[Ord. 327, 4/10/1991, § I]
The Zoning Hearing Board presently in existence shall continue and be constituted as the Zoning Hearing Board under this Part. Matters pending before the Zoning Hearing Board (hereinafter referred to as the "Board") at the time this Part becomes effective shall continue and be completed under the law in effect at the time such Board took jurisdiction of them.
[Ord. 327, 4/10/1991, § I; as amended by Ord. 406, 3/13/1996]
1. 
Members; Qualifications; Terms. The membership of the Board shall consist of three residents of the Township of Northampton appointed by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. The terms of office of a three-member Board shall be three years and shall be so fixed that the term of office of one member shall expire each year. Members of the Board shall hold no other office in the Township of Northampton. Further regulation of membership and organization shall be as provided in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., as now in effect or as hereafter amended.
2. 
Alternate Member. The Board of Supervisors may appoint by resolution at least one but no more than three residents of the Township to serve as alternate members of the Board. The term of office of an alternate member shall be three years. Duties, rules and procedures of the alternate members include:
A. 
When seated, pursuant to the provisions of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), an alternate member shall be entitled to participate in all proceedings and discussions of the Board, to the same and full extent as provided by law for Board members. Specifically, alternate members shall have the right to cast a vote as a voting member during the proceedings and shall have all the powers and duties set forth in this Part, and as otherwise provided in the MPC, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.
B. 
An alternate member shall continue to serve on the Board in all proceedings involving the matter or case for which he or she was initially seated until the Board has made a final determination of that matter or case.
C. 
An alternate member shall hold no other office in the Township of Northampton, including, but not limited to, an exclusion from membership on the Planning Commission or service as Zoning/Code Enforcement Officer, during his/her term of office.
D. 
When designated to sit by the Chairman of the Board due to the absence of a quorum by reason of disqualification or absence of a regular Board member, the alternate member shall receive the same rate of compensation as a regular Board member for each meeting in which he or she participates, as fixed under this Part.
E. 
When not designated by the Board Chairman to sit, the alternate member may not vote and shall not be compensated but may, at the discretion of the Chairman, participate in any proceeding or discussion of the Board.
3. 
Rules and Regulations. The Zoning Hearing Board may make, alter and rescind rules and forms for its procedures such as are consistent with the ordinances of the Township and the laws of the Commonwealth. The Board shall keep full public records of the rules, regulations and forms it adopts. Such records shall be the property of the Township and shall be made available for inspection by any interested person in the Township Building.
4. 
Compensation. Regular and/or alternate members of the Zoning Hearing Board shall be compensated at a rate to be established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Rules of procedure for the Zoning Hearing Board, originally attached to the chapter, are on file in the Township offices.