There is hereby created the Joint Historic Preservation Commission of the cities of Newton and North Newton. Its members shall be appointed by the mayors of the cities of Newton and North Newton with the approval of their respective city governing bodies, in the manner hereinafter described. In making appointments to the commission, the mayors and city governing bodies shall make an attempt to maintain a balance of interest and skills on the commission by assessing the individual qualifications of the candidates including but not limited to their knowledge and interest in preservation related fields such as architecture, history, archaeology, planning, design, landscape architecture or law.

(Ord. 4195, Sec. 2)

The Joint Historic Preservation Commission shall consist of nine members, six of whom shall be appointed by the mayor of the City of Newton, with the consent of the governing body thereof, and three of whom shall be appointed by the mayor of the City of North Newton, with the consent of the governing body thereof. The initial appointees shall be appointed to serve terms in the following manner:

(a)   City of Newton Appointees: two members shall be appointed to serve one year terms, two members shall be appointed to serve two years terms, and two members shall be appointed to serve three year terms; and

(b)   City of North Newton Appointees: one member shall be appointed to serve a one year term, one member shall be appointed to serve a two year term, and one member shall be appointed to serve a “three year term.

Thereafter, all appointees shall be appointed for three year terms each. Each term shall begin on the 1st day of May of the year of appointment, and shall end on the 30th day of April in the year of expiration. Each governing body shall have the right to remove any member of the commission appointed thereby for failure to regularly attend to the duties of such office, or for other good cause or reason as deemed appropriate by such governing body. In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation, disqualification or removal of any member, the governing body which appointed such member shall fill such vacancy by appointment in the same manner as designated above. Such appointment to fill a vacancy on the commission shall be made for the unexpired portion of such vacated term. All members of this commission shall serve without compensation.

(Ord. 4195, Sec. 2)

The Joint Historic Preservation Commission shall meet at regular intervals as established from time to time by the commission; provided, however that no meeting shall be conducted by the commission or by any committee thereof unless notice of the date, time and place of such meeting has been conveyed not less than seven days in advance thereof to the city clerks of the cities of Newton and North Newton for the purpose of enabling such city clerks to provide any necessary public notice of such meeting as required by law. All meetings of the commission, or of any committees thereof, shall be open to the public. The commission, and any committees thereof, shall keep a record of its proceedings, a copy of what shall be filed for public view in the offices of the city clerks of the cities of Newton and North Newton. No business of the commission may be conducted unless a quorum of not less than a majority of the appointed members is present.

(Ord. 4195, Sec. 3)

The Joint Historic Preservation Commission shall elect a chair to preside over the meetings of the commission, a vice-chair to preside in the absence of the chair, and a secretary to be responsible for the preparation of the records of the commission and to preside in the absence of either the chair or the vice chair.

(Ord. 4195, Sec. 4)

The primary purposes and duties of the Joint Historic Preservation Commission are to prepare an inventory of structures and properties in the cities of Newton and North Newton which have architectural, archaeological, cultural or historical significance to the cities of Newton and North Newton, and to formulate and make such recommendations to the governing bodies of such cities as to activities, programs and/or regulations which the governing bodies should consider implementing for any of the following purposes:

(a)   To promote the designation of historic properties and landmarks, and the creation of historic districts for the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the public;

(b)   To strengthen the economic base of the cities by the re-vitalization, preservation, protection and enhancement of those structures and districts which reflect outstanding elements of the cultural, artistic, social, economic, political, architectural, historic or other heritage of the cities;

(c)   To promote the outstanding historical or architectural structures or districts of the cities by promoting civic pride in the history and accomplishments of the past; and

(d)   To stabilize and improve the aesthetic and economic vitality and values of such structures and districts.

(Ord. 4195, Sec. 5)