                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

QUALIFICATIONS, APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL, TERMS AND COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF LOCAL
PLANNING COMMISSIONS (§ 15.2-2212)

A local planning commission shall consist of not less than five nor more than
fifteen members, appointed by the governing body, all of whom shall be residents
of the locality, qualified by knowledge and experience to make decisions on
questions of community growth and development; provided, that at least one-half
of the members so appointed shall be owners of real property. The local
governing body may require each member of the commission to take an oath of
office.
		One member of the commission may be a member of the governing body of the
locality, and one member may be a member of the administrative branch of
government of the locality. The term of each of these two members shall be
coextensive with the term of office to which he has been elected or appointed,
unless the governing body, at the first regular meeting each year, appoints
others to serve as their representatives. The remaining members of the
commission first appointed shall serve respectively for terms of one year, two
years, three years, and four years, divided equally or as nearly equal as
possible between the membership. Subsequent appointments shall be for terms of
four years each. The local governing bodies may establish different terms of
office for initial and subsequent appointments including terms of office that
are concurrent with those of the appointing governing body. Vacancies shall be
filled by appointment for the unexpired term only.
		Members may be removed for malfeasance in office. Notwithstanding the
foregoing provision, a member of a local planning commission may be removed from
office by the local governing body without limitation in the event that the
commission member is absent from any three consecutive meetings of the
commission, or is absent from any four meetings of the commission within any
12-month period. In either such event, a successor shall be appointed by the
governing body for the unexpired portion of the term of the member who has been
removed.
		The local governing body may provide for compensation to commission members
for their services, reimbursement for actual expenses incurred, or both.

HISTORY: Code 1950, §§ 15-901, 15-916, 15-963; 1956, cc. 282, 497; 1960, c.
309; 1962, c. 407, § 15.1-437; 1973, c. 160; 1974, c. 521; 1986, c. 208; 1988,
c. 256; 1997, c. 587; 2006, c. 687.