§ 66-53. Officers; quorum; rules of procedure.

(a)

Chairman and vice chairman. The mayor and vice mayor shall serve as chairman and vice chairman of the local planning agency respectively. In the absence of the chairman, the vice chairman shall act as chairman and have all the powers of the chairman. In the absence of both the chairman and vice chairman, the members present shall select a chairman pro-tem to act as chairman who shall have all the powers of the chairman.

(b)

Secretary. The town clerk shall serve as secretary of the local planning agency. The secretary shall keep minutes of all proceedings, which minutes shall be a summary of all proceedings before the local planning agency, which shall include the vote of all members upon every question, and be attested to by the secretary. The minutes shall be approved by a majority of the local planning agency members voting. In addition, the secretary shall maintain all records of the local planning agency meetings, hearings, proceedings, and the correspondence of the local planning agency. The records of the local planning agency shall be stored with the town clerk's office, and shall be available for inspection by the public, upon reasonable request, during normal business hours. The town clerk also shall be responsible for administering oaths and swearing in of witnesses where required.

(c)

Staff. The planning and building department shall be the professional staff of the local planning agency. The planning and building department shall be responsible for preparing the agenda and providing a recommendation to the local planning agency on all matters related to the comprehensive plan. However, nothing herein shall preclude the local planning agency from seeking the expertise and advice of others.

(d)

Town attorney. The town attorney shall provide counsel and interpretation on legal issues.

(e)

Quorum and voting. The presence of a majority of members of the local planning agency shall constitute a quorum of the local planning agency necessary to take action and transact business. In addition, a simple majority vote shall be necessary in order to forward a formal recommendation to the town commission. In the event of a tie vote, the proposed motion shall be considered to have failed. No member shall abstain from voting unless there is a conflict of interest pursuant to F.S. § 112.01 et seq.

(f)

Rules of procedure.

(1)

All meetings shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order. The local planning agency may, by a majority vote of the entire membership, adopt additional rules of procedure for the transaction of business, and shall keep a record of meetings, resolutions, findings and determinations.

(2)

Failure of the local planning agency to make a recommendation to the town commission on any item within 60 days of the close of its public hearing on the item shall constitute the item being sent to the town commission without a recommendation.

(Ord. No. 95-1, § 1, 1-30-95)