A.
The Historic District Commission, hereafter referred
to as the "HDC," is hereby established to be composed of seven members
appointed by Easton City Council as follows:
(1)
One member shall be a registered architect;
(2)
One member shall be a licensed real estate broker;
(3)
One member shall be a Code Administrator who is a
certified building inspector; and
[Amended 7-26-2023 by Ord. No. 5830]
(4)
Four members shall be at large members.
[Amended 2-11-2009 by Ord. No. 5167]
B.
At large members shall be persons with demonstrated
interest, knowledge, ability, experience or expertise in restoration,
historic rehabilitation, or neighborhood conservation or revitalization
who have interest in the preservation of the Historic District(s)
and who preferably are property owners who reside in the district.
C.
The registered
architect and the real estate broker must be licensed and reside in
Pennsylvania and, while preference may be given to a resident of the
City to fill these seats on the Commission, City residency is not
required.
[Added 7-26-2023 by Ord. No. 5830[1]]
D.
The initial terms of the first members shall be fixed
that no more than three members shall be replaced or reappointed during
any one calendar year. Vacancies on the HDC shall be filled within
90 days; however, every member shall continue in office after expiration
of the term until a successor has been appointed. Their successors
shall serve for terms of three years. The position of any member of
the HDC appointed in his capacity, such as a registered architect,
a licensed real estate broker, Code Administrator, Planning Commission
member, etc., who ceases to be so engaged, shall be automatically
considered vacant. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be only
for the unexpired portion of the term.
[Amended 5-24-2006 by Ord. No. 4814; 2-11-2009 by Ord. No. 5167; 7-26-2023 by Ord. No. 5830]
E.
It shall be the duty of each HDC member to remain
conscious of and sensitive to any possible conflict of interest (including
but not limited to financial considerations) that may arise by virtue
of his or her membership on the Board. A member, promptly upon his
determining he has a conflict himself relative to any matter brought,
shall disqualify himself from participating, in any manner, publicly
or privately, in the presentation, discussion, deliberation, or any
voting on any such manner, including temporarily absenting himself
from the room in which the discussion is being held.
(1)
In the event of a conflict of interest or absence
of the member who is a registered architect, an alternate registered
architect shall be appointed to serve on the Board to review certificate
of appropriateness applications.
[Added 5-24-2006 by Ord. No. 4814]
(2)
In the event of a conflict of interest with any member
of the Commission, the Commission shall appoint an alternate representative
with the same qualifications as may be applicable to said member who
has a conflict.
[Added 7-12-2006 by Ord. No. 4825]
(3)
The term of office for the appointment of the alternate
member shall remain in effect until the said conflict ceases.
[Added 7-12-2006 by Ord. No. 4825]
The powers and duties of the Historic District
Commission are as follows:
A.
Advisory role. The HDC shall give recommendations
to Easton City Council as to the advisability of issuing any certificate
of appropriateness required to be issued in accordance with the said
Act of June 13, 1961, as amended, and this chapter.
B.
Board rule-making power. The HDC may make and alter
rules and regulations for its own organization and procedure, provided
that they are consistent with the laws of the commonwealth and all
provisions of this chapter.
C.
Removal of members. Any Board member may be removed
for misconduct or wrongdoing, unlawful execution of this chapter,
chronic absenteeism, or failure to perform his or her responsibilities
pursuant to this chapter, or for other just cause by a majority vote
of Council. Said member shall be given notice of when City Council
plans to consider such action and be given an opportunity to be heard
at such meeting, if the Board member elects, prior to action.
D.
Annual reports. The members of the HDC shall make
an annual report to Easton City Council, which shall include:
(1)
Any recommendations for changes in the chapter;
(2)
The number and types of cases reviewed;
(3)
The number of cases for which a certificate of appropriateness
was either approved or denied;
(4)
Number of HDC meetings which each member attended;
(5)
Historic preservation-related training which each
member attended;
(6)
A narrative summary describing the state of preservation
in the City of Easton's Historic District with recommendations in
policy, goals and objectives for Easton City Council; and
(7)
A summary of any comments and recommendations made
relating to public improvement projects.
E.
Compensation. The HDC may employ secretarial and professional
assistance, and incur other necessary expenses with the approval of
Easton City Council.
F.
Meetings. The HDC shall meet publicly at least once
a month. Further, the HDC may hold any additional meetings it considers
necessary to carry out its powers and duties indicated in this chapter.
Such meetings shall be opened to the public. A majority of the HDC
shall constitute a quorum, and action taken at any meeting shall require
the affirmative vote of a majority of the members.
G.
Training. HDC members and HDC support staff shall
be encouraged to attend a minimum of eight hours annually of seminars,
conferences or workshops related to historic preservation and HDC
administration.
In addition to the above, the HDC shall have
the following powers and duties:
A.
To conduct a survey (in conjunction with the County
Historical Society and local preservation organizations) of buildings,
structures, objects and monuments for the purpose of determining those
of historic and/or architectural significance and pertinent facts
about them; action in coordination with the City of Easton's Planning
Commission, Zoning Hearing Board, and other appropriate groups and
to maintain and periodically revise the detailed listings (resource
inventories) of historic resources and data about them, appropriately
classified with respect to national, state and local significance
in accordance or consistent with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
Commission's "Cultural Resource Management in Pennsylvania: Guidelines
for Historic Resource Surveys."
B.
To propose, from time to time as deemed appropriate,
the establishment of additional historic districts and revisions to
existing historic districts.
C.
To formulate recommendations concerning the establishment
of an appropriate system of markers for selected historic and/or architectural
sites and buildings, including proposals for the installation and
care of such historic markers.
D.
To formulate recommendations concerning the preparation
and publication of maps, brochures and descriptive material about
the City of Easton historical and/or architectural sites and buildings.
E.
To cooperate with and advise Easton City Council and
the City's agencies in matters involving historically and/or architecturally
significant sites and buildings (such as appropriate land usage, parking
facilities and signs, as well as adherence to lot dimensional regulations
and minimum structural standards). To formulate recommendations concerning
changes to the City of Easton Comprehensive Plan as it relates to
retention of historic resources.
F.
To cooperate with and enlist assistance from the National
Park Service, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation
Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and
other agencies, public and private, from time to time, concerned with
the preservation of historic sites and buildings.
G.
To advise owners of historic buildings regarding rehabilitation,
repairs, maintenance methods and technologies, adaptive use, economic
and tax incentives and other historic preservation strategies.
H.
To promote public support in the purpose of this chapter
by carrying on educational and public relations programs.
