40:55D-107. Historic preservation commission

a. The governing body may by ordinance provide for a historic preservation commission.

b. Every historic preservation commission shall include, in designating the category of appointment, at least one member of each of the following classes:

Class A--a person who is knowledgeable in building design and construction or architectural history and who may reside outside the municipality; and

Class B--a person who is knowledgeable or with a demonstrated interest in local history and who may reside outside the municipality.

c. A historic preservation commission shall consist of five, seven or nine regular members and may have not more than two alternate members. Of the regular members a total of at least one less than a majority shall be of Classes A and B.

Those regular members who are not designated as Class A or B shall be designated as Class C. Class C members shall be citizens of the municipality who shall hold no other municipal office, position or employment except for membership on the planning board or board of adjustment.

Alternate members shall meet the qualifications of Class C members. The mayor or, if so specified by ordinance, the chairman of the planning board 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." The terms of the members first appointed under this act 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 after 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 that 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. 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.

The historic preservation commission shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from its members and select a secretary, who may or may not be a member of the historic preservation commission or a municipal employee.

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.

d. No member of any historic preservation commission shall be permitted to act on any matter in which he has, either directly or indirectly, any personal or financial interest. e. A member of a historic preservation body may, after public hearing if he requests it, be removed by the governing body for cause.

L. 1985, c. 516, s. 21.