There shall be a Planning Board to consist of seven members,
each of whom shall be appointed by the Mayor. The terms of office
of the members shall be for three years each, except that the members
of the Board first appointed shall be for such terms that the terms
of one-third of such members, as nearly as possible, shall expire
annually thereafter. The appointment shall be made no later than April
1. Not more than four members of the Board shall belong to any one
political party. The Board shall meet at the City Hall, at least one
day in each month. A majority of such appointed Commissioners shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The Board shall
annually elect a Chairman from its own members.
8.42.1 The Board may make rules for the conduct of its business. It shall have authority to employ experts, clerks and a secretary, and to pay for their services and such other expenses as may be necessary and proper. It shall from time to time make recommendations to the Common Council or to any other department, upon any matter within the scope of section
8.44. It may require any officer, department, Board or commission of the city to furnish it with such information, records, reports, plans, data and statistics, within his or its knowledge or custody, as will aid the Board in the performance of its duties. It may hold hearings either public or private, and may request the attendance of any city official or agent to give information as to his department. It may organize unpaid volunteer committees of citizens to consider and report on any matter of public interest.
8.42.2 The Board shall make, during the month of January, an
annual report to the Common Council of its work. It may report its
doings, plans and recommendations to the Common Council at such other
times as it may see fit. It shall have all the powers provided by
Article 3 of the General City Law of the State of New York, as amended.
The work of the Board shall be divided into the following areas:
8.44.1 City plan and topography, in which it shall be the duty
of the Board to make such topographical survey and such plan or plans
for the development of the city as a whole or in part or parts, as
in the opinion of the Board may be adapted to the city's future needs.
8.44.2 Architectural, in which it shall be the duty of the Board
to examine the plans for the exterior of any public building, and
for the development and treatment of the grounds about the same, and
to report any recommendations thereon, which it may deem necessary.
8.44.3 Housing and health, in which it shall be the duty of
the Board to investigate and report from time to time to the Common
Council as to the conditions that may be injurious to public health
in and about rented buildings, and to make plans for the development
of the city with special reference to the proper housing of its people.
8.44.4 Highways and traffic, in which it shall be the duty of
the Board to report to the Board of Public Safety such recommendations
of any kind with reference to the highways and the regulations of
traffic therein as the Board may deem desirable. It may recommend
to the Common Council the adoption of building lines upon various
streets. Every measure affecting any purchase or agreement for purchase
of land for the site of any public buildings shall be submitted to
the Board with such recommendation thereon as it may deem necessary.
8.44.5 Site plan review, in which it shall be the duty of the
Board to review and approve, approve with modifications or disapprove
site plans, according to, but not limited to specifications set forth
in 71-3F of this Code.