The membership of the Zoning Hearing Board shall
consist of three members appointed by the Borough Council. Their terms
of office shall be three years and shall be so fixed that the term
of office of one member shall expire each year. The Board Chairman
shall promptly notify Borough Council when vacancies occur. Appointments
to fill vacancies shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term.
Members of the Board shall hold no other office in the Borough, including
membership on the Planning Commission and Zoning Officer.
The Board shall elect its officers from its own membership, who shall serve annual terms and may succeed themselves. For the conduct of any hearing and the taking of any action, a quorum shall be a majority of all the members of the Board, but the Board may appoint a hearing officer from its own membership to conduct any hearing on its behalf, and parties may waive further action by the Board as provided in §
225-135 below. The Board may make, alter and rescind rules and forms for its procedure consistent with the ordinances of the Borough and laws of the commonwealth. The Board shall keep full public records of its business which records shall be the property of the Borough, and submit a report of its activities to Borough Council as requested by Borough Council.
Within the limits of funds appropriated by Borough
Council, the Zoning Hearing Board may employ or contract for secretaries,
clerks, zoning officers, legal counsel, consultants and other technical
and clerical services. Members of the Zoning Hearing Board may receive
compensation for the performance of their duties, as may be fixed
by Borough Council, but in no case shall it exceed the rate of compensation
authorized to be paid to the members of Borough Council.
The public hearing shall commence within 60 days of the filing of an administratively complete application. Public notice, as defined herein, of the public hearing shall be advertised and posted as required by the MPC, and in addition thereto the Zoning Hearing Board shall post at least one copy of the notice on the affected property and shall mail a copy of the notice by regular mail at least one week prior to the hearing to each adjoining property owner, including those located across a public right-of-way. Public hearings shall be conducted and held in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Municipalities Planning Code. The Zoning Hearing Board shall comply with all requirements of Article
IX of the Municipalities Planning Code regarding the conduct of hearings.