend all regularly scheduled and specially scheduled
meetings of the Boards. In the event that a member of the Boards is
absent from three consecutive meetings, then such member may be removed
from the Boards as herein provided.
Members of the Planning Board, Zoning Board
of Appeals and all appointed individuals, Board members, and Commissioners
are expected to attend all scheduled training and review sessions
conducted by the Town Board and all such other seminars, workshops
or continuing education courses designated by the Town Board. In the
event that a member of the Boards, all appointed individuals, other
Board members and Commissioners does not attend at least two of the
training and review sessions conducted by the Town Attorney within
any one calendar year, then such member may be removed from the Boards
as herein provided. In the event that a member of the Boards does
not attend at least one seminar, workshop or continuing education
course within two consecutive calendar years in which the Town Board
has designated at least two seminars, workshops or continuing education
courses, then such member may be removed from the Boards as herein
provided.
The Town Attorney shall annually conduct at
least three training and review sessions with the Boards. The dates
of the same shall be set in January of each year. Such sessions may
include topics such as procedures, substantive issues, review of court
cases, ethics, conflicts of interest and such other topics as the
Town Attorney shall determine may assist the Boards and individuals
in carrying out their functions in a timely, fair and lawful manner.
The Town Board shall annually designate such seminars, workshops,
or continuing education courses which may be offered within a reasonable
distance and which may be helpful to or of assistance to the Zoning
Board of Appeals and Planning Board in carrying out its functions
in a timely, fair and lawful manner. The costs of such seminars, workshops
or continuing education courses so designated shall be a Town charge.
Members shall also be reimbursed for travel and meal expenses according
to Town policies.
In the event a member of the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, appointed individuals, Board members and Commissioners has failed to meet the minimum attendance requirements set forth in §
9-2 or
9-3, then the Town Board may remove such member from the Boards as herein provided:
A. Notice. Such member shall be mailed a written notice by the Town Clerk, certified mail, return receipt requested, specifying the nature of the failure of such member or individual to meet the minimum attendance requirements of §
9-2 or
9-3 above.
B. Public hearing. Such notice shall specify a date (not
less than 10 nor more than 30 days from the date of mailing such notice)
when the Town Board shall convene and hold a public hearing on whether
or not such member should be removed from the Zoning Board of Appeals
or Planning Board or his or her position. Such notice shall also specify
the time and place of such hearing.
C. Public notice. Public notice of such hearing shall
be given by posting a notice on the Town signboard in the vestibule
of the Town Hall and by publishing a notice once in the official newspaper.
Such posting and publication shall be at least 10 days prior to the
date of the public hearing.
D. Conduct of hearing. The public hearing on the charges
shall be conducted before the Town Board. The member or individual
shall be given an opportunity to present evidence and to call witnesses
to refute the charges. A record of such hearing shall be made. The
decision of the Town Board shall be reduced to writing together with
specific findings of the Town Board with respect to each charge against
such member. A copy of such decision and such finding shall be mailed
to the member.
E. Action by the Town Board. Following the hearing and
upon a finding that such member has not met the minimum attendance
requirements required by this article, the Town Board may:
(1) Remove such member or individual from the Planning
Board or Zoning Board of Appeals or other board, commission or position;
(2) Issue a written reprimand to such member without removing
such member from the Board or position; or
(3) If the Town Board shall find that the reasons for
absence were because of illness, injury or other good and sufficient
cause, the Town Board may elect to take no action.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit or restrict the Town Board's authority to remove a member from the Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board, other board, commission or position for cause (i.e., for other than the reasons enumerated herein). The procedural provisions of §
9-5 (Procedure) shall govern any hearing to remove a member for cause.
[Adopted 10-4-2010 by L.L. No. 6-2010]
The Town Board of the Town of Deerpark, Orange County, New York,
wishes to create a Deerpark Veterans Board for the purposes of serving
as an advisory board to the Town Board on the following matters and
other matters where its assistance may be requested by the Town Board:
A. To
create and fund-raise for a Veterans Memorial to be located in the
Town of Deerpark.
B. To
promote veterans and Cold War veterans tax exemptions to those who
are eligible.
C. To
organize ceremonies in the Town for various veterans holidays.
D. To
assist veterans in obtaining information for any government benefits
afforded to them or their families.
E. To
coordinate with Orange County Veterans Service Agency and local veterans
organizations on any new programs or events for veterans and/or their
families.
The Town Board hereby creates the Deerpark Veterans Board. It
shall be a noncompensated advisory board which shall act in an advisory
capacity to the Town Board on the issues set forth in the preceding
section of this article.
The Board shall consist of no more than seven members, appointed
by the Town Board, to serve at the pleasure of the Town Board. All
members must be either active servicemen or -women in any branch of
the United States Armed Services or veterans of any branch of the
United States Armed Services with honorable discharges. Chairman of
the Deerpark Veterans Board shall be appointed by the Town Board and
shall serve at the pleasure of the Town Board. The Director of the
Orange County Veterans Service Agency shall serve as a nonvoting honorary
member of the Deerpark Veterans Board. A preference for appointment
to the Board shall be given to veterans and active service personnel
residing in the Town of Deerpark; however, members of the Board may
be veterans or active service personnel residing in Orange County,
New York.