Source: https://www.ecode360.com/14643773
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 08:25:17+00:00

Document:
§ 30-1 Board of Review.
§ 30-3 Zoning Board of Appeals.
§ 30-5 Prescott Industrial and Economic Committee.
§ 30-6 Board of Police Commissioners.
§ 30-7 Cable Television Advisory Committee.
§ 30-8 Historic Preservation Committee.
§ 30-10 Meetings and public notice.
§ 30-11 Residency requirement; attendance standards.
Authorities — See Ch. 21.
Ethics — See Ch. 75.
Officers and employees — See Ch. 135.
Records — See Ch. 170.
Composition. There shall be a Board of Review for the City of Prescott which shall consist of the Mayor, City Administrator, and three Alderpersons annually appointed at the Council's organization meeting.
Objections to valuations to be written. No person shall be permitted to appear and make objection before the Board to the amount of valuation of any property unless objection thereto shall first have been made in writing and filed with the Clerk of the Board prior to the adjournment of public hearing by the Board.
Duties. The duties and functions of the Board of Review shall be as prescribed in §§ 70.46 and 70.47, Wis. Stats.
Board's duty. The Board shall carefully examine the assessment roll and correct apparent errors in description or computation. It shall add all omitted property but shall not raise or lower the assessment of any property except after hearing, as provided by the statutes.
Confidential information. Whenever the Assessor, in the performance of the Assessor's duties, requests or obtains income and expense information pursuant to § 70.47(7)(af), Wis. Stats., or any successor statute thereto, then such income and expense information that is provided to the Assessor shall be held by the Assessor on a confidential basis; except, however, that the information may be revealed to and used by persons in the discharge of duties imposed by law; in the discharge of duties imposed by office (including but not limited to use by the Assessor in performance of official duties of the Assessor's office and use by the Board of Review in performance of its official duties); or pursuant to order of a court. Income and expense information provide to the Assessor under § 70.47(7)(af), Wis. Stats., unless a court determines that it is inaccurate, is, per § 70.47(7)(af), Wis. Stats., not subject to the right of inspection and copying under § 19.35(1), Wis. Stats.
Alternative forms of sworn testimony at Board of Review (BOR) hearings.
An Objection Form for Real Property Assessment (PA-115A) must be completed and submitted to the BOR as required by law.
After the two requirements outlined above have been met, a Request to Testify by Telephone or Submit a Sworn Written Statement at Board of Review (Form PA-814) may be submitted to the City Clerk. Such requests must be submitted in time to be considered by the Board at the first meeting of the BOR.
The requester's stated reason(s) for the request as indicated on the PA-814.
Ability of the requester to procure in person oral testimony and any due diligence exhibited by the requester in procuring such testimony.
Ability to cross examine the person providing the testimony.
The BOR's technical capacity to honor the request.
Any other factors that the Board deems pertinent to deciding the request.
Administration. There shall be a Library Board to administer the operation of the Prescott Public Library. The Library Board shall consist of seven members. The Mayor, subject to Council confirmation, shall appoint six citizen members for a term of three years, with two members appointed annually. The Superintendent of the Prescott School District or his designee shall, by virtue of his office, be a member of the Board.
Duties and powers. The Library Board shall have the duties and powers as prescribed by Chapter 43, and more particularly set forth in § 43.58, of the Wisconsin Statutes. The Library Board shall appoint the Librarian and other library employees.
Establishment. A Zoning Board of Appeals shall be appointed as specified in § 62.23(7)(e), Wis. Stats. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall consist of five members and two alternate members appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Common Council, for a term of three years. The members may be compensated as determined by the Council and shall be removable by the Common Council for cause upon written charges and upon public hearing. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall annually elect in May a Chairperson and Secretary.
To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is an error in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement of the City's zoning or building code ordinances.
Editor's Note: See Ch. 259, Building Construction, and Ch. 635, Zoning.
To hear and decide special exceptions to the terms of City zoning and floodplain zoning or building code regulations upon which the Zoning Board of Appeals is required to pass.
Editor's Note: See Ch. 259, Building Construction, Ch. 600, Floodplain Zoning, and Ch. 635, Zoning.
To authorize, upon appeal in specific cases, such variance from the terms of the City's zoning or building code regulations as will not be contrary to the public interest, where owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement will result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship, so that the spirit of the zoning code shall be observed, public safety and welfare secured and substantial justice done; provided, however, that no such action shall have the effect of establishing in any district a use or uses not permitted in such district.
To permit the erection and use of a building or premises in any location subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards in harmony with the general purposes of the zoning code, for such purposes which are reasonably necessary for public convenience and welfare.
When granting a special exception (conditional use) or variance, the Board should carefully define the scope of the permit and list any imposed conditions. The Board may exercise any of its powers by reversing or affirming, wholly or partly, or modifying the order, requirement, decision or determination of the administrative officer from whom the appeal was taken. The Board may then make other orders, requirements, decisions or determinations. This includes taking any action which the Zoning Administrator might take, such as issuing or revoking a permit or requiring the applicant to restore the site or remove any unauthorized construction.
Meetings and rules. All meetings of the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be held at the call of the Chairperson and at such other times as the Board may determine. All hearings conducted by the said Board shall be open to the public. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question, or, if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact, and shall keep records of its examination and other official actions, all of which shall be immediately filed in the office of the City Clerk and shall be a public record. The Board shall adopt its own rules of procedure not in conflict with this section or with applicable Wisconsin Statutes.
Offices. The Common Council shall provide suitable meeting space for holding the hearings of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Appropriations. The Common Council may appropriate funds to carry out the duties of the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Board shall have the authority to expend, under regular procedures, all sums appropriated to it for the purpose and activities authorized herein.
Composition. The Plan Commission shall consist of the Mayor, who shall be the presiding officer, one Alderperson and five citizens. The Building Inspector shall serve as a nonvoting member.
Election/appointment of Alderperson member. At its annual meeting in April of each year the Common Council shall, by a two-thirds majority vote of its members, elect one of its number as a member of the City Plan Commission for a period of one year from and after the first day of May next ensuing.
Appointment and terms of citizen members. The five citizen members shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to Council confirmation, on the third Tuesday of April in each year to hold office for a staggered term of three years commencing with the third Tuesday of April.
Organization of Commission. The Mayor shall serve as presiding officer. The Plan Commission shall organize by the election of a Vice Chairperson and such other officers as may in their judgment are necessary. The City Clerk shall be the secretary.
Record. The Plan Commission shall keep a written record of its proceedings to include all actions taken, a copy of which shall be filed with the City Clerk. Four members shall constitute a quorum but all actions shall require the affirmative approval of a majority of all of the members of the Commission.
The Plan Commission may make, adopt and, as necessary, amend, extend or add to the Comprehensive Master Plan, subject to Common Council confirmation, for the physical development of the City, including areas outside of its boundaries which, in the Plan Commission's judgment, bear relation to the development of the City. The Comprehensive Master Plan, with the accompanying maps, plats and descriptive and explanatory matter, shall show the Commission's recommendations for such physical development and may include, among other things, without limitation because of enumeration, the general location, character and extent of streets, highways, freeways, street grades, roadways, walks, parking areas, public places and areas, parks, parkways, playgrounds, sites for public buildings and structures, and the general location and extent of sewers, water conduits and other public utilities whether privately or publicly owned, the acceptance, widening, narrowing, extension, relocation, removal, vacation, abandonment or change of use of any of the foregoing public ways, grounds, places, spaces, buildings, properties, utilities, routes or terminals, the general location, character and extent of community centers and neighborhood units, and a comprehensive zoning plan.
The Commission may adopt the Comprehensive Master Plan as a whole by a single resolution or, as the work of making the whole Comprehensive Master Plan progresses, may from time to time by resolution adopt a part or parts thereof, any such part to correspond generally with one or more of the functional subdivisions of the subject matter of the plan. The adoption of the plan or any part, amendment or addition shall be by resolution carried by the affirmative votes of not less than a majority of all the members of the Plan Commission, subject to confirmation by the Common Council. The resolution shall refer expressly to the maps, descriptive matter, and other matters intended by the Commission to form the whole or any part of the plan, and the action taken shall be recorded on the adopted plan or part thereof by the identifying signature of the secretary of the Commission, and a copy of the plan or part thereof shall be certified to the Common Council. The purpose and effect of the adoption and certifying of the Comprehensive Master Plan or part thereof shall be solely to aid the Plan Commission and the Common Council in the performance of their duties.
Mandatory referrals to Commission. The Common Council or officer of the City having final authority thereon shall refer to the Plan Commission, for its consideration and report before final action is taken by the Council, public body or officer, the following matters: the location of any statue or other memorial; the location, acceptance, extension, alteration, vacation, abandonment, change of use, sale, acquisition of land for or lease of land for any street, alley or other public way, park, playground, airport, area for parking vehicles, or other memorial or public grounds; the location, extension, abandonment or authorization for any public utility whether publicly or privately owned; all plats of lands in the City or within the territory over which the City is given platting jurisdiction by Ch. 236, Wis. Stats.; the location, character and extent or acquisition, leasing or sale of lands for public or semipublic housing, slum clearance, relief of congestion, or vacation camps for children; and the amendment or repeal of any land use ordinance. Unless such report from the Commission is made within 30 days, or such longer period as may be stipulated by the Common Council, the Council or other public body or officer may take final action without it.
Miscellaneous powers. The Commission may make reports and recommendations relating to the plan and development of the City to public officials and agencies, public utility companies, civic, educational, professional and other organizations and citizens. It may recommend to the Common Council programs for public improvements. All public officials shall, upon request, furnish to the Commission, within a reasonable time, such available information as it may require for its work. The Commission, its members and employees, in the performance of its functions, may enter upon any land, make examinations and surveys, and place and maintain necessary monuments and markers thereon. In general, the Commission shall have such powers as may be necessary to enable it to perform its functions and promote municipal planning in cooperation with the Common Council.
Vacancies. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as appointment for the full term.
Oath. Citizen members shall take the official oath as required by § 19.01, Wis. Stats.
There is hereby created the Prescott Industrial and Economic Committee, the members of which shall be selected upon a nonpartisan basis.
Six citizens appointed by the Mayor, subject to Council confirmation, to staggered six-year terms of office.
Officers. As soon as possible after their appointment and annually thereafter, the members of the Committee shall organize by choosing from among their members a President and a Secretary, their terms to be fixed by the Committee.
The Prescott Industrial and Economic Committee shall promote and coordinate City industrial development efforts, subject to the general control and supervision of the Common Council. The Committee shall act as liaison between the Common Council and private industrial development groups, such as the Chamber of Commerce, and shall recommend to the Council such action as the Committee determines to be necessary.
When necessary, the Committee may utilize the services of the City Engineer, the City Attorney and other City officials and employees, upon such basis as shall be mutually agreed to, or as may be determined by the Common Council.
The Committee shall have authority, when authorized by the Common Council, to act for the Council to borrow funds for the reservation and development of industrial sites and expend funds with Council approval for such purposes and is hereby authorized and empowered to execute deeds, mortgages and other conveyances on behalf of the Mayor and Common Council when so authorized by resolution adopted by the Common Council. All borrowed funds authorized by the Council for industrial development shall be deposited immediately with the City Treasurer, and all rentals, fees or any other income derived from the operation of industrial sites shall be directly deposited with the City Treasurer. The Committee shall not be empowered to accept any payment for rentals, fees or any other income. The disbursement of funds by the Committee shall be approved by the Common Council and such disbursements shall be made through the office of the City Treasurer.
The Committee shall work with the City and City staff in promoting the City of Prescott and attracting economic growth and development.
The Committee shall make an annual report to the Common Council regarding achievements towards fulfillment of such programs.
The Committee shall develop and recommend methods to stimulate positive public interest and economic growth and development.
The Board of Police Commissioners ("Board") shall consist of five citizens, three of whom shall be a quorum. The Mayor shall annually, between the last Monday of April and the first Monday of May, appoint in writing to be filed with the Secretary of the Board, one member for a term of five years. No appointment shall be made which will result in more than three members of the Board belonging to the same political party. The Board shall keep a record of its proceedings.
All members of the Board of Police Commissioners as it exists as of the effective date of this charter ordinance shall remain in such position until the expiration of his or her term, unless removed from the Board for other cause or the member resigns.
Chief. The Board shall appoint the Chief of Police who shall hold his office during good behavior, subject to suspension or removal by the Board for cause.
The Police Chief shall appoint subordinates subject to approval by the Board. Such appointment shall be made by promotion when this can be done with advantage, otherwise from an eligible list provided by examination and approval by the Board and kept on file with the City Administrator.
For the choosing of such list the Board shall adopt, and may repeal or modify, rules calculated to secure the best service in the Department. These rules shall provide for examination of physical and educational qualifications and experience, and may provide such competitive examinations as the Board shall determine, and for the classification of positions with special examination for each class. The Board shall print and distribute the rules and all changes in them, at City expense, and they shall be kept on file with the City Administrator.
The examination shall be free for all U.S. citizens over 18 and under 55 years of age, with proper limitations as to residence, health and, subject to §§ 111.321, 111.322, 111.335, Wis. Stats., arrest and conviction record. The examination, including minimum training and experience requirements, shall be job-related in compliance with appropriate validation standards and shall be subject to the approval of the Board and may include tests of manual skill and physical strength. All relevant experience, whether paid or unpaid, shall satisfy experience requirements. The Board shall control examinations and may designate and change examiners, who may or may not be otherwise in the official service of the City, and whose compensation shall be fixed by the Board and paid by the City. Veterans and their spouses shall be given preference points in accordance with § 230.16(7), Wis. Stats.
Members of the police force shall be of both sexes. The Board of Police Commissioners shall select each subordinate from an eligible list.
A subordinate may be suspended as hereinafter provided as a penalty. The subordinate may also be suspended by the Board pending the disposition of charges filed against the subordinate.
Charges may be filed against a subordinate by the Chief, a member of the Board, by the Board as a body, or by any aggrieved person. Such charges shall be in writing and shall be filed with the President of the Board. Pending disposition of such charges, the Board or Chief may suspend such subordinate.
A subordinate may be suspended for just cause, as described in Subsection D(6), by the Chief or the Board as a penalty. The Chief shall file a report of such suspension with the Board immediately upon issuing the suspension. No hearing on such suspension shall be held unless requested by the suspended subordinate. If the subordinate suspended by the Chief requests a hearing before the Board, the Chief shall be required to file charges with the Board upon which such suspension was based.
Following the filing of charges in any case, a copy thereof shall be served upon the person charged. The Board shall set date for hearing not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days following service of charges. The hearing on the charges shall be public, and both the accused and the complainant may be represented by an attorney and may compel the attendance of witnesses by subpoenas which shall be issued by the president of the Board upon request and be served as are subpoenas under Ch. 885, Wis. Stats.
If the Board determines that the charges are not sustained, the accused, if suspended, shall be immediately reinstated and all lost pay restored. If the Board determines that the charges are sustained, the accused, by order of the Board, may be suspended or reduced in rank, or suspended and reduced in rank, or removed, as the good of the service may require.
Whether the subordinate could reasonably be expected to have had knowledge of the probable consequences of the alleged conduct.
Whether the rule or order that the subordinate allegedly violated is reasonable.
Whether the Chief, before filing the charge against the subordinate, made a reasonable effort to discover whether the subordinate did in fact violate a rule or order.
Whether the effort described under Subsection D(6)(c) was fair and objective.
Whether the Chief discovered substantial evidence that the subordinate violated the rule or order as described in the charges filed against the subordinate.
Whether the Chief is applying the rule or order fairly and without discrimination against the subordinate.
Whether the proposed discipline reasonably relates to the seriousness of the alleged violation and to the subordinate's record of service with the Chief's Department.
Findings and determination hereunder and orders of suspension, reduction, suspension and reduction or removal, shall be in writing and, if they follow a hearing, shall be filed within three days thereof with the Secretary of the Board.
Further rules for the administration of this subsection may be made by the Board.
No person shall be deprived of compensation while suspended pending disposition of charges.
Appeals. Any person suspended, reduced, suspended and reduced, or removed by the Board may appeal from the order of the Board to the Circuit Court by serving written notice of the appeal on the Secretary of the Board within 10 days after the order is filed. Within five days after receiving written notice of the appeal, the Board shall certify to the Clerk of the Circuit Court the record of the proceedings, including all documents, testimony and minutes. The action shall then be at issue and shall have precedence over any other cause of a different nature pending in the Court, which shall always be open to the trial thereof. The Court shall, upon application of the accused or of the Board, fix a date of trial, which shall not be later than 15 days after such application except by agreement. The trial shall be by the Court and upon the return of the Board, except that the Court may require further return or the taking and return of further evidence by the Board. The question to be determined by the Court shall be: "Upon the evidence is there just cause, as described under Subsection D(6), to sustain the charges against the accused?" No costs shall be allowed either party, and the Clerk's fees shall be paid by the City. If the order of the Board is reversed, the accused shall be forthwith reinstated and entitled to pay as though in continuous service. If the order of the Board is sustained it shall be final and conclusive.
The provision of Subsection D(1) to (10) shall apply to disciplinary actions against the Chief where applicable. In addition thereto, the Board may suspend a Chief pending disposition of charges filed by the Board or by the Mayor of the City.
When it becomes necessary, because of need for economy, lack of work or funds, or for other just causes, to reduce the number of subordinates, the emergency, special, temporary, part-time or provisional subordinates, if any, shall be dismissed first, and thereafter subordinates shall be dismissed in the order of the shortest length of service in the Department, provided that, in cities where a record of service rating has been established prior to January 1, 1933, for the said subordinates, the emergency, special, temporary, part-time provisional subordinates, if any, shall be dismissed first, and thereafter subordinates shall be dismissed in the order of the least efficient as shown by the said service rating.
When it becomes necessary for such reasons to reduce the number of subordinates in the higher positions or offices, or to abolish any higher positions or offices in the Department, the subordinate or the subordinates affected thereby shall be placed in a position or office in the Department less responsible according to the subordinates efficiency and length of service in the Department.
The name of a subordinate dismissed for any just cause set forth in this section shall be left on an eligible reemployment list for a period of two years after the date of dismissal, except that if the dismissal was for disciplinary reasons the subordinate may not be left on an eligible reemployment list. If any vacancy occurs, or if the number of subordinates is increased in the Department, the vacancy or new positions shall be filled by persons on the eligible reemployment list in the inverse order of dismissal of the persons on the list.
Compensation. The salaries of the Chief and subordinates shall be fixed by the Council. Such salaries when so fixed may be increased but not decreased by the Council without a previous recommendation of the Board. The Council may provide that the salaries shall increase with length of service.
Rest day. The Council shall provide for, and the Chief of Police Department shall assign to each police officer in the service of such City one full rest day of 24 consecutive hours during each 192 hours, except in cases of positive necessity by some sudden and serious emergency, which, in the judgment of the Chief of Police, demands that such day of rest not be given at such time. Arrangements shall be made so that each full rest day may be had at such time or times as will not impair the efficiency of the Department.
Hours of labor. Except when a labor agreement under Subch. IV of Ch. 111, Wis. Stats., that governs hours of employment exists, the Council shall provide for a working day of not more than eight hours in each 24 except in cases of positive necessity by some sudden and serious emergency, which, in the judgment of the Chief of Police, demands that such workday shall be extended beyond the eight-hour period at such time; and, when such emergency ceases to exist, all overtime given during such emergency shall be placed to the credit of such police officer, and compensatory time under § 103.025, Wis. Stats., given therefor.
Pursuant to the City of Prescott Cable Communications Franchise Ordinance, a five-member Cable Television Advisory Committee is created. The Committee shall consist of the Mayor and four citizen members appointed by the Mayor, subject to Council confirmation, for staggered five-year terms of office. Appointees shall have demonstrated particular interest or expertise in cable television services. The Committee shall have the authority prescribed in the Cable Communications Franchise Ordinance.
Editor's Note: The Cable Communications Franchise Ordinance is on file in the office of the City Clerk.
The Prescott Historic Preservation Committee shall be appointed pursuant to § 335-3 of this Code. The Committee shall have those powers prescribed in Chapter 335.
The City Tree Board shall be created and have such duties as prescribed in § 526-2 of this Code.
Regular meetings; public notice. Every board, committee and commission created by or existing under the ordinances of the City shall fix a regular date, time and place for its meeting.
Every meeting of any board or commission of the City of Prescott and/or any committee appointed or created by the Mayor or Common Council of the City of Prescott shall be preceded by public notice and shall be held in open session at a place accessible to the public in accordance with the provisions of Ch. 19, Subch. V, Open Meetings of Governmental Bodies, Wis. Stats., unless otherwise authorized by law.
Such notice shall be given in writing to the official newspaper and in addition thereto shall be posted in at least one location likely to give notice to the public of such meeting.
A separate public notice shall be given for each meeting at a time and date reasonably proximate to the time and date of the meeting, but not less than 24 hours prior to the commencement of such meeting unless otherwise authorized by law.
Such other matters as authorized by law.
The Prescott City Hall is accessible to the physically disadvantaged. If special accommodations for visually or hearing impaired individuals are needed, please contact the Prescott City Clerk at (telephone).
Notice to members. Every member of any board, commission or committee of the City of Prescott shall be notified by the secretary thereof or designee that a meeting is to be held, and the time and place of such meeting and the subject to be considered thereat. No member shall be intentionally excluded from any meeting by a failure to give proper notice or a reasonable attempt to give proper notice to such member.
Minutes to be kept. Every board, commission and committee shall keep a record of the minutes of its proceedings and shall cause a signed copy thereof to be filed by its secretary with the City Clerk within one week of the meeting date. The City Clerk shall furnish a copy of all minutes filed with him/her to the Mayor and to each member of the Common Council. All such minutes shall be public records.
Residency. Except for the Library Board and the Prescott Industrial and Economic Committee, no person not a resident of the City of Prescott shall be appointed in a voting capacity to any City board, committee or commission. Any such member who moves from the City shall be removed from such board, commission or committee but may be appointed to serve in an ex officio capacity.
Attendance standard. Members of boards, committees and commissions are required to attend a minimum of 2/3 of the meetings in each six-month period of their respective bodies, unless excused by the membership of their body. Failure to comply with this subsection may result in the removal and replacement of the official found to be in noncompliance.
Member subject to removal. Any member of any board or commission who violates any provision of this section or who knowingly attends a meeting held in violation hereof may be removed as a member of such board or commission, after being granted a public hearing, by the appointing authority and upon concurrence of the Common Council.

References: § 30

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§ 30
 § 70
 § 70
 § 70
 § 19
 § 43
 § 62
 § 19
 § 230
 § 103
 § 335
 § 526