[Adopted 5-20-2003]
This article is entitled the "Village of Browntown Planning Commission Ordinance."
The purpose of this article is to establish a Village of Browntown Planning Commission and set forth its organization, powers and duties, to further the health, safety, welfare, and wise use of resources for the benefit of current and future residents of the Village and affected neighboring jurisdictions, through the adoption and implementation of comprehensive planning with significant citizen involvement.
The Village Board of the Village of Browntown has been authorized by the Village Meeting and under § 61.35, Wis. Stats., to exercise powers and duties as defined in § 62.23, Wis. Stats., and establish a seven-member Planning Commission. The Planning Commission shall be considered the "Village Planning Agency" under § 62.23, Wis. Stats.
The Village Planning Commission shall consist of seven members, all of whom shall be appointed by the Village President, who shall also select the presiding officer. The Village President may appoint himself or herself to the Commission and may appoint other Village elected or appointed officials to the Commission, except that the Commission shall always have at least three citizen members who are not Village officials. The Commission may consist of seven citizen members. All appointments are subject to the advisory approval of the Village Board. The presiding officer may be any of the seven Planning Commission members.
The Village President shall appoint the members of the Planning Commission in the month of April and designate a Planning Commission Chairperson. In a year in which any Village Board member is elected at the spring election, any appointment or designation by the Village President shall be made after the election and qualification of the Village Board members elected. Any citizen appointed to the Planning Commission shall take and file the oath of office within five days' of notice of appointment, as provided under §§ 19.01 and 60.31, Wis. Stats.
The term of office for the Planning Commission Chairperson and each Commission member shall be a period of three years, ending on April 30, or until a successor is appointed and qualified, except:
A. 
Initial terms. If the initial appointments to the Planning Commission are made during April, the citizen members shall be appointed for staggered terms as follows: two persons for a term that expires in one year; two persons for a term that expires in two years; and three persons for a term that expires in three years. If the initial appointments are made after April, the specified term shall expire as if appointed on the previous April 30.
B. 
Village Board member or Chairperson. The Planning Commission member who is a Village Board member or Village Board President, including a person designated the Planning Commission Chairperson, shall serve for a period of two years, as allowed under § 66.0501(2), Wis. Stats., concurrent with his or her term on the Village Board, except an initial appointment made after April 30 shall be for a term that expires two years from the previous April 30.
A person who is appointed to fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission shall serve for the remainder of the term.
The Village Board of the Village of Browntown hereby sets a per diem allowance of $10 per meeting for members of the Planning Commission, as allowed under § 66.0501(2), Wis. Stats. In addition, the Village Board may reimburse reasonable costs and expenses, as allowed under § 61.32, Wis. Stats.
The Planning Commission may, under § 62.23(1), Wis. Stats., employ experts and staff; and pay for their services and necessary and proper expenses, within the limits of any appropriation made to the Commission by the Village Board for such purposes, and subject to Village Board ordinances and resolutions.
The Planning Commission, under § 62.23(2), Wis. Stats., may adopt rules for the transaction of its business, subject to Village ordinances, and shall keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations, which shall be a public record under §§ 19.21 through 19.39, Wis. Stats.
A. 
Chairperson. The Planning Commission Chairperson shall be appointed and serve a term as provided in §§ 15-11 and 15-12 of this article. The Chairperson shall, subject to Village ordinances and Commission rules, provide leadership to the Commission, preside at Commission meetings and hearings, set meeting and hearing dates and agendas, and ensure that the laws are followed.
B. 
Vice Chairperson. The Planning Commission may elect, by open vote or secret ballot under § 19.88(1), Wis. Stats., a Vice Chairperson to act in the place of the Chairperson when the Chairperson is absent or incapacitated for any cause.
C. 
Secretary. The Planning Commission shall elect, by open vote or secret ballot under § 19.88(1), Wis. Stats., one of its members to serve as Secretary or, with the approval of the Village Board, designate the Village Board, designate the Village Clerk or other Village officer or employee as Secretary.
The Planning Commission, under § 62.23(4), Wis. Stats., shall have the power:
A. 
Necessary to enable it to perform its functions and promote Village planning.
B. 
To make reports and recommendations relating to the plan and development of the Village to the Village Board, other public bodies, citizens, public utilities and organizations.
C. 
To recommend to the Village Board programs for public improvements and the financing of such improvements.
D. 
To receive from public officials, within a reasonable time, requested available information required for the Commission to do its work.
E. 
For itself, its members and employees, in the performance of their duties, to enter upon land, make examinations and surveys, and place and maintain necessary monuments and markers thereon. However, entry shall not be made upon private land, except to the extent that the private land is held open to the general public, without the permission of the landowner or tenant or an inspection warrant issued for cause under § 66.0119, Wis. Stats., or other court-issued warrant.
The Planning Commission shall make and adopt a Comprehensive Plan under §§ 62.23 and 66.1001, Wis. Stats., which contains the elements specified in § 66.1001(2), Wis. Stats., and follows the procedures in § 66.1001(4), Wis. Stats.