[Adopted 7-8-1991 by Ord. No. 1125 (Ch. 124 of the 1982 Code)]
There is hereby created in and for the Borough of Leonia a Commission to be known as the "Historic Preservation Commission of the Borough of Leonia."
A. 
The Historic Presentation Commission shall consist of five regular members and two alternate members. Of the five regular Commission members, at least one member shall be of Class A, at least one member shall be of Class B and three of the five members shall be either Class A or Class B, defined as follows:
(1) 
Class A: a person who is knowledgeable in building design and construction in architectural history and who may reside outside the municipality.
(2) 
Class B: a person who is knowledgeable or with a demonstrated interest in local history and who may reside outside the municipality.
(3) 
Class C: those regular members who are not designated as Class A or B. Class C members shall be citizens of the municipality who shall hold no other municipal office, position or employment, except they may be a member of the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment.
B. 
Alternate members shall meet the qualifications of Class C members.
C. 
The governing body shall appoint citizens of the municipality as Class A and B members to the Commission. In the event citizens of the municipality are not available, after reasonable inquiry, to serve as members, then the governing body may appoint members who reside outside the municipality.
A. 
The Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council shall appoint all members of the Commission and shall designate at the time of appointment the regular members by class and the alternate members 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 four years over their appointment, and in the case of alternate members, evenly over the first two years after their appointment, provided that the initial term of no regular member shall exceed four years, and the initial term of no alternate member shall exceed two years. Thereafter, the term of a regular member shall be four years, and the term of an alternate member shall be two years.
C. 
A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term only. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the term of any member common to the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Board shall be for the term of membership on the Planning Board, and the term of any member common to the Historic Preservation Commission and the Board of Adjustment shall be for the term of membership on the Board of Adjustment.
D. 
Organization. The Commission shall elect from its membership a Chairman and a Vice Chairman.
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/her absence, the Vice Chairman.
B. 
The Commission shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the Commission. The secretary shall keep minutes and records of all meetings and proceedings, including voting records, attendance, resolutions, findings, determination and decision. All such material shall be public records.
C. 
All meetings shall comply with the Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-7 et seq.).
D. 
Alternate members may participate in discussions of the proceedings but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote.
E. 
No member of the Historic Preservation Commission shall be permitted to act on any matter in which he has either, directly or indirectly, any personal or financial interest.
F. 
A member of the Historic Preservation Commission may (after public hearing if he requests it) be removed by the governing body for cause.
The Commission members shall serve without compensation.
The Historic Preservation Commission shall obtain its legal counsel from the Borough Attorney at the rate of compensation determined by the governing body. Expenditures shall not exceed, exclusive of gifts or grants, the amount appropriated by the governing body for the Commission's use.
The Historic Preservation Commission shall have the responsibility to:
A. 
Prepare a survey of potential historic sites of the Borough, pursuant to criteria identified in the survey report.
B. 
Make recommendations to the Planning 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.
C. 
Advise the Planning Board on the inclusion of historic sites in the recommended capital improvement program.
D. 
Advise the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment on applications for development, pursuant to § 11-28 of this chapter.
E. 
Provide written reports to the Planning Board.
F. 
Carry out such other advisory educational and informational functions as will promote historic preservation in the Borough of Leonia.
G. 
Seek funding in the form of grants, bequests, donations to be used to assist owners of historic properties in their preservation of those properties.
The Planning Board and Board of Adjustment shall make available to the Historic Preservation Commission an informational copy of every application submitted to either 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.