[HISTORY Adopted by the Planning Commission
(now Planning and Zoning Commission) of the Town of Griswold 6-2-1970. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
The following bylaws are adopted by the Planning
and Zoning Commission of the Town of Griswold to facilitate the performance
of its duties and the exercising of its powers pursuant to Chapter
126 of the Connecticut General Statutes.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Connecticut General Statutes
Section 8-18 et seq.
A.
Selection. At the first meeting of each calendar year,
the Commission shall elect from its membership a Chairman, Vice Chairman
and Secretary.
[Amended 3-10-1997]
B.
Tenure. The Chairman and Vice Chairman shall take
office immediately following their election and shall hold office
for a term of one year or until their successors are selected and
assume office.
C.
Vacancies. In the event of a vacancy in any of the
above offices, the Commission shall appoint one of its members for
the unexpired portion of the term.
A.
Chairman. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings
and hearings, appoint committees and perform such other duties as
may be ordered by the Commission and, with the Town Planner, shall
certify all maps, plans, records and reports of the Commission. He
shall have the privilege of discussing all matters before the Commission
and voting thereon.
B.
Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall act in the
capacity of the Chairman in the event of his absence.
C.
Secretary. The Secretary shall act in the capacity
of the Chairman and Vice Chairman in the event of their absence. The
Secretary shall perform such other duties as the Chairman may direct.
[Amended 3-10-1997]
D.
Town Planner. The Town Planner shall act in the capacity
of Corresponding Secretary to the Commission and shall keep a written
record of all business transacted by the Commission. The Town Planner
shall review all matters that come before the Commission and shall
prepare reports accordingly. The Town Planner shall also perform such
other duties as the Commission may direct.
[Amended 3-10-1997]
E.
Recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary shall
keep the minutes and records of the Commission. The Recording Secretary
shall also perform all clerical duties for the Commission, Town Planner
and Planning and Zoning Office.
[Added 3-10-1997]
A.
Regular meetings.
(1)
Regular meetings of the Commission shall be held on the second Monday
of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the office of the Planning and Zoning
Commission.
[Amended 3-12-2018]
(2)
When the regular meeting falls on a holiday, the meeting shall be
held on the following day.
(3)
Notice of regular meetings shall be sent to members by the Town Planner
at least seven days prior to such meeting, along with an agenda for
the proposed meeting.
[Amended 3-12-2018]
B.
Special meetings. Special meetings may be called by
the Chairman at any time or may be called at the written request of
three members of the Commission.
C.
Emergency meetings.
(1)
Emergency meetings may be called by the Chairman at
any time or may be called at the written request of three members
of the Commission.
(2)
Notice of emergency meetings shall be given to all
members and shall state the purpose, place and time of such meeting.
(3)
The minutes of said meeting shall be filed within
72 hours with the Town Clerk of the Town of Griswold.
D.
Public meetings.
(1)
All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the
public; however, the Commission reserves the right to hold a closed
executive session for the purpose of preliminary discussion, the presentation
of preliminary consultant planning progress reports and for the consideration
of other tentative or preliminary matters.
(2)
No regulation, rule or formal action of any kind shall
be adopted in executive session.
E.
Quorum. Three members of the Commission shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of all business or the taking of official
actions. Whenever a quorum is not present at a regular or special
meeting, those present may adjourn the meeting to another day or hold
the meeting for the purpose of considering such matters as are on
the agenda. No action taken at such meeting shall be final or official
unless and until verified at a subsequent meeting at which a quorum
is present by approval of the minutes of the meeting at which a quorum
was not present.
F.
Voting.
(1)
Voting shall be by voice unless a request is made
by a Commission member that the Commission be individually polled.
(2)
No motion or vote shall be adopted by the Commission
unless it shall have received the affirmative votes of at least three
members of the Commission or as otherwise specified in the Connecticut
General Statutes.
(3)
Ex officio members have the same status as appointed
members, except that they will not be entitled to a voting privilege.
G.
Order of business. The order of business for a regular
or special meeting shall be:
A.
Scheduling. All public hearings shall be held separately
from the regularly scheduled meetings of the Commission. The time
and place of such hearings may be established by the Chairman at any
time following a determination that a sufficient number of members
will be in attendance.
B.
Hearings regarding subdivisions. All public hearings
regarding the adoption of subdivision regulations or subdivision maps,
or amendments or changes thereto, subdivisions, resubdivisions or
revisions of subdivisions shall be held in accordance with the provisions
of Section 8-25 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
C.
Hearings regarding the Comprehensive Plan. All public
hearings regarding the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan or any part
thereof shall be held in accordance with the provisions of Section
8-23 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
D.
In addition to those required by law, the Commission
may, at its discretion, hold public hearings on other matters when
it decides that such hearings will be in the public interest.
A.
Standing committees. The following committees may
be appointed by the Chairman:
(1)
Subdivision Committee. Duties shall be to examine
all applications for subdivisions, etc., inspect the site and make
recommendations to the Commission thereon.
(2)
Zoning Committee. Duties are to review all applications
for rezoning or for special use permits, inspect the site and make
recommendations to the Commission thereon.
(3)
The Planning Commission shall work closely with the Town Planner
in matters pertaining to the Comprehensive Plan and Plan of Conservation
and Development and make recommendations to the Commission thereon.
[Amended 3-12-2018]
B.
Tenure. Standing committees shall be appointed for
one year and shall consist of three members. Vacancies shall immediately
be filled by the Chairman.
C.
Special committees. Special committees may be appointed
by the Chairman with the approval of the Commission for such purposes
and terms as he may specify.
A.
Amendments. These bylaws may be amended at any regular
or special meeting by a minimum of three affirmative votes, provided
that the amendment shall be introduced at a regular meeting at least
30 days prior to the meeting at which action to amend is made.
B.
Suspension. The Commission may temporarily suspend
any of these bylaws by a unanimous vote of the members present.