§ 24. Planning Board Officers.

(a)

At its first regular meeting in December of each year, the planning board shall, by majority vote of its membership (excluding vacant seats), elect one (1) of its members to serve as chairman and one (1) member to serve as vice chairman. The persons so designated shall serve in these capacities for terms of one (1) year. Vacancies in these offices may be filled for the unexpired terms only by majority vote of the board membership (excluding vacant seats).

(b)

The chairman shall preside over all meetings of the board and shall decide all points of order and procedure, subject to the board's by-laws and rules of procedure. The chairman shall appoint any committees found necessary to investigate any matters before the board. The chairman may call special meetings of the board in accordance with the board's bylaws.

(c)

The vice chairman shall serve as acting chairman in the absence or disqualification of the chairman, and at such times, shall have the same power and duties as the chairman.

(d)

A secretary shall be elected by the board, either from within or from outside its membership, to hold office for a one-year term or until a successor secretary shall have been elected. The secretary, subject to the direction of the chairman and the board, shall keep all records, shall conduct all correspondence of the board, and shall generally supervise the clerical work of the board. The secretary shall keep the minutes of every meeting of the board and perform other duties in accordance with the board's bylaws.

(e)

An assistant secretary may be elected by the board either from within or from outside of the board's membership. The assistant secretary shall assist the secretary and shall perform the duties of the secretary in the absence or inability of the secretary to do so.

(f)

All officers who are elected from within the membership of the board may take part in all deliberations and may vote on all issues. Officers elected from outside the board membership may not take part in deliberations nor vote.