The following shall be the standing committees of the Town of Topsham.
A. 
Planning Board (7 members).
B. 
Board of Appeals (5 members, two alternates).
C. 
Finance Committee (9 members).
D. 
Board of Assessment Review (3 members, two alternates).
E. 
Historic District Commission (5 members).
F. 
Conservation Commission (5 members).
A. 
Planning Board: The powers and duties of the Planning Board shall be those powers and duties established by Town of Topsham ordinance and state law.
B. 
Board of Appeals: The powers and duties of the Board of Appeals shall be those powers and duties established by Town of Topsham ordinance and state law.
C. 
Finance Committee: It shall examine all Town Meeting articles that call for an appropriation or expenditure of money and make its recommendations to the Town Meeting.
D. 
Board of Assessment Review: A Board of Assessment Review is adopted pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2526, Subsection 6, and shall consist of three members and two alternates. Initially, one member shall be appointed for one year, one member for two years and one member for three years. One alternate shall be appointed for one year and one alternate for two years. Thereafter, the term of each new member or alternate is three years.
E. 
Conservation Commission: The powers and duties of the Conservation Commission shall be those powers and duties established by the Town of Topsham ordinance and state law.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 10, Conservation Commission.
A. 
Quorum. Except as may be permitted by Town of Topsham ordinance or state law, no meeting of a standing committee shall be held without a quorum consisting of a majority of appointed members.
B. 
Voting. Notwithstanding Town of Topsham ordinance or state law, any action of a standing committee shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of its membership present and voting.
The following may not be appointed to standing committees:
A. 
Selectmen.
B. 
Full-time and part-time regular employees, except Fire Department on-call employees may serve on standing committees.
C. 
Spouses and domestic partners of Selectmen and employees as described above.
A. 
Appointments subsequent to the amendment of this Code shall be for a three-year term.
B. 
All appointments and reappointments subsequent to amending the Code will commence and terminate consistent with the Town's fiscal year (July 1 through June 30).
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint new members to the standing committees as necessary. In the event of the resignation of any Committee member, or his or her inability to serve, or unapproved absence of three (3) or more consecutive meetings, the Board of Selectmen shall appoint a member to finish any unexpired term that might remain at its earliest convenience.
The Board of Selectmen is authorized to establish committees that are temporary and have a specific purpose. The number of members on an ad-hoc committee may be whatever the Selectmen determine and may be composed of individuals without restriction. Ad-hoc committees shall not be established to undermine the powers and duties of standing committees. The term, powers, and duties shall be whatever the Selectmen determine at the point in time that the committee is established. Ad-hoc committees may be established for an indefinite term if appropriate.