The Board of Finance shall consist of six members serving without compensation for four years each. Employees of the Town are not allowed to serve on the Board of Finance. The Board shall have the powers and duties prescribed by law and as described in Article
IX of this Charter.
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall consist of six members,
serving without compensation for four years each. There shall be three
alternates, also serving without compensation for four years each.
Employees of the Town are not allowed to serve on the Planning and
Zoning Commission. The Commission shall have the powers and duties
prescribed by Statutes.
The functions and responsibilities of the Commission shall include
the following:
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preparation and adoption of a Plan of Development,
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designation of zoning districts in accordance with that Plan,
and
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preparation, adoption, and implementation of zoning and subdivision
regulations in furtherance of the Plan of Development and the long-term
health and safety of the Town,
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all as specified in Chapters 124 and 126 of the Statutes. To
the extent provided by the Statutes, and within the limits of its
appropriations, the Commission may, by vote of a majority of its members,
engage such employees, including legal counsel, as are necessary for
its work and may contract with professional consultants.
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The Zoning Board of Appeals shall consist of five members, serving
without compensation for four years each. There shall be three alternates,
also serving four years each. Employees of the Town are not allowed
to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Such Board shall have the
powers and duties as prescribed by the law.
The functions and responsibilities of the Board include the
following: (1) hearing and deciding appeals where it is alleged there
is an error in any order, requirement, or decision made under Chapter
124 of the Statutes; (2) hearing and deciding special exceptions as
required by the specific terms of the zoning bylaws; and (3) determining
and varying the application of zoning bylaws, ordinances, or regulations
solely with respect to a parcel of land for reasons of unusual hardship,
as specified in Chapter 124 of the Statutes.
The Town shall elect five members to the District 17 Regional
Board of Education, subject to such future adjustments as are necessary
to insure balanced representation of member towns. Members elected
to the Regional Board of Education shall serve four years each, and
vacancies on the Board shall be filled by vote at a Town Meeting,
as provided for in Section 10-46 of the Statutes, to serve until a
successor is chosen and qualified at the next municipal election,
at which time a successor shall be elected to serve any unexpired
portions of that term.
Additional boards may be established by ordinance submitted
to and approved by a Town Meeting. Such ordinance shall specify the
board's powers and duties, number of members, terms of office,
and method of filling vacancies.
No Board authorized in Sections
4-10 through 4-15 of this Charter shall have more than a bare majority of terms of office expiring at the same election, except that the Board of Finance and the Planning and Zoning Commission shall have no more than half of the terms expiring at the same election.