Town of Sardinia, NY Article II Member Training and Attendance

[Adopted 4-8-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010]

§ 22-6 Title.

This article shall be known and cited as "Training and Attendance Requirements for Members of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals."[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Original § 22-7 of the 1989 Code, Legislative intent and purpose, which immediately followed this section, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 22-7 Training requirements.

A. Each member of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals shall complete a minimum of four hours of training each calendar year as required under Town Law §§ 267 and 271.

B. The training requirements may be satisfied by educational activities substantially devoted to planning, zoning, community design, environmental issues, economic development, local government functions and practices, or other land use issues, such as attending conferences, seminars or workshops; participating in online training or tutorials; attending college courses; and any other educational activities considered acceptable by the respective Board Chair. Training may be offered by a municipality, regional or county planning office or commission, county, regional or state planning federation, state agency, statewide municipal association, college or university or other similar entity.

C. Training received by a member in excess of four hours in any one year may be carried over by the member into succeeding years.

D. Any new member appointed to fill the last 12 months of a term shall not be required to have attended training to be reappointed to a first full term, but must comply thereafter with the requirements of this section.

E. Each member shall provide the Chair of the respective Board with proof of attendance and/or completion of any training. The Chair of the respective Board shall notify the Town Board, prior to the Town's annual organizational meeting, if any member of the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals failed to complete the required training in the preceding year.

F. A member may apply to the Town Board for a waiver from the minimum four-hour training for any years of their appointed term due to a hardship and/or lack of reasonable training.

§ 22-8 Meeting attendance procedures.

A. Members of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals are expected to attend all regularly scheduled meetings, except in cases of illness, family emergency or personal commitments whose scheduling is not within the control of the member (e.g., weddings, anniversaries, birth of a child or grandchild, etc.).

B. If a member is unable to attend a scheduled meeting, he or she shall, as soon as practicable, notify the Chair of the respective Board. Except in the case of illness or other emergency, notice shall be provided at least 24 hours in advance and the absent member shall make arrangement to provide the designated alternate with any documents necessary to prepare for and participate at the meeting.

C. Planning Board members must attend at least one meeting each month and may not miss more than six meetings in any year.

D. Zoning Board of Appeals members may not miss more than two successive meetings or more than 50% of the meetings in any year.

E. The Chair of each respective Board shall notify the Town Board if any member has failed to comply with the attendance requirements set forth above.

F. A member may apply to the Town Board for a waiver from the attendance requirements set forth in this article, based on hardship.