[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Alexandria 5-12-2004. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Land use — See Ch. 115.
There is hereby established in and for the Township of Alexandria a Historic Preservation Commission to promote the conservation of historic site and districts and to safeguard the heritage of Alexandria Township by preserving the elements of its cultural, social, scenic, archaeological and architectural history.
A. 
The Historic Preservation Commission shall consist of five regular members and two alternate members. There shall be one member each of Class A, and B, and three Class C members from the municipality.
B. 
Class qualifications shall be as follows:
(1) 
Class A: a person who is knowledgeable in building design and construction or architectural history, and who may reside outside the municipality.
(2) 
Class B: the Township Historian, or a person who is knowledgeable or with a demonstrated interest in local history, and who may reside outside the municipality.
(3) 
Class C: residents of the municipality who shall hold no other municipal office or employment in the Township.
A. 
The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Township Committee, shall appoint all members of the Commission and shall designate at the time of the appointment the regular members by class and the alternate members, if any, as "Alternate No, 1" and "Alternate No. 2."
B. 
The terms of the members first appointed shall be so determined that, to the greatest practicable extent, the expiration of the terms shall be distributed, in the case of regular members, evenly over the first three years after their appointment, provided that the initial term of no regular member shall exceed three years. Thereafter, the term of a regular member shall be three years.
C. 
A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term only.
The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Township Committee, shall select a Chairman. The Commission members shall elect a Vice Chairman and a Secretary from the members of the Historic Preservation Commission.
The Commission shall create rules and procedures for the transaction of its business subject to the following regulations:
A. 
A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of three of the Commission's members, including the Chairman or, in his absence, the Vice Chairman.
B. 
The Secretary shall keep minutes and records of all meetings and proceedings, including voting records, attendance, resolutions, findings, determinations and decisions. All such materials shall be public records.
C. 
All members of the Historic Preservation Commission shall serve at the pleasure of the Township Committee.
The Commission members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of official business if authorized by the Township Committee.
The Historic Preservation Commission may secure the voluntary assistance of the public and, with the prior permission of the Township Committee, retain consultants and experts.
The Historic Preservation Commission shall have the responsibility to:
A. 
Maintain a survey of historic sites of the Township pursuant to criteria identified in the survey report.
B. 
Prepare historic preservation design guidelines to assist owners and potential owners in restoring and preserving their properties.
C. 
Offer guidance and assistance to obtain grants from state and federal agencies, as requested, to further the restoration and preservation of properties.
D. 
Make recommendations to the Land Use Board on the historic preservation plan element of the Master Plan and on the implications for preservation of historic sites of any other Master Plan elements.
[Amended 6-14-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-01]
E. 
Advise the Land Use Board on applications for development pursuant to § 28-9 of this chapter.
[Amended 6-14-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-01]
F. 
Advise the Township Committee, the Land Use Board and make recommendations on any matters received pertaining to proposed municipal, county, state, or federal developments, projects or demolitions of historical sites within the municipality.
[Amended 6-14-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-01]
G. 
Carry out such other advisory, educational and informational functions to promote historic preservation in the Township.
[Amended 6-14-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-01]
The Land Use Board shall make available to the Historic Preservation Commission an informational copy of every application submitted to the Board for development in historic zoning districts or on historic sites designated on the Zoning or Official Map or in any component element of the Master Plan. Failure to make the informational copy available shall not invalidate any hearing or proceeding. The Historic Preservation Commission may provide its advice which shall be conveyed through its delegation of one of its members or staff to testify orally at the hearing on the application and to explain any written report which may have been submitted.