A. 
Pursuant to the authority granted by 65 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/11-48.2-1 et seq., there is hereby created and established an Historic Preservation Committee which shall consist of three members, all of which shall be residents of the Village, and such members shall have demonstrated an interest in historic preservation. Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Village President with the advice and consent of the Village Board of Trustees. The members of the Committee shall elect from among themselves a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson of the Committee, to serve until the end of their respective terms, or until the members of the Committee elect a new Chairperson or Vice Chairperson, whichever is earlier.
B. 
All voting members of the Committee shall be residents of the Village of Forrest and shall be appointed on the basis of demonstrated expertise, experience or interest in the areas of archaeology, architecture, art, building construction, engineering, finance, historic and architectural preservation, history, law, planning or real estate. Representatives from the various Village departments shall advise the Committee when requested or required.
A. 
Terms of office. Terms of the members of the Committee shall be three years. Members of the Committee shall serve terms of initially: one member appointed for one year, one member appointed for two years, and one member appointed for three years. Members may be reappointed for consecutive terms. The Village President, with the advice and consent of the Village Board of Trustees, shall have the power to remove any member of said Committee for any reason, at any time, including, but not limited to, for cause including excessive nonattendance of Committee meetings.
B. 
Compensation. Members of the Committee shall serve without pay, but may be reimbursed by the Village for necessary expenses incurred in conjunction with their duties, as approved in advance by the Village Board of Trustees.
A. 
Rules. The Committee may establish such rules as are necessary for the orderly conduct of its business and are not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, and any such rules established shall be in writing.
B. 
Meetings. All meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public and in accordance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 5 ILCS 120/1 et seq.
C. 
Records. The Committee shall keep a record, which shall be open to the public view, of its resolutions, proceedings, and actions.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 100, General Provisions, Art. I)]
The Historic Preservation Committee shall have the authority and responsibility:
A. 
To maintain a system for the identification and inventory of historic places or items.
B. 
To educate individuals as to the significance of historic structures or sites and recommend style, color, building materials or exterior features that will be compatible with historic conditions.
C. 
To respond to the request of the Village President for comments regarding changes, amendments or variances to the Village's goals and objectives, development policies, or zoning ordinance and then only as such is pertinent to the Village's historic condition(s).
D. 
To initiate, review and to make recommendations to the Village Board for the nominations of property to the national register or the designation of local landmarks within the corporate authority.
E. 
To develop programs, with the advice and consent of the Village Board, to encourage the continuing education of citizens of the Village and surrounding areas with respect to the historic heritage of the Village.
F. 
To retain such specialists as may be required from time to time upon approval of the Village Board.
G. 
To induce by contract or other consideration, the creation of covenants or restrictions binding on land.
H. 
To receive funds on behalf of the Village from federal, state and private sources for deposit in a separate account of the Village to be referred to as the preservation fund, which funds shall only be loaned or expended by the Committee with approval of the Village Board for such purposes as are herein set forth; and in the event the Committee shall be dissolved, then any amounts remain in said fund shall be applied by the Village Board to further the purposes of this chapter. If any amounts remain in said fund after a period of one year following the Committee dissolution, then said funds may be applied by the Village Board for general corporate purposes as it may be deemed appropriate.
I. 
To cooperate with other governmental bodies or agencies and not for profit organizations with purposes similar to those set forth in this chapter.