The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutHDCByLaws HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY 3 E BY-LAWS i 'I ARTICLE I Name of Commission 3 The name of this organization shall be The Historic District Commission of Washington County, hereinafter referred to as the Commission. i 'I ARTICLE II Authorization The authorization for the establishment of this organization is set forth in Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Public General Laws of Maryland. ARTICLE III Membership Section 1 The Commission shall consist of seven (7) members, appointed by the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County. Section 2 The term of each member shall be three (3 ) years , or until his successor takes office. The composi- tion of the Commission shall be as specified in Article 20 . 1 (b) of the zoning Ordinance. Section 3 Members may, after a public hearing, be removed by the local legislative -body for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. Vacancies occurring otherwise than through the expiration of term shall be filled for the un- expired term by the local legislative body. Section 4 All members of the Commission shall reside in Washington County. Section 5 Each member of the Commission shall be entitled to one ( 1 ) vote. . Section 6 All members shall serve with such compensation as the local legislative body deems appropriate. i 4 3 3 ( I n I I ARTICLE IV Officers 3 3 Section 1 The Commission shall elect a Chairman and a Vice- Chairman from the appointed members of the Commission and may create and fill such other offices as it deems appropriate. Section 2 The term of Chairman shall be for one (1 ) year, with eligibility for re-election for no more than two ( 2) additional terms. Section 3 The Chairman shall preside at all meetings and hearings of the Commission, and shall have the duties normally conferred by parliamentary procedure. j Section 4 The Vice--Chairman shall act for the Chairman in his absence. ARTICLE V Election of Officers Section 1 At the regular meeting in December of each year, the Commission shall elect -from its membership a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman, and these elected persons shall take office at the regular meeting in January. i Section 2 Nominations shall be made from the floor of the annual organizational meeting, and election of officers shall immediately follow. Section 3 A candidate receiving a majority vote of the entire membership of the Commission shall be declared elected and shall serve for one ( 1 ) year, or until his successor shall take office. Section 4 Vacancies in office shall be filled by the adopted election procedure at the first regular meeting of 3 the Commission following notification of the vacancy. 1 ARTICLE VI Meetings Section 1 Regular meetings shall be held on the first Wednesday of each month at 2 : 30 p.m. or at such other time as deemed appropriate by the Commission. In the event of a conflict with holidays or other events , a majority vote shall determine the alternate meeting date. -2- ' 1 Section 2 A quorum shall consist of four (4 ) members of the Commission. A motion to approve any matter before the Commission, or to recommend approval of any request requiring action by the Board of County Commissioners , shall require affirmative votes of a majority of those present and voting. Whenever a quorum is not present at a regular or special meeting, those present may adjourn the meeting or may hold the meeting to discuss the matters on the agenda without taking any action on those or other matters . This section shall apply to public hearings as well as to all meet- J ings . Section 3 A member shall be disqualified from any matter under consideration by the Commission that may affect that member's personal or financial interest. A member may announce disqualification when an applicant, either directly or through another party, has privately sought to influence that member' s action in a matter before the Commission. E Section 4 Special meetings may be called by the Chairman with concurrence of the majority of the Commission. It shall be the duty of the Chairman to call a special meeting when requested to do so by a majority of the Commission. The Chairman shall notify all members of the Commission three ( 3 ) days in advance of such special meeting. Special meet- ings shall be held at such tames and places as determined by a majority of the members. i Section 5 All meetings or portions of meetings at which official action is taken shall be open to the general public. i Section 6 Unless otherwise specified, Robert 's Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings at the meetings 3 of the Commission. Section 7 Any provision of these rules not governed by State or County law may be temporarily suspended by a favorable two-thirds voteof all members of the 1 Commission, which vote shall be entered in the minutes . -3-- ARTICLE VII Order of Business Section l An agenda shall be prepared and shall be approved by the Chairman for all regular meetings . The agenda along with any supporting documents shall 1 be sent to all Commission members by no later than the Thursday preceding the regular Wednesday meeting. Agendas for special meetings shall be prepared as deemed necessary by the Commission. Section 2 The order of business , set forth on the agenda, shall be : A. Call to Order B. Roll Call C. Reading of the Minutes of the previous meetings and action thereof D. Communications and bills E. Reports F. Unfinished Business G. New Business H. Other Business I . Adjournment i Section 3 A motion from the floor must be made and passed in order to dispense with any item on the agenda. i ARTICLE VIII Hearing Section 1 In addition to those required by law, the Commission may hold public hearings when it finds that they will be in the public interest. Section 2 Notice of the time and place of such hearings on matters of general public interest shall be pub- lished once a week for two consecutive weeks in at least one newspaper of general circulation in Washington County but not earlier than three weeks prior to the hearing. For matters of limited public interest, notice shall be given in such a manner as deemed . appropriate by the Commission. Section 3 The matter before the Commission shall be pre- sented in summary by a member of the staff, and parties of interest shall have the right to be heard. Section 4 A record shall be kept of those speaking before the Commission at such hearings , and a transcript or recording of all comments shall be made. -4- 1 ARTICLE IX Amendments These By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the entire membership of the Commission pro- vided such amendment is proposed at a prior meet- ing and made available to all Commission members in writing at least three days prior to the meet- i ing at which it is to be considered. E :q ARTICLE X Recordation 3 A copy of these By-Laws and any amendments there- to shall be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Washington County within ten (10 ) days following the date of adoption. ARTICLE XI Repealing Clause All previously adopted By-Laws and all amendments thereto are, upon adoption of these By-Laws, re- pealed. I 1 ADOPTED: This 21st day of January, 1987 . Chairman ATTEST: Vice-Chairman I E E i i 3 } s i —5— i a a a Y r ADDENDUM HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND i BY-LAWS. During the June 14, 1989 workshop meeting of the Historic District Commission and as reflected in the minutes of that meeting, the following amendment to the By-laws was approved by a majority vote. Article VI, Meetings, Section 1 is deleted in its entirety and replaced by the following: ARTICLE VI MEETINGS Section 1 I Regular meetings shall be held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7: 00 pm or at such other time as deemed appropriate by the Commission. In the event of a conflict with holidays or other events, a majority vote shall determine the alternate meeting date. 1 i 'I E } ii I 1 I 8 l 33 ADDENDUM HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND '.1 BY-LAWS a During the August 1, 1990 regular meeting of the Historic District Commission and as reflected in the minutes of that meeting, the following amendment to the By-laws was approved by a j majority vote. .j Article III, Membership, Section 3 is deleted in its entirety and replaced by the following: ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP Section 3 Members may, after a majority vote by the Commission to recommend removal , be removed by the local legislative body for inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance in office or poor attendance. Poor attendance is considered to be missing 50% or more of the regularly scheduled meetings in any consecutive six month period. Vacancies occurring otherwise than through the expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term by the local legislative body. 3 i l i