[Amended 6-28-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-1]
There is hereby created a Board of Zoning Appeals consisting
of three members appointed by the County Commissioners. All members
shall be residents of Caroline County. The term of office of each
member is three years. Each member shall serve no more than three
consecutive terms. After completing a third term, a member may not
be reappointed for two years. Vacancies shall be filled by the County
Commissioners for the unexpired term of any member whose seat becomes
vacant. The County Commissioners may remove any member for incompetence,
misconduct, failure to attend meetings under § 8-501 of
the State Government Article, or conviction of a crime in accordance
with § 8-502 of the State Government Article. The County
Commissioners shall file a written statement of charges stating the
reasons for the removal and provide an opportunity for a public hearing
to contest the charges. An alternate member may be appointed to fill
a vacant position subject to the same terms of office.
The County Commissioners shall designate one
alternate member for the Board of Zoning Appeals, who may sit on the
Board in the absence of any member of the Board. When the alternate
is absent, the County Commissioners may designate a temporary alternate.
The Board shall elect a Chairman and a Vice
Chairman from among its members, each to serve for one year or until
his successor is elected. In the event of a vacancy in either of said
offices, a successor shall be elected to serve for the unexpired term
of the vacated office. In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman
shall serve as Acting Chairman. The Zoning Administrator shall serve
as Executive Secretary to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
The Board of Zoning Appeals shall have the power
and duty to hear and decide the following:
A. Applications for special use exceptions in accordance with Article
XVI of this chapter.
B. Applications for variances in accordance with Article
XVII of this chapter.
C. Appeals where it is alleged there is error in any
order, requirement, decision or determination made by the Zoning Administrator
in the enforcement of this chapter.