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Village of Stratford, WI
Marathon County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Stratford 4-12-1988 as Title 2, Ch. 4 of the 1988 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
Composition. The Board of Review shall consist of the Village President, the Clerk and three Trustees of the Village Board, who shall be annually appointed at the Board's organizational meeting. The Village President shall make the appointments, subject to the confirmation of the Village Board, at said organizational meeting.
B. 
Duties; compensation.
(1) 
Duties. The duties and functions of the Board of Review shall be as prescribed in §§ 70.46 and 70.47, Wis. Stats.
(2) 
Compensation. Compensation for the members of the Board of Review shall be as is established by the Village Board at the organizational meeting in April.
C. 
Meetings. In accordance with § 70.47(3)(b), Wis. Stats., the Village Board does hereby exercise its right to designate hours for the annual Board of Review proceedings other than those set forth in § 70.47(3)(a), Wis. Stats., and does hereby designate the hours of the annual Board of Review meeting to be 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Board may adjourn from day to day or from time to time, until such time as its business is completed, provided that adequate notice of each adjournment is so given.
A. 
Establishment.
(1) 
A Zoning Board of Appeals shall be appointed as specified in § 62.23(7)(e), Wis. Stats. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall consist of five citizen members appointed by the Village President, subject to confirmation by the Village Board, for a three-year term of office. The members shall serve with such compensation as determined by the Village Board and shall be removable by the Village Board for cause upon written charges and upon public hearing. The Village President shall designate one of the members Chairperson.
(2) 
The Village President shall appoint, subject to confirmation by the Village Board, for staggered terms of three years, two alternate members of such Board, in addition to the five members above provided for. Annually, the Village President shall designate one of the alternate members as first alternate and the other as second alternate. The first alternate shall act, with full power, only when a member of the Board refuses to vote because of interest or when a member is absent. The second alternate shall so act only when the first alternate so refuses or is absent or when more than one member of the Board so refuses or is absent.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
B. 
Powers. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall have the following powers:
(1) 
To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement of the Zoning Code or Floodplain Zoning Code.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 590, Zoning, and Ch. 547, Floodplain Zoning. Original Sec. 2-4-2(b)(2), which immediately followed this subsection and dealt with special exceptions, was deleted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
(2) 
To authorize upon appeal in specific cases such variance from the terms of the Village zoning regulations as will not be contrary to the public interest where, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement will result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship, so that the spirit of the Zoning Code shall be observed, public safety and welfare secured and substantial justice done; provided, however, that no such action shall have the effect of establishing in any district a use or uses not permitted in such district.
(3) 
To permit the erection and use of a building or premises in any location, subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards in harmony with the general purposes of the Zoning Code, for such purposes which are reasonably necessary for public convenience and welfare.
(4) 
The Zoning Board of Appeals may reverse or affirm wholly or in part or may modify any order, requirement, decision or determination appealed from and may make such order, requirement, decision or determination as in its opinion ought to be made. If a quorum is present, the Zoning Board of Appeals may take action by a majority of the members present. The grounds of every such determination shall be stated and recorded. No order of the Zoning Board of Appeals granting a variance shall be valid for a period longer than six months from the date of such order unless the land use permit is obtained within such period and the erection or alteration of a building is started or the use is commenced within such period.[4]
[4]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
C. 
Meeting and rules. All meetings of the Board shall be held at the call of the Chairperson and at such other times as the Board may determine. All hearings conducted by said Board shall be open to the public. The Board shall keep minutes of its proceedings showing the vote of each member upon each question or, if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact and shall keep records of its examinations and other official actions, all of which shall be immediately filed in the office of the Board and shall be a public record. The Board shall adopt its own rules of procedure not in conflict with this section or with the applicable Wisconsin Statutes.[5]
[5]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
D. 
Offices. The Village Board shall provide suitable offices for holding hearings and the preservation of records, documents, and accounts.[6]
[6]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 590, Zoning, Art. XV, Appeals.
A. 
Composition. The Village Plan Commission shall consist of the Village President, one Trustee and five citizens. The Village President shall be the Commission's presiding officer.
B. 
Appointment.
(1) 
Trustee member. The Trustee member shall be annually appointed by a two-thirds vote at the organizational meeting of the Village Board during the month of April of each year.
(2) 
Citizen members. The five regular citizen members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Village President, subject to confirmation by the Village Board. The original citizen members shall be appointed upon creation of the Commission and shall hold office as follows: one member for one year, two members for two years and two members for three years from the succeeding first day of May.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
C. 
Record. The Plan Commission shall keep a written record of its proceedings, to include all actions taken, a copy of which shall be filed with the Village Clerk. Four members shall constitute a quorum, but all actions shall require the affirmative approval of a majority of all of the members of the Commission.
D. 
Duties.
(1) 
The Comprehensive Plan.[2]
(a) 
The Plan Commission shall make, adopt and, as necessary, amend, extend or add to the Comprehensive Plan, subject to Village Board confirmation, for the physical development of the Village, including areas outside of its boundaries which, in the Plan Commission's judgment, bear relation to the development of the Village. The Comprehensive Plan, with the accompanying maps, plats and descriptive and explanatory matter, shall show the Commission's recommendations for such physical development and may include, among other things, without limitation because of enumeration, the general location, character and extent of streets, highways, freeways, street grades, roadways, walks, parking areas, public places and areas, parks, parkways, playgrounds, and sites for public buildings and structures; the general location and extent of sewers, water conduits and other public utilities, whether privately or publicly owned; the acceptance, widening, narrowing, extension, relocation, removal, vacation, abandonment or change of use of any of the foregoing public ways, grounds, places, spaces, buildings, properties, utilities, routes or terminals; the general location, character and extent of community centers and neighborhood units; and a comprehensive zoning plan.
(b) 
The Commission may adopt the Comprehensive Plan as a whole by a single resolution or, as the work of making the whole Comprehensive Plan progresses, may from time to time by resolution adopt a part or parts thereof, any such part to correspond generally with one or more of the functional subdivisions of the subject matter of the plan. The adoption of the plan or any part, amendment or addition shall be by resolution carried by the affirmative votes of not less than a majority of all the members of the Plan Commission, subject to confirmation by the Village Board. The resolution shall refer expressly to the maps, descriptive matter, and other matters intended by the Commission to form the whole or any part of the plan, and the action taken shall be recorded on the adopted plan or part thereof by the identifying signature of the Secretary of the Commission, and a copy of the plan or part thereof shall be certified to the Village Board. The purpose and effect of the adoption and certifying of the Comprehensive Plan or part thereof shall be solely to aid the Plan Commission and the Village Board in the performance of their duties.
[2]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 528, Comprehensive Plan.
(2) 
Matters referred to Plan Commission. The Village Board or officer of the Village having final authority thereon shall refer to the Plan Commission for its consideration and report, before final action is taken by the Board, public body or officer, the following matters: the location of any statue or other memorial; the location, acceptance, extension, alteration, vacation, abandonment, change of use, sale, acquisition of land for or lease of land for any street, alley or other public way, park, playground, airport, area for parking vehicles, or other memorial or public grounds; the location, extension, abandonment or authorization of any public utility, whether publicly or privately owned; all plats of lands in the Village or within the territory over which the Village is given platting jurisdiction by Ch. 236, Wis. Stats.; the location, character and extent or acquisition, leasing or sale of lands for public or semipublic housing, slum clearance, relief of congestion, or vacation camps for children; and the amendment or repeal of any land use ordinance. Unless such report from the Commission is made within 30 days, or such longer period as may be stipulated by the Village Board, the Board or other public body or officer may take final action without it.
(3) 
Miscellaneous powers. The Commission may make reports and recommendations relating to the plan and development of the Village to public officials and agencies, public utility companies, civic, educational, professional and other organizations and citizens. It may recommend to the Village Board programs for public improvements and the financing thereof. All public officials shall, upon request, furnish to the Commission, within a reasonable time, such available information as it may require for its work. The Commission, its members and employees, in the performance of its functions, may enter upon any land, make examinations and surveys, and place and maintain necessary monuments and markers thereon. In general, the Commission shall have such powers as may be necessary to enable it to perform its functions and promote municipal planning in cooperation with the Village Board. The Commission shall oversee community development block grants. The Plan Commission shall hear all applications for conditional uses in the manner set forth in §§ 590-46 and 590-47. It shall review in the manner set forth in § 590-119B and hold public hearings on changes and amendments when delegated to do so by the Village Board under § 590-119C(2).[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
E. 
Public hearings. In addition to powers previously granted, the Plan Commission shall have authority to set dates for and give notice of public hearings in connection with any request made directly to such Commission or referred to such Commission for a change in zoning district or for a variance in zoning requirements.
The Water and Electric Commission, consisting of three Commissioners, shall be appointed by the Village President, subject to confirmation by the Village Board, to staggered three-year terms which shall commence on the first day of the October following their appointment. The Water and Electric Commission shall have the duties and powers set out in § 66.0805, Wis. Stats., except that personnel policies shall be formulated in conjunction with the Personnel Committee of the Village Board, and expenditures shall be separately approved by the Village Board prior to payment.
[Added 10-9-2007]
A. 
The Housing Commission, consisting of five Commissioners, shall be appointed by the Village President, subject to confirmation by the Village Board. The Housing Commission shall be comprised of two Trustees of the Village Board and three Village residents. At least one of the appointed Village residents must qualify as a low- or moderate-income earner (annual income of 50% or less of the county median income).[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
B. 
The Housing Commission shall have the duties of supervising housing grant performance, reviewing and approving housing loan applications, and making emergency loan awards. The Commission shall meet on a monthly basis during periods of grant activity. When grant funds are not active, the Housing Commission shall meet as necessary in order to maintain proper review of the Housing Grant Working Account and Revolving Loan Fund.
A. 
Regular meetings; public notice. Every board, committee and commission created by or existing under the ordinances of the Village shall:
(1) 
Schedule a date, time and place for its meetings;
(2) 
Publish notice in or notify the official Village newspaper in advance of each such regular meeting of the date, time, and place thereof, in compliance with state law; and/or
(3) 
Post, at the front door of the Municipal Building, an agenda of the matters to be taken up at such meeting.
B. 
Special meetings. Nothing in Subsection A shall preclude the calling of a special meeting or dispensing with the publication of notice or such posting of the agenda, for good cause, but such special meetings shall nonetheless comply in all respects with the provisions of §§ 19.81 through 19.89, Wis. Stats.
C. 
Minutes. The secretary of each board, committee and commission shall file a copy of the meeting minutes of such board or commission with the Village Clerk.
No person not a resident of and not residing in the Village shall be appointed to any Village board or commission. Any board or commission member who moves from the Village shall be removed from such board or commission but may be appointed to serve in an ex officio capacity.