Chapter 11 Boards, Commissions and Committees

The Board of Review shall consist of the Mayor, the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer and three Alderpersons annually appointed by the Mayor.

No Board of Review may be constituted unless it includes at least one voting member who, within two years of the Board's first meeting, has attended a training session under § 73.03(55), Wis. Stats., and unless that member is the municipality's chief executive officer or that officer's designee. The City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer shall provide an affidavit to the Department of Revenue stating whether the requirement under this section has been fulfilled.

Compensation. The members of the Board of Review shall receive a salary as determined by the Common Council for each day, or fraction thereof, that the Board is in session for the purpose of hearing and considering testimony or in meeting their report and determination.

Objections to valuations to be written. No person shall be permitted to appear and make objection before the Board to the amount of valuation of any property unless objection thereto shall first have been made in writing and filed with the Clerk of the Board prior to the adjournment of public hearing by the Board.

Duties. The duties and functions of the Board of Review shall be as prescribed in §§ 70.46, 70.47 and 70.48, Wis. Stats.

Board's duty. The Board shall carefully examine the assessment roll and correct all apparent errors in description or computation. It shall add all omitted property but shall not raise or lower the assessment of any property except after hearing, as provided by the statutes.

Open meetings. All meetings of the Board of Review shall be publicly held and open to all citizens at all times. No formal action of any kind shall be introduced, deliberated upon or adopted at any closed session or meeting of a Board of Review.

§ 11-2 Library Board.

Membership and terms. Pursuant to § 43.54, Wis. Stats., the Library Board shall consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Council, to serve three-year terms. One member shall be a school district administrator or his/her representative, and not more than one member of the Council shall serve on the Library Board at any one time. Up to two members may be residents from outside the City limits.

[Amended 7-28-2020 by Ord. No. 06-2020]

Duties and powers.

The Library Board shall have the duties and powers as prescribed by Ch. 43, Wis. Stats., and more particularly set forth in § 43.58 of the Wisconsin Statutes. The Library Board shall appoint the Librarian and other library employees.

The Library Board shall submit annually to the Council an itemized budget of the estimated expenses of the library for the following year.

§ 11-3 Health Department.

[Amended 2-27-2018 by Ord. No. 01-2018]

The Green Lake County Health Department shall perform the duties of the Health Department for the City of Princeton.

§ 11-4 Board of Appeals.

Establishment. A Zoning Board of Appeals shall be appointed as specified in § 62.23(7)(e) of the Wisconsin Statutes. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall consist of five members, and two alternate members, appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Common Council for a term of three years. The members shall be compensated as determined by the Council and shall be removable by the Common Council for cause upon written charges and upon public hearing. The Mayor shall designate one of the members Chairman.

Powers. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall have the following powers:

To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is an error in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement of the City's zoning or building code ordinances.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: See also Ch. 135, Building Construction; Ch. 395, Floodplain Zoning; Ch. 410, Shoreland Wetland Zoning; and Ch. 430, Zoning.

To hear and decide special exceptions to the terms of City zoning and floodplain zoning or building code regulations upon which the Board of Appeals is required to pass.

To authorize, upon appeal in specific cases, such variance from the terms of the City's zoning or building code regulations as will not be contrary to the public interest, where, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement will result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship, so that the spirit of the zoning code shall be observed, public safety and welfare secured and substantial justice done; provided, however, that no such action shall have the effect of establishing in any district a use or uses not permitted in such district.

(4)

To permit the erection and use of a building or premises in any location subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards in harmony with the general purposes of the zoning code, for such purposes which are reasonably necessary for public convenience and welfare.

(5)

The Zoning Board of Appeals may reverse or affirm wholly or in part or may modify any order, requirement, decision or determination as in its opinion ought to be made regarding the premises. The concurring vote of four members of the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be necessary to reverse any order, requirement, decision or determination appealed from or to decide in favor of the applicant on any matter on which it is required to pass, or to effect any variation in the requirements of the City's zoning ordinances. The grounds of every such determination shall be stated and recorded. No order of the Zoning Board of Appeals granting a variance shall be valid for a period longer than six months from the date of such order unless a zoning permit is obtained within such period and the erection or alteration of a building is started or the use is commenced within such period.

Meetings and rules. All meetings of the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be held at the call of the Chairman and at such other times as the Board may determine. All hearings conducted by said Board shall be open to the public. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question, or, if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact, and shall keep records of its examination and other official actions, all of which shall be immediately filed in the office of the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer and shall be a public record. The Board shall adopt its own rules of procedure not in conflict with this section or with applicable Wisconsin Statutes.

Offices. The Common Council shall provide suitable meeting space for holding the Zoning Board of Appeals' hearings.

Appropriations. The Common Council shall appropriate funds to carry out the duties of the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Board shall have the authority to expend, under regular procedures, all sums appropriated to it for the purpose and activities authorized herein.

§ 11-5 City Plan Commission.

Composition. The Plan Commission shall consist of the Mayor, who shall be the presiding officer, one Alderperson and five citizens.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

Appointment.

Election/appointment of Alderperson member. At its annual meeting in April of each year, the Common Council shall, by a two-thirds majority vote of its members, elect one of its number as a member of the City Plan Commission for a period of one year from and after the first day of May next ensuing.

Appointment and terms of citizen members.

(a)

Two citizen members shall be appointed by the Mayor for a one-year term during April of each year.[2]

[2]

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

(b)

Three citizen members shall be appointed by the Mayor to hold office for a period of three years, which term shall commence on the first day of May. During April of each year, one such citizen member shall be appointed for a term of three years.

Organization of Commission. The Mayor shall serve as presiding officer. The Plan Commission shall organize by the election of a Vice Chairman, secretary and such other officers as may in their judgment be necessary.

Record. The Plan Commission shall keep a written record of its proceedings to include all actions taken, a copy of which shall be filed with the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer. Four members shall constitute a quorum but all actions shall require the affirmative approval of a majority of all of the members of the Commission.

Duties.

The Master Plan.

(a)

The Plan Commission may make, adopt and, as necessary, amend, extend or add to the Master Plan, subject to Common Council confirmation, for the physical development of the City including areas outside of its boundaries which, in the Plan Commission's judgment, bear relation to the development of the City. The Master Plan, with the accompanying maps, plats and descriptive and explanatory matter, shall show the Commission's recommendations for such physical development, and may include, among other things without limitation because of enumeration, the general location, character and extent of streets, highways, freeways, street grades, roadways, walks, parking areas, public places and areas, parks, parkways, playgrounds, sites for public buildings and structures, and the general location and extent of sewers, water conduits and other public utilities whether privately or publicly owned, the acceptance, widening, narrowing, extension, relocation, removal, vacation, abandonment or change of use of any of the foregoing public ways, grounds, places, spaces, buildings, properties, utilities, routes or terminals, the general location, character and extent of community centers and neighborhood units, and a comprehensive zoning plan.

(b)

The Commission may adopt the Master Plan as a whole by a single resolution, or, as the work of making the whole Master Plan progresses, may from time to time by resolution adopt a part or parts thereof, any such part to correspond generally with one or more of the functional subdivisions of the subject matter of the plan. The adoption of the plan or any part, amendment or addition, shall be by resolution carried by the affirmative votes of not less than a majority of all the members of the Plan Commission, subject to confirmation by the Common Council. The resolution shall refer expressly to the maps, descriptive matter, and other matters intended by the Commission to form the whole or any part of the plan, and the action taken shall be recorded on the adopted plan or part thereof by the identifying signature of the secretary of the Commission, and a copy of the plan or part thereof shall be certified to the Common Council. The purpose and effect of the adoption and certifying of the Master Plan or part thereof shall be solely to aid the Plan Commission and the Common Council in the performance of their duties.

Mandatory referrals to Commission. The Common Council or officer of the City having final authority thereon shall refer to the Plan Commission, for its consideration and report before final action is taken by the Council, public body or officer, the following matters: the location of any statue or other memorial; the location, acceptance, extension, alteration, vacation, abandonment, change of use, sale, acquisition of land for or lease of land for any street, alley or other public ways, park, playground, airport, area for parking vehicles, or other memorial or public grounds; the location, extension, abandonment or authorization for any public utility whether publicly or privately owned; all plats of lands in the City or within the territory over which the City is given platting jurisdiction by Ch. 236, Wis. Stats.; the location, character and extent or acquisition, leasing or sale of lands for public or semipublic housing, slum clearance, relief of congestion, or vacation camps for children; and the amendment or repeal of any land use ordinance. Unless such report from the Commission is made within 30 days, or such longer period as may be stipulated by the Common Council, the Council or other public body or officer may take final action without it.

§ 11-6 General provisions regarding meetings and public notice.

Miscellaneous powers. The Commission may make reports and recommendations relating to the plan and development of the City to public officials and agencies, public utility companies, civic, educational, professional and other organizations and citizens. It may recommend to the Common Council programs for public improvements. All public officials shall, upon request, furnish to the Commission, within a reasonable time, such available information as it may require for its work. The Commission, its members and employees, in the performance of its functions, may enter upon any land, make examinations and surveys, and place and maintain necessary monuments and markers thereon. In general, the Commission shall have such powers as may be necessary to enable it to perform its functions and promote municipal planning in cooperation with the Common Council.

Vacancies. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as appointment for the full term.

Compensation. Compensation shall be as established by the Common Council. Citizen members shall take the official oath as required by § 19.01, Wis. Stats., said oath to be filed with the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer.

Regular meetings; public notice. Every board, committee and commission created by or existing under the ordinances of the City shall fix a regular date, time and place for its meeting.

Notice of meetings.

Every meeting of any board or commission of the City of Princeton, and/or any committee appointed or created by the Mayor or Common Council of the City of Princeton shall be preceded by public notice and shall be held in open session at a place acceptable to the public in accordance with the provisions of Ch. 19, Subch. V, Open Meetings of Governmental Bodies, Wis. Stats., unless otherwise authorized by law.

Such notice shall be given in writing to the official newspaper, and, in addition thereto, shall be posted in at least one location likely to give notice to the public of such meeting.

§ 11-7 Residency requirements for boards or commissions; attendance standards.

A separate public notice shall be given for each meeting at a time and date reasonably proximate to the time and date of the meeting, but not less than 24 hours prior to the commencement of such meeting unless otherwise authorized by law.

(4)

Such notice shall set forth the time, date, place and subject matter of the meeting, including that intended for consideration at any contemplated closed session which may be authorized by law, and may be in the following form:

NOTICE OF MEETING CITY OF PRINCETON, WISCONSIN (commission)
Please take notice that a meeting of the (commission) of the City of Princeton will be held on (date), 20_____, at (time) p.m., at the __________ in Room __________ to consider the following:
1.	(Agenda items set forth).
2.	Such other matters as authorized by law.
	Dated:__________
		(Commission)
		By
The Princeton Municipal Building is accessible to the physically disadvantaged. If special accommodations for physical, visually or hearing impaired individuals are needed, please contact the Princeton City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer at (telephone).

Notice to members. Every member of any board, commission or committee of the City of Princeton shall be notified by the secretary thereof or designee, that a meeting is to be held, and the time and place of such meeting and the subject to be considered thereat. No member shall be intentionally excluded from any meeting by a failure to give proper notice or a reasonable attempt to give proper notice to such member.

Minutes to be kept. Every board, commission and committee shall keep a record of the minutes of its proceedings and shall cause a signed copy thereof to be filed by its secretary with the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer within one week of the meeting date. The City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer shall furnish a copy of all minutes filed with him/her to the Mayor and to each member of the Common Council. All such minutes shall be public records.

Residency. Except for the Library Board, no person not a resident of the City of Princeton shall be appointed in a voting capacity to any City board, committee or commission. Any such member who moves from the City shall be removed from such board, commission or committee, but may be appointed to serve in an ex officio capacity.

Attendance standard.

The members and appointees of every board, commission and committee established pursuant to the Code of Ordinances of the City of Princeton or by the Common Council shall attend all meetings of their respective board, commission, or committee, which are duly noticed and convened, unless excused from attendance by the Chairperson of said body.

If any member of any board, commission or committee established pursuant to the Code of Ordinances of the City of Princeton or by the Common Council fails to attend three meetings of the board, commission or committee of which he/she is a member, which absences are not excused by the Chairperson of said body, said member shall forfeit his/her membership, and said Chairperson shall notify the Mayor and Common Council that a vacancy exists in the membership of the affected board, commission or committee. Said vacancy shall be filled pursuant to the ordinances of the City.

Member subject to removal. Any member of any board or commission who violates any provision of this section or who knowingly attends a meeting held in violation hereof may be removed as a member of such board or commission after being granted a public hearing, by the appointing authority and upon concurrence of the Common Council.

§ 11-8 Rules of procedure; quorum.

Except as provided herein, the provisions of § 75-20 of Chapter 75, Mayor and Common Council, of the Code of the City of Princeton relating to rules of procedure for the Common Council, together with Robert's Rules of Order, shall as far as applicable, also apply to committee, board and commission meetings.

A simple majority of the members of a board, committee or commission shall constitute a quorum.

§ 11-9 Tree Board.

[Added 8-9-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-04]

Composition. The Tree Board shall consist of the City Forester and six other citizen members and is hereby created to promote the policies and procedures as set forth in § 348-1 of Chapter 348, Trees and Shrubs, of the Code of the City of Princeton.

Appointment.

Appointment of City Forester. The Common Council shall designate a City Forester, or assign such duties to a City employee. In the absence of such appointment being made, the Director of Public Works shall be the City Forester.

Appointment of citizen members. Six citizen members shall be appointed by the Mayor every year to hold office for a period of two years, which term shall commence following the organizational meeting in April of every year. Such members shall be lay citizens with an interest in trees as a major component of Princeton's physical and aesthetic environment, and arborists, ornamental horticulturists, and landscape architects, or those with a technical background in a related field.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

Organization of Board. At the first meeting following the organizational meeting for the City of Princeton, the Board members shall organize by the election of a presiding officer, secretary, and such other officers as may in their judgment be necessary.

Record. The Tree Board shall keep a written record of its proceedings to include all actions taken, a copy of which shall be filed with the City Administrator. Four members shall constitute a quorum but all actions shall require the affirmative approval of a majority of all of the members of the Commission.

Duties.

The Board shall hold regular meetings at least once each month and may hold such additional meetings as it deems necessary.

The Board shall have complete and exclusive control of all trees in any public place in the City, and recommend disbursement of all monies appropriated for the planting, inventory, maintenance, and removal of said trees subject to approval of the City Council of Princeton.