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Charter Township of Meridian
Ingham County
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[1]
Cross reference: Boards and commissions, § 2-171 et seq.
[Ord. No. 2001-15, 11-8-2001]
A land preservation advisory board ("advisory board") is established to oversee and make recommendations to the Township Board for furthering the Township's land preservation program as provided for in this article.
[Ord. No. 2001-15, 11-8-2001]
(a) 
Number and composition. The land preservation advisory board shall be comprised of eight members:
(1) 
One Township Board member appointed by the Township Board.
(2) 
One environmental commission member appointed by the environmental commission.
(3) 
One park commission member appointed by the park commission.
(4) 
Five resident members appointed by the Township Supervisor subject to a majority vote of the Township Board membership.
An effort will be made to ensure the advisory board includes individuals with expertise in land purchase or negotiation and the environmental features to be preserved. Resident members shall not hold any other Township office or appointment.
(b) 
Terms of office. Resident members appointed to the advisory board shall be appointed to four-year terms. Resident members shall not serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. During the first appointment process two resident members will be appointed to a two-year term, two resident members will be appointed to a three-year term, and one resident member will be appointed to a four-year term. Members appointed by the Township Board, environmental commission, or park commission shall serve only so long as they remain a member of the Township Board, environmental commission, or park commission. All first appointed members shall be appointed within 30 days after the effective date of the ordinance from which this section is derived. No member shall serve after he or she ceases to be a Township resident.
(c) 
Conflict of interest. No member of the advisory board shall discuss or vote on property for which a conflict of interest exists. A conflict of interest exists where an advisory board member:
(1) 
Has a direct or indirect financial or personal interest in the property.
(2) 
Is an adjacent property owner.
(3) 
Is a relative of the property owner or relative of an adjacent property owner.
(4) 
Is an employee of a company with financial interest in the property.
(d) 
When positions considered vacant. A position on the advisory board shall be considered vacated:
(1) 
Upon the expiration or nonreappointment of an elected or appointed official's term of office.
(2) 
Upon Township Board acceptance of a resignation letter.
(3) 
Upon removal of an advisory board member.
(4) 
When an advisory board member is no longer a resident of the Township.
(e) 
Filling vacancies. A vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of an unexpired term as follows:
(1) 
A vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the board or commission which appointed the representative member creating the vacancy.
(2) 
A resident member vacancy other than through the expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term by the Township Supervisor, subject to approval by a majority vote of the Township Board membership.
(f) 
Removal. A member of the advisory board may, after a public hearing, be removed by the Township Supervisor for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, which may include, but is not limited to, failure to declare a conflict of interest as provided in this article or absence at three consecutive meetings of the advisory board without reasonable explanation.
[Ord. No. 2001-15, 11-8-2001]
The advisory board shall adopt rules for the transaction of business and the selection of property or interests in property acquired under this article.
[Ord. No. 2001-15, 11-8-2001]
The duties of the advisory board shall include the following:
(1) 
Establish a process to actively encourage, identify, and review potential properties or interests in property for acquisition as provided in this article.
(2) 
Review applications of property or interests in property presented for consideration for acquisition by the Township through the land preservation funds and make recommendations to the Township Board.
(3) 
Review activities of the Township to identify inconsistencies with the stated purposes of the land preservation program.
(4) 
Develop procedures, guidelines, and an individualized stewardship plan for each property interest and provide this information to Township staff responsible for monitoring the property interests acquired pursuant to this article.
(5) 
Submit a written report annually to the Township Board.
(6) 
Assume such other duties related to the land preservation program as may be assigned by the Township Board.