[Adopted 5-16-2013 by L.L. No. 1-2013]
This article shall be known as the "Reestablishment and Reorganization and Specification of Powers of the Town of Pine Plains Planning Board Law."
The Pine Plains Town Board, by resolution dated May 1, 1961, created a Planning Board to consist of five members pursuant to the then provisions of § 276 of the Town Law. The Town Board, by resolution dated April 11, 1962, pursuant to the authority of various provisions of the Town Law, adopted Subdivision Regulations. The Town Board, by resolution dated March 7, 1966, increased the number of Planning Board members to seven, with each to serve a term of five years. Section 271 of New York State Town Law was amended in 1992 to provide for the creation and appointment of a Town Planning Board pursuant to local law or ordinance. By Local Law No. 2 of 2009, the Town adopted its Zoning Law on October 15, 2009, and by Local Law No. 4 of 2010 the Town, pursuant to Article 16 of the Town Law, adopted Subdivision Regulations on September 16, 2010. The Town Board, by resolution dated October 18, 2011, in relevant part, established requirements and rules of conduct for Planning Board members and procedures for removing Planning Board members. The Town Board, by Local Law No. 1 of 2010, provided for the appointment of alternate members of the Planning Board. It is the desire of the Town Board to reestablish, recreate and reappoint the Planning Board in accordance with the current provisions of § 271 of the Town Law and to incorporate specifically, or by reference, in that law past resolutions and local laws relating to the Planning Board.
The Town of Pine Plains Planning Board is hereby reestablished, pursuant to the provisions of § 271 of the Town Law. The Planning Board shall consist of seven members appointed by resolution by the Town Board. The Planning Board, as currently established, shall continue to function and the members currently appointed shall continue in office until their respective terms expire. The terms of official Planning Board members shall be five years. The Town Board shall each year appoint a Chairperson of the Planning Board and may, in its discretion, provide for the compensation of Planning Board members by resolution. The Town Board shall specify the term and expiration of the Planning Board members at the time of the appointment or reappointment of a Planning Board member. A record of each appointment shall be kept by the Town Clerk and shall be included in the minutes of the meeting at which the appointment or reappointment was made. The Town Clerk shall supply a copy of the minutes of each appointment or reappointment to the Planning Board Secretary, and each year after the reorganization meeting, a list of the Planning Board members and the expiration date of each member's term shall be generated by the Town Clerk and supplied to the Secretary of the Planning Board. The Town Board shall make such appropriation as it may see fit for the Planning Board expenses by resolution each year. The Planning Board shall have the power and authority to employ experts, clerks and a secretary and to pay for their services and to provide for such other expenses as they deem necessary and proper, not exceeding in all the appropriation that may be made by the Town Board each year by resolution for the Planning Board.
A. 
The Planning Board shall be vested with all powers as provided currently in Chapter 275, Zoning, of the Town Code, as the same may be amended, and in Chapter 230, Subdivision of Land, as the same may be amended, and in Article 16 of the Town Law, as they currently exist, and as they may be amended from time to time by the State Legislature, together with such other powers as may be delegated to the Planning Board by the Town Board by local law or ordinance.
B. 
The Chairperson of the Planning Board shall establish the agenda and call the meetings of the Planning Board and shall be authorized to sign site plans, subdivision plats and other approved plans and plats after final approval is granted by the Planning Board. The Chairperson shall have such other and further duties as provided under § 271(10) of the Town Law, as it currently exists and as the same may be amended.
C. 
The Planning Board shall also have authority to make recommendations from time to time to the Town Board on any planning-related matter it deems relevant or is referred to it by the Town Board.
A. 
Each member of the Planning Board shall be expected to review and familiarize himself/herself with the Town's Subdivision Regulations (Chapter 230 of the Town Code) and those portions of Chapter 275, Zoning, which relate to the powers and duties of the Planning Board, and Article 16 of the Town Law.
B. 
The members of the Planning Board shall be expected to conduct themselves in conformity with all rules and regulations that may be adopted by the Town Board and/or by the Planning Board for the conduct of meetings and public hearings of the Planning Board.
C. 
Each member of the Planning Board shall complete, at a minimum, four hours of training each year designed to enable such member to more effectively carry out his/her duties. Any training received by a member in excess of four hours in any one year may be carried over by that member into succeeding years in order to meet this training requirement, all in accordance with the provisions of Town Law § 271(7-a).
(1) 
Any such training for Planning Board members shall be approved by the Town Board and may include, but not be limited to, training provided by a municipality, regional or county office or commission, county planning federation, state agency, statewide municipal association, college or other similar entity, and such training may be provided in a variety of formats, including, but not limited to, electronic media, video, distance learning and traditional classroom training.
(2) 
To be eligible for a reappointment at the expiration of a Planning Board member's term, such member shall have completed the training as required by this article and by Town Law § 271(7-a).
(3) 
The training provided by this article may be waived or modified by resolution of the Town Board when, in the judgment of the Town Board, it is in the best interest of the Town to do so.
D. 
No decision of the Planning Board shall be voided or declared invalid because of a failure of a member to comply with the training or other requirements of this article.
E. 
No member of the Planning Board may miss three meetings of the Board during a calendar year, other than for a medical or other emergency or for any other just cause approved, in advance, by the Chairperson of the Planning Board. It is expected that Board members be on time and call the Chairperson or Secretary if they cannot attend a meeting.
F. 
Removal.
(1) 
The Town Board shall have the power to remove, after public hearing, for cause, any Planning Board member. Cause for removal shall include, but shall not be limited to:
(a) 
Noncompliance with the minimum requirements relating to training and education as established in this article and/or by Town Law;
(b) 
Noncompliance with the meeting attendance requirements as established by this article;
(c) 
Failure to comply with the residency requirements as are set forth for public officers in the Town Law;
(d) 
Failure to disclose a conflict of interest as required by the Town's Code of Ethics;[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 22, Ethics.
(e) 
Physical or mental impairment affecting the Board member's ability to perform his or her functions as a Planning Board member;
(f) 
Failure to comply with the applicable provisions of the Pine Plains Code of Ethics;[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 22, Ethics.
(g) 
Failure to comply with any rules or regulations as may be prescribed for the conduct of Board members by the Town Board or Planning Board; and
(h) 
Such other and further cause as may be established by the Town Board by local law.
(2) 
Prior to the conduct of any public hearing for the removal of a Planning Board member for cause, the Town Board shall provide the Board member with a statement setting forth the alleged grounds for such removal at least 30 days prior to the conduct of the public hearing. During the public hearing, the Town Board shall have the power to hear testimony and receive evidence presented by the Town Attorney, by the chairperson of the applicable board or by any other person in support of the grounds for such removal. The Board member shall have the right to present witnesses and other evidence in defense of the removal action and the Town Board shall have the power to hear other witnesses and members of the public, and receive documentation and evidence relevant to the issue of the alleged cause for the Board member's removal. In cases where the grounds for removal consist of an alleged violation of the Pine Plains Code of Ethics, procedures for a hearing, discipline and/or removal set forth in the Code of Ethics shall be followed.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 22, Ethics.
(3) 
Any determination of the Town Board with regard to removal of a Planning Board member shall be made by the Town Board, in writing, and a copy shall be provided to the Planning Board member and filed in the office of the Town Clerk within five business days after the Town Board's determination.
G. 
Records.
(1) 
Each member of the Planning Board shall be required to keep records of his/her attendance at required training sessions and to provide to the Planning Board Secretary certificates of attendance for completion or other proof of completion of training courses on an annual basis. The Planning Board Secretary shall keep records of the attendance of each Planning Board member at the required training courses and shall present at the close of each calendar year a list of each Planning Board member's courses and credits earned in that year, together with any credits carried over from previous years, to the Town Clerk and to the Town Board.
(2) 
The Planning Board Secretary shall also keep records of the attendance of Planning Board members at meetings and shall provide attendance records to the Town Clerk and to the Town Board on an annual basis.
H. 
A copy of this article shall be supplied by the Town Clerk to each member of the Planning Board.
Alternate members of the Planning Board may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Article I of this chapter.
This article is hereby adopted pursuant to the provisions of § 10 of the New York State Municipal Home Rule Law and § 10 of the New York State Statute of Local Governments. It is the intent of the Town Board, pursuant to § 10 of the Municipal Home Rule Law, to supersede the provisions of § 271 of the Town Law to the extent that they may be inconsistent with the provisions of this article.