Always have a printed agenda posted in a public place prior to the beginning of the commission meeting.
Keep accurate minutes and records of all commission activities specifically outlining each case and the reason the application was approved or denied.
Commission members should never speak on behalf of the commission.. Advise applicants on "the likelihood of approval" of applications outside of the public hearing.
Require an accurate representation of the applicant's request, sufficient enough to make an informed decision about the case.
Always keep your elected officials and other boards and commissions informed of the role and responsibilities of the preservation commission.
The commission chair should maintain order at all meetings and always allow relevant public comment.
As a commission member, avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest due to personal, social or financial gain in any case.
All commission decisions for designation or certificates of appropriateness must be based only on the review criteria in the ordinance.
All commission decisions must be based on a finding of fact that should be stated as part of the motion to approve or deny any application.
Refer to your preservation ordinance often if you are a commission member; it should be the basis for all actions.
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