Chapter 3. Planning Commission

3.1 Creation of Planning Commission, Number of Members, Appointment

The Rockville Town Planning Commission shall consist of five (5) members, each to be appointed by the Rockville Town Mayor with the advice and consent of the Town Council. The Town Council may designate by resolution the composition of the Rockville Town Planning Commission. It is the intent of this Code that the Rockville Town Planning Commission shall not consist of members, all of whom are from the same field of expertise. The five (5) members of the Rockville Town Planning Commission shall be residents of Rockville Town. At least three (3) of the five (5) members shall hold no other public office or position within the Town of Rockville.

3.2 Appointments

Appointments to the Planning Commission shall be made on a basis which fairly represents the interests of all residents of Rockville.

3.3 Terms of Office

The terms of office for the five (5) Rockville Planning Commission positions shall be for three (3) years. The terms of office for the Rockville Town Planning Commission positions shall be staggered. Terms shall be January 1 to December 31, or until replaced. Term vacancies shall be filled by the following procedure: (a) Notification of vacancy shall be posted forty-five (45) days before the term ends and requests for consideration will be accepted through the last business day of December, before 4 p.m.; (b) The Mayor, with advice and consent of the Town Council, shall appoint the replacements at the Town Council meeting in January or the earliest possible date thereafter.

3.4 Vacancies and Removals for Cause

Vacancies of appointed positions occurring otherwise than through the expiration of terms shall be filled by appointment pursuant to Section 3.2 for the remainder of the unexpired term by the Mayor upon advice and consent of the Town Council. The same procedure and time frame as stated in 3.3 Terms of Office shall be followed. The Town Council shall have the right to remove any member of the Rockville Town Planning Commission for misconduct and may remove any person for non-performance of duty. Non-performance of duty shall include a repeated failure to attend Rockville Town Planning Commission meetings.

3.5 Compensation

The Rockville Town Planning Commission shall serve without compensation, except that the Town shall provide for reimbursement of the Rockville Town Planning Commission for actual expenses incurred, upon presentation of proper receipts and vouchers.

3.6 Officers

The Rockville Town Planning Commission shall elect a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson from among its members, whose terms shall be for one (1) year. In the absence of the chairperson or vice-chairperson, the quorum shall elect a chairperson pro-tem for that meeting.

3.7 Powers and Duties

The Planning Commission shall:

A. prepare and recommend a general plan and amendments to the general plan to the legislative body;

B. recommend zoning ordinances and maps, and amendments to zoning ordinances and maps, to the legislative body;

C. administer provisions of the Land Use Code, where specifically provided for in the Code adopted by the legislative body;

D. recommend subdivision regulations and amendments to those regulations to the legislative body;

E. recommend approval or denial of subdivision applications;

F. advise the legislative body on matters as the legislative body directs;

G. hear or decide any matters that the legislative body designates, including the approval or denial of, or recommendations to approve or deny, conditional use permits;

H. exercise any other powers

1) that are necessary to enable it to perform its function; or

2) delegated to it by the legislative body.

3.8 Meetings

The Rockville Town Planning Commission shall conduct regularly scheduled meetings. All meetings of the Rockville Town Planning Commission shall be open to the public.

3.9 Rules and Regulations

The Rockville Town Planning Commission may adopt such rules and procedures, as it may deem necessary for the proper conduct of its business. The Rockville Town Planning Commission shall keep a record of its proceedings; such record shall be open to inspection by the public at all reasonable times.

3.10 Quorum and Vote

A quorum shall consist of three (3) members. No business shall be conducted unless a quorum is present. A majority vote shall be constituted of at least a majority of members present.

3.11 Employees; Expenditures

The Rockville Town Planning Commission may, upon the approval of the Rockville Town Council, employ experts and staff, including consultants and a secretary, and pay such expenses, exclusive of gifts, as may be reasonable and necessary for carrying out the duties defined in this Code, providing that such expenditures may not exceed the amount appropriated for the operation of the Rockville Town Planning Commission by the Rockville Town Council.