The Board of Supervisors of Merced County declares that in order to promote coordination through the County-wide housing rehabilitation concept and to comply with the Uniform Housing Code, as adopted by the County, a Countywide housing advisory and appeals board is established. The functions of this board are to study, evaluate, and make recommendations to the Merced County Board of Supervisors and participating city councils on policy issues relating to housing rehabilitation and new opportunities for expansion of the housing rehabilitation program, and to hear and make recommendations regarding appeals pursuant to the Uniform Housing Code.
(Ord. 865, 1977)
The Board shall consist of ten members. Each Merced County supervisor shall appoint one member and each participating city council shall appoint one member. The chief building official of the county and participating cities shall be ex-officio members of the board. Appointees should be representative of low and moderate income homeowners, as defined by United States Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines. Board members must be: A. Sensitive to and supportive of the needs of low and moderate income homeowners in Merced County; B. Knowledgeable of the community which he or she represents; C. Representative of Merced County ethnic groups, fields of employment, and income levels; D. Interested in taking an active part in board meetings and activities.
(Ord. 865, 1977)
Each board member shall have a term of four years, and until his/her respective successor is appointed and qualified, except that the terms of the first board members shall be staggered so that the term of three board members shall expire on January 1, 1979 and the term of three board members shall expire on January 1, 1980 and the term of two board members shall expire on January 1, 1981, and the term of two board members shall expire on January 1, 1982. The first appointees shall draw lots at the first meeting of the board to determine the term of each initial board member. Board members shall not be appointed to more than two consecutive terms.
(Ord. 865, 1977)
In the event any board member shall resign or be unable to serve the full term, the Merced County Board of Supervisors or participating city shall appoint a replacement for such board member. If such resignation or inability occurs within the last year of a term, the successor shall be eligible to reappointment for two consecutive terms.
(Ord. 865, 1977)
Any member of the county-wide housing advisory and appeals board who is absent from any two consecutive regular meetings of the committee within one year shall be referred to the Board of Supervisors or participating city with or without recommendation by the board, unless a valid excuse is delivered to the Chairman of the board prior to or at the time of the meeting.
(Ord. 865, 1977)
The board shall prepare rules and regulations for the conduct of its meetings and, after approval of the Merced County Board of Supervisors, such rules shall govern the board. The board shall meet at least once per calendar quarter. The board shall elect one of its members to act as chairperson, and one of its members to act as vice-chairperson. Officers shall be elected annually at the first meeting of each calendar year, and no individual shall hold the same office for two consecutive terms.
The County Public Works program analyst shall act as secretary to the board and provide liaison with rehabilitation staff.
(Ord. 865, 1977)
The powers and duties of the board are as follows:
A. 
To make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and participating city councils regarding housing rehabilitation, policy and policy implementation;
B. 
To recommend upon new innovation approaches and developments in the area of housing rehabilitation, such as pending legislation, regulations, availability of federal and state grants, and like opportunities and developments;
C. 
To hear appeals pursuant to the Uniform Housing Code and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors or participating city councils regarding expenditure to public funds for the enforcement of building codes;
D. 
To advise the Board of Supervisors on the methods and type of organizational structures that will enhance the county's ability to achieve the goals set forth in the county-wide housing rehabilitation program;
E. 
To provide and receive information to and from the public, especially low and moderate income and aged persons, about the opportunities of which they can avail themselves in order to attain and maintain adequate housing in Merced County;
F. 
Six members of the board, all present at the same time, shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of the business of the board at that meeting; and
G. 
All recommendations of the county-wide housing advisory and appeals board shall be in writing and forwarded to the chief administrative officer of the county or participating city.
(Ord. 865, 1977)