§ 9.25-32. Historic preservation commission.

(a)

Creation of the historic preservation commission. There is hereby created a commission whose title shall be the "Cartersville Historic Preservation Commission," hereinafter "commission."

(b)

Historic preservation commission position within the City of Cartersville. The commission shall be considered a part of the planning and development functions of the City of Cartersville and the staff function shall be performed by the department of planning and development.

(c)

Historic preservation commission members. Number, appointment, terms, and compensation. The commission shall consist of seven (7) members appointed by the City Council of the City of Cartersville. All members shall be residents of, own and operate a business in, or own real property in the City of Cartersville. Preference shall be given to persons who have demonstrated special interest, experience or education in history, architecture or the preservation of historic resources, but such preference is not required in making such appointments.

At least one (1) member should be appointed from among persons in the fields of building construction or real estate appraisal. Subsequent to making the initial appointments, upon the expiration of such members initially appointed, at least one (1) member shall be a property owner in a designated historic district.

Members shall serve three-year terms. In order to achieve staggered terms, initial appointments shall be: two (2) members for two (2) years; and three (3) members for three (3) years. Members shall not receive a salary, although they may be reimbursed for expenses by the Cartersville City Council. The Cartersville City Council will have the authority to remove any member of the historic preservation commission appointed by it for cause, on written charges, after a public hearing.

(d)

Statement of the commission's powers.

The commission shall be authorized to:

(1)

Prepare and maintain an inventory of all property within the City of Cartersville having the potential for designation as a historic property;

(2)

Recommend to the city council specific places, districts, sites, buildings, structures, objects, or works of art to be designated by ordinance as historic properties or historic districts;

(3)

Review applications for certificates of preservation and approve, approve with conditions, or deny same in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;

(4)

Recommend to the city council that the designation of any place, district, site, building, structure, object or work of art as a historic property or historic district be revoked or removed;

(5)

Restore or preserve any historic properties acquired by the City of Cartersville with the approval of the city council;

(6)

Promote the acquisition by the City of Cartersville of facade easements in accordance with the provisions of "Facade and Conservation Easements Act of 1976" (O.C.G.A. §§ 44-10-1 through 5);

(7)

Conduct educational programs on historic properties located within the City of Cartersville and on general historic preservation activities;

(8)

Make such investigations and studies of matters relating to historic preservation, including consultation with historic preservation experts, as the city council or commission may, from time to time, deem necessary or appropriate for the purposes of preserving historic resources;

(9)

Seek out local, state, federal, and private funds for historic preservation, and make recommendations to the city council concerning the most appropriate uses of any funds acquired;

(10)

Submit to the office of historic preservation of the department of natural resources a list of historic properties or historic districts designated, and seek their comments and advice on said designation;

(11)

Perform historic preservation activities as the official agency of the City of Cartersville's historic preservation program;

(12)

Employ persons, if necessary, to carry out the responsibilities of the commission, upon approval and appropriation by the city council;

(13)

Receive donations, grants, funds, or gifts of historic property and acquire and sell historic properties. The commission shall not obligate the City of Cartersville without prior consent;

(14)

Review and make comments to the historic preservation office of the department of natural resources concerning the nomination of properties within its jurisdiction to the National Register of Historic Places;

(15)

Participate in private, state and federal historic preservation programs and with the consent of the city council enter into agreements to do the same;

(16)

Recommend to the city council such financial and/or other incentives that can be expected to encourage the preservation of the communities' historic resources and provide a positive incentive to affected property owners;

(17)

Consult with historic preservation experts in the historic preservation office of the department of natural resources or its successor, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, Inc., the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Georgia Certified Local Government Program, and other historic commissions.

(e)

Commission's powers to adopt rules and standards. The historic preservation commission shall adopt rules and standards for the transaction of its business and for consideration of applications for designations and certificates of preservation, such as by-laws, removal of membership provisions and design guidelines and criteria. The commission shall have the flexibility to adopt rules and standards without amendment to this chapter. The commission shall meet monthly and shall provide for the time and place of regular meetings and a method for the calling of special meetings. The commission shall select such officers, as it deems appropriate from among its members. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members. The latest edition of Roberts' Rules of Order shall determine the order of business at all meetings.

(f)

Conflict of interest. At any time the commission receives a project in which a member of the commission has ownership or other vested interest, including the involvement of relatives, that member will be forbidden from presenting, voting, or discussing the project, other than answering a direct question. Provided, however, the commission member may be excused from sitting in attendance with the commission on such matter and may then address the commission as an affected citizen.

(g)

Records of commission meetings. A public record shall be kept of the commission's resolutions, proceedings and actions.

(h)

Meetings of the commission. The commission shall meet monthly.

(Ord. No. 19-01, § II, 5-17-01; Ord. No. 47-04, §§ 1—3, 6-17-04; Ord. No. 51-08, § 1, 12-4-08)