Town of West Hartford, CT Article XII Historic District Commission

[Adopted 4-11-1978]

§ 5-57 Creation; membership; terms; vacancies; compensation.

A. There is hereby created an Historic District Commission, consisting of five members and three alternate members, of which at least one member and one alternate member shall be residents of an historic district within the Town of West Hartford if such residents are willing to serve on the Commission. Members and alternate members shall be electors of the Town holding no salaried municipal office and shall be appointed by the Town Council.

[Amended 3-8-2016]

B. The initial appointments to membership on the Commission shall be so arranged that the term of at least one member shall expire each year, and their respective successors shall be appointed for terms of five years.

C. At the first meeting of the Commission, and annually thereafter, the Commission shall elect from its own members a Chair, a Vice Chair and a clerk.

D. In case of inability to act because of absence, sickness or self-interest on the part of any member, the Chair shall designate an alternate member to serve in such member's place.

E. The Town Council may remove any member for cause and may fill any vacancies for the balance of any unexpired term.

F. Members and alternate members shall serve without compensation.

§ 5-58 Rules of procedure.

The Historic District Commission shall adopt rules of procedure, not inconsistent with the provisions of C.G.S. §§ 7-147a to 7-147m,[1] inclusive, as it deems necessary or desirable to carry out the intent of this article.

[1] Editor's Note: C.G.S. § 7-147m was repealed 1980, P.A. 80-314, § 12.

§ 5-59 Functions.

[Amended 2-24-1981; 12-16-1997]

A. The Historic District Commission shall perform all the functions of the Historic District Study Committee relative to the expansion of existing districts and establishing new districts and otherwise administering the provisions of C.G.S. §§ 7-147a to 7-147m,[1] inclusive.

[1] Editor's Note: C.G.S. § 7-147m was repealed 1980, P.A. 80-314, § 12.

B. The Historic District Commission may make recommendations to the Town Manager regarding property within the Town under consideration by the State Historic Preservation Board for nomination to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

C. The Historic District Commission shall, in accordance with Town Code § 103-6, perform all the functions of an historic properties commission related to designating new properties and otherwise administering the provisions of C.G.S. §§ 7-147p to 7-147y, inclusive.

D. The Historic District Commission may engage in activities to enhance historic and architectural preservation in the Town, including the following:

(1) Monitoring of historic buildings, structures and other architectural assets to obtain knowledge of their potential or imminent demolition, alteration or removal and taking reasonable action to preserve such buildings, structures and assets.

(2) Initiating the nomination of buildings and structures to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

(3) Educating the general public concerning the historic and architectural heritage represented by homes and buildings in West Hartford through such efforts as an annual preservation awards program.

(4) Making recommendations to the Town Council and Town Manager and Board of Education on matters in furtherance of historic and architectural preservation.