[Added 7-26-1989 by Ord. No. 33-1989[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance was originally adopted as Art XXIV, but was redesignated as Art. XXV, as the code already contained an Art. XXIV.
This article is applicable to any and all Township boards, commissions or authorities heretofore established or to be established. Any board, commission or authority operating under the auspices of the Township of Egg Harbor may itself adopt for its own internal operations rules more stringent than those contained herein, but in all circumstances, this article shall stand as the base minimum such standard.
A member of any board, commission or authority may receive excusal from attendance of a regular or specially called meeting from the Chairperson of the board, commission or authority. In the absence of the Chairperson, or where the Chairperson is to be absent, such request shall be directed to the Assistant Chairperson. Should it occur that the Assistant Chairperson is also absent or unavailable, such request shall be directed to the Chairperson's or Assistant Chairperson's designee. Such a request may be in writing or telephonically communicated either prior to the scheduled or specially called meeting or, if there are emergency circumstances, within 24 hours after the scheduled or specially called meeting. In all circumstances, whether the communication is in writing or telephonic, the Chairperson, Assistant Chairperson or other designee shall make note of the request, giving the basis for same and indicating whether the request was granted or denied. The granting of the request for an excused absence shall be upon a showing of good cause as determined by the Chairperson, Assistant Chairperson or designee, but, in all circumstances, such permission shall not be unreasonably withheld.
A. 
Upon a showing by the member of extraordinary emergency circumstances, including but not limited to serious illness or injury to that member or to a member of his immediate family, the Chairperson or Assistant Chairperson may grant a leave of absence of up to four meetings or three months, whichever is shortest in time. All parties will comply with the recordkeeping procedures defined in § 6-165.
B. 
If a further leave of absence is necessary, the member shall seek a hearing before the full board, commission or authority, where a general vote will be taken by the membership at the direction of the Chairperson, Assistant Chairperson or designee as to whether the leave of absence should be granted. This additional leave of absence shall also be for an additional two meeting dates or two months, whichever is shorter in time.
C. 
There will be no further leave of absence granted beyond the second such period. A member who is still unable to attend meetings after the granted leave of absence period or periods will be construed to have resigned, thus creating a vacancy, and notification of such will then be forwarded in writing by the Chairperson or Assistant Chairperson to the Mayor and Township Committee for the purposes of appointing an additional person to fill the vacancy.
All absences which are not excused are construed to be unexcused. If a member should accumulate more than three unexcused absences within a six-month period of time or five unexcused absences within a twelve-month period of time, this shall be construed to be a resignation by that member, thus creating a vacancy. Notification of such will then be forwarded in writing by the Chairperson or Assistant Chairperson to the Mayor and Township Committee for the purposes of appointing an additional person to fill the vacancy.