The Town Council finds that the historical, architectural and cultural
heritage of the Town should be preserved to enrich the experience of present
and future generations, and that the continued expansion of urban and suburban
development threatens the existence of historical sites and structures.
There is hereby established an "Historical District Commission" to carry
out the purpose of this chapter.
The Commission shall consist of seven members, residents of the Town,
to be appointed by the Town Council. Members shall be appointed for a term
of three years, except that the initial appointment of two members shall be
for one year, two members for two years and three members for three years.
Members shall be eligible for reappointment.
In the event of a vacancy on the Commission, the Town Council shall
make an interim appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term. In the
event that a Commission member shall have missed three consecutive meetings
without consent of said Commission, then his membership shall expire forthwith
and the Town Council shall make an interim appointment to fill the unexpired
term of the vacancy.
In making appointments to the Commission, the Town Council may consult
with any duly organized historic or preservation society which may submit
a list of qualified citizens for the Town Council's consideration.
The Commission shall organize annually and, by election, shall select
from its membership a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary and may adopt
any rules of procedure deemed necessary in discharging its duties.
Four members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, and no vacancy
in the membership shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights
and perform all of the duties of the Commission.
The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
A. Establish criteria for evaluating historical, architectural
or cultural sites, buildings, places, landmarks or areas so as to determine
their value in terms of the national, state or local importance and to adjudge
their worthiness for inclusion in the Town's Historic District Map;
B. Prepare, or cause to be prepared, for the Town the boundaries
of historic districts to be incorporated on and to comprise the Town's Historic
District Map; and
C. Submit said Historic District Map to the Town Council
for acceptance, approval and filing.
In preparing said Historic District Map, the Commission shall bear in
mind that the purpose of said map is to safeguard the heritage of the Town
by preserving districts which reflect elements of Smithfield's cultural, social,
economic, political and architectural history, to stabilize and improve property
values in such districts, to foster civic beauty, to strengthen the local
economy and to promote the use of such historic districts for the education,
pleasure and welfare of the citizens of the Town.
In preparing said Historic District Map, the Commission may consult
with the Town Council, the Planning Board, the Zoning Board, the Building
Official or any other Town official or officials.
Upon the adoption by the Town Council of the Historic District Map the
powers and duties of the Commission shall be expanded by ordinance to the
full extent provided in Chapter 131, Public Laws 1959, entitled "An Act Providing
for Historic Zoning," as amended.