§ 167-71. Historic preservation review commission.

There shall be a Commission to be known as the "Malta Historic Preservation Review Commission."

A. 

The Commission shall consist of no fewer than five members, including the Town Historian, to be appointed by the Town Board for staggered terms of five years.

(1) 

All members shall have a demonstrated interest, competence or knowledge of historic preservation.

(2) 

To the extent that such professionals are available, Commission members shall be drawn from among the disciplines of history, architecture, planning, archaeology, historic preservation or closely related fields.

(3) 

The Commission may seek authorization from the Town Board to obtain professional services, such as those of an architect or archaeologist, as required on specific projects.

B. 

The Chair of the Commission shall be appointed by the Town Board, and the Vice Chair shall be elected by and from among the members of the Commission.

C. 

Commission meetings shall consist of a quorum (a majority of members) and shall be held at regular intervals, or as needed, but in no case fewer than six times a year.

D. 

Official actions by the Commission shall require an affirmative vote by not less than a majority of the full membership of the Commission.

E. 

To fulfill the purposes stated in § 167-70, the responsibilities of the Commission shall include:

(1) 

Adoption of criteria for the identification of significant historic, architectural and cultural landmarks and for the delineation of historic districts.

(2) 

Conducting inventories, following State Preservation Office Guidelines, of significant historic, architectural and cultural landmarks and historic districts within the Town, and provision of inventory data to the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.

(3) 

Studying referrals from Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals regarding matters brought before them which may impact historic sites and structures.

(4) 

Increasing public awareness of the value of historic, cultural and architectural preservation by developing and participating in public education programs.

(5) 

Making recommendation to the Town government concerning the utilization of state, federal or private funds to promote the preservation of landmarks and historic districts within the Town.

(6) 

Recommending acquisition of an historic property, site or structure by the Town government where its preservation is essential to the purposes of this chapter and where private preservation is not feasible.