[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Commissioners of Kent County 4-3-1990 as Ch. 6, Art. I, Secs. 6-1 and 6-3, of the 1989 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Administration of government — See Ch. 3.
The Planning Commission shall be and is hereby created for Kent County, Maryland, in accordance with § 3.01 of Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The name of said Planning Commission shall be "Kent County Planning Commission."
[Amended 5-7-1991 by Bill No. 2-91]
The Planning Commission shall consist of seven (7) members as follows:
A. 
A County Commissioner of Kent County may be appointed by the County Commissioners to serve as an ex officio member. The ex officio member shall vote only in the case of a tie vote by the six (6) other members.
B. 
In the event that the Kent County Commissioners appoint a seventh member to serve on the Planning Commission in lieu of a County Commissioner, said member shall be selected on the basis of qualifications and experience, have an unrestricted vote and shall serve no longer than the term of the County Commissioners making the appointment.
C. 
Six (6) other members shall be appointed by the Kent County Commissioners and shall be selected on the basis of their qualifications and experience.
A. 
The term of office for each of the seven (7) members so appointed shall be five (5) years, or until a successor is appointed and takes office.
[Amended 5-7-1991 by Bill No. 2-91[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code, see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
B. 
The ex officio member shall serve for the term of the office to which he was elected, unless replaced by another Commissioner to serve for a part of the term.
The members of the Planning Commission may be compensated as the County Commissioners deem appropriate.
The Commission shall elect a Chairperson from one (1) of the appointed members and create and fill such other of its offices as it may determine. The term of the Chairperson shall be one (1) year, with eligibility for reelection.
[Amended 12-6-1994 by Bill No. 6-94]
The Commission shall hold at least one (1) regular meeting each month. It shall adopt rules for the transaction of business and shall keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations, which records shall be a public record.
[Amended 12-6-1994 by Bill No. 6-94]
The Board of County Commissioners may appoint such employees as it may deem necessary to the Planning Commission in its work and may also contract with planners, engineers, architects and other consultants for such services as may be required.
The expenditures of the Commission, exclusive of gifts, shall be under such conditions and within the amounts appropriated for the purpose by the County Commissioners of Kent County.
The Commission shall have the powers and duties as now or hereafter provided for in Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition, as amended) and the Laws of Kent County, Maryland.
A. 
The office of the Director of Planning and Zoning Administration of Kent County is created. The Board of County Commissioners of Kent County may appoint a Director of Planning and Zoning Administration from time to time. He shall be selected on the basis of his planning and zoning knowledge and experience and experience in administrative and public affairs. The Director of Planning and Zoning Administration shall receive an annual salary to be established by the County Commissioners.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Original Section 6-3(a), age requirements for the Director, which immediately followed this section, was deleted at time of adoption of Code; see Chapter 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
B. 
The Director of Planning and Zoning Administration shall devote his full time to the work of the county planning and zoning administration, and he shall be responsible to the County Commissioners for the proper administration of his affairs. He shall at all times be held responsible for the proper discharge of his duties, but may delegate to an appropriate employee such authority as he deems necessary to carry out the duties of his office.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
C. 
The Director of Planning and Zoning Administration for the county shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) 
He shall work under the guidance of the Kent County Planning Commission and direction from the County Commissioners of Kent County, Maryland. He shall plan, manage and supervise the daily work of the Commission's office and provide for supervision of its employees.
(2) 
He shall prepare and review the initial application for grants and other assistance.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
(3) 
He shall provide immediate and long-range planning in cooperation with other agencies and communities concerned with county development; study economic, social, education, physical and fiscal conditions of Kent County; prepare surveys, data, summaries and programs; inform the County Commissioners of current plans, programs and projects; render technical assistance to the Planning Commission in reviewing of applications for buildings, conditional uses and subdivision; provide for liaison between the Planning Commission and other governmental agencies; prepare the annual budgets, grants, applications and other requests for assistance; assure compliance with laws, ordinances and regulations governing new construction; conduct on-site inspections; advise builders; arrange for cease and desist orders; assist the Attorney in the prosecution of violators; consult with other departments and agencies regarding actual or alleged occupancy, utilization, building construction and other aspects of land and building use which may relate to the current zoning of a particular tract of land; and inspect property on an established routine basis and on a special-incident basis to observe structures and their use relative to the zoning requirements.
(4) 
He shall perform such other duties as may be given him by the County Commissioners of Kent County and the Planning Commission.
D. 
In the absence of the Director of Planning and Zoning Administration, the County Commissioners may appoint an Acting Director of Planning and Zoning Administration. During the period of holding this position, the Acting Director of Planning and Zoning Administration has all powers, duties, functions and responsibilities of the office of the Director of Planning and Zoning Administration.