A.
A Zoning Board of Adjustment is hereby created pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-69 et seq., consisting of seven regular members and four alternate members, each of whom shall be a resident of Haddonfield Borough and be appointed by the Board of Commissioners. The members of the heretofore created Zoning Board of Adjustment are hereby reappointed to serve their respective terms. The term of all new members appointed under this chapter shall be so determined that, to the greatest practicable extent, the expiration of such shall be distributed, in the case of regular members, evenly over the first four years after their appointment and, in the case of alternate members, evenly over the first two years of their appointment and the terms of not more than two alternate members shall expire in any one year; provided, however, that the initial term of no regular member shall exceed four years and that the initial term of no alternate member shall exceed two years. Thereafter, the term of each regular member shall be four years, and the term of each alternate member shall be two years.
[Amended 12-14-2004 by Ord. No. 31-2004]
B.
Alternate members shall be designated at the time of their appointment as “Alternate No. 1,” “Alternate No. 2,” “Alternate No. 3,” and “Alternate No. 4.” Alternate members may participate in the discussion of the proceedings but may not vote except in absence or disqualification of a regular member. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate is to vote, alternate members shall vote in the order of their numerical designations.
[Amended 12-14-2004 by Ord. No. 31-2004]
C.
No member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment shall hold an elective office or position under the municipality.
D.
Any vacancy on said Board occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled by appointment by the Board of Commissioners to serve for the unexpired term of the member whose term shall become vacant. A member may be removed by the Board of Commissioners for cause, but only after public hearing, if requested, and other requested procedural due process protection.
E.
The Zoning Board of Adjustment shall organize annually by selecting from among its regular members a Chairman and a Vice Chairman. The Board shall also select a Secretary who may or may not be a member of the Board or a municipal employee.
F.
The Board of Commissioners, after giving due consideration to budget requests that may be submitted by the Zoning Board of Adjustment, shall make the provisions in its budget and appropriate funds for the expenses of the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
G.
The office of Zoning Board of Adjustment Attorney is hereby created. The Board of Adjustment may annually appoint to such office and fix the compensation or rate of compensation of an attorney at law of New Jersey other than the Municipal Attorney.
H.
The Zoning Board of Adjustment may also employ or contract for and fix the compensation of such experts and other staff and services as it may deem necessary. The Board, however, shall not authorize expenditures which exceed, exclusive of gifts or grants, the amount appropriated by the Board of Commissioners for its use.
I.
If the Board of Adjustment lacks a quorum because any of its regular or alternate members is prohibited by N.J.S.A. 40:55D-69 from acting on a matter due to the member's personal or financial interest therein, Class IV members of the Planning Board shall be called upon to serve, for that matter only, as temporary members of the Board of Adjustment. The Class IV members of the Planning Board shall be called upon to serve in order of seniority of continuous service to the Planning Board until there are the minimum number of members necessary to constitute a quorum to act upon the matter without any personal or financial interest therein, whether direct or indirect. If a choice has to be made between Class IV members of equal seniority, the Chairman of the Planning Board shall make the choice.[1]