NY Mult Res L § 325 (2021)
2021 New York Laws MRE - Multiple Residence Article 9 - Review; Rules; Saving Clauses; Effective Date 325 - Review Boards.

§  325.  Review boards. 1. There may be in each county a review board, to consist of three members, who shall be  appointed  by  the  board  of supervisors of the county. One member shall be a registered architect or a  professional  engineer.  The  term of office of each member of such a review board shall be for three years, provided, however,  that  of  the members  first  appointed  in  the  case  of any such board one shall be appointed for a term of one year, one for a term of two years,  and  one for  a  term  of three years. Such members shall receive no compensation unless the board of  supervisors  shall  otherwise  determine  but  each member  shall  be  entitled  to  his  expenses  actually and necessarily incurred by him in the performance of his duties. The board shall  elect its  chairman from among its own members. Two members of the board shall constitute a quorum. The concurring vote of at least two members of  the board shall be necessary for action. Any member chosen to fill a vacancy occurring  otherwise  than  by expiration of term shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member whom he is to  succeed.  The  board  of supervisors  shall  have  power to remove any member of the review board for cause and after public hearing.   2. The board may appoint such employees as may be  authorized  by  the board of supervisors, and prescribe their duties.   3.  Each  county  board  shall have power within its county, except as stated to the contrary in subdivision eight of this  section,  and  each local board of review, as provided in said subdivision eight, shall have power within its own applicable area:   a.  With  respect  to dwellings existing on the effective date of this chapter only, to vary or modify, in whole or in part, the application of any provision of this chapter or  of  any  rule  or  regulation  of  the department or commission, relating and limited to  (1) secondary means of egress from dwellings,  (2) fire retarding of public halls, stairs, and cellar ceilings,  (3) requisite open spaces, and  (4)  requirements  with  respect  to bulkheads and scuttles; provided, however, that in the instance of each such variance or modification, the basic spirit and intent of the law are  maintained  and  public  health, safety   and  welfare  are  preserved,  and  further  provided  that  in connection  with  any  such  variance  or  modification  the  board  may prescribe alternative or substitute requirements where such requirements are  appropriate  or  necessary to effectuate the basic purposes of this chapter.  Any such variance or modification shall be granted only  after satisfactory  proof,  at  a public hearing, of practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships to be encountered or caused by compliance with the strict letter of such law, rule or regulation.   b. To fix a  reasonable  time  for  the  hearing  of  an  application, requiring that due notice be given of the time and place of such hearing to the applicant and to the department or to other persons affected.  In every case the board shall state the reason or reasons for its decision. A  record  of all orders, requirements and decisions of each such board, indexed according to the section or sections of  this  chapter  affected thereby  shall be kept in the office of the board, and such record shall be open to public inspection at all times during normal business hours.   c. To enter, or delegate to any employee or officer of  such  a  board power  to  enter, any building or property for the purpose of conducting investigations, surveys, or  inspections  necessary  to  carry  out  the provisions of this article.   d.  To  adopt  a  seal  and  to alter the same at its pleasure, and to require that it be used for the authentication of orders and proceedings and for such other purposes as it may prescribe.    e. To conduct examinations and investigations, administer oaths,  hear testimony  and take proof, under oath, if the board should so determine, of any matter relevant or necessary to carry out the provisions of  this article.   f.  To  do  all other things convenient and necessary to carry out its powers.   4. No member of such a board, nor any of  its  employees,  shall  pass upon  any  question  relating  to  any  premises  in  which  he  or  any corporation in which he is a stockholder  or  security  holder  has  any interest directly or indirectly.   5. An application for such variance or modification may be made within thirty  days  after service of a notice or order to remove any violation of this chapter or any nuisance, by any person aggrieved, or by the head of an agency or department within the  area  in  which  such  board  has jurisdiction.  An  aggrieved  person  shall  be  construed as one who is directly and adversely affected by a provision of this chapter or a rule or regulation of the department or commission. Any action or decision of such a board may be reviewed on the law  or  the  facts  in  the  manner provided  by  the  provisions  of  article  seventy-eight  of  the civil practice law and rules.   6. An appeal shall stay all proceedings, both civil and  criminal,  in furtherance  of  the  action appealed from, unless the officer from whom the appeal is taken shall file with the board to which  the  appeal  has been taken a certificate that, by reason of facts stated therein, a stay would,  in  his  opinion,  cause  imminent peril to life or property, in which case,  proceedings  shall  not  be  stayed  otherwise  than  by  a restraining  order  which, upon good cause shown, may be granted by such board or by the supreme court,  on  application,  at  least  three  days notice  of  which  shall be given to the officer from whom the appeal is being taken.   7. Each review board shall have power to charge and collect reasonable fees and to make rules governing such charges.   8. A municipality may continue an  existing  local  board  of  review, which  is  in  existence  on July first, nineteen hundred fifty-four, to have  jurisdiction  solely  within  the  territorial  limits   of   such municipality.  In  any  such case, the jurisdiction of a county board of review shall not extend to any such municipality or municipalities.   In the  event  that no such local board exists in a municipality and in the event that, and so long as, there shall not be in such county  a  review board  appointed  pursuant  to subdivision one of this section, a review board to consist of three members, one of whom  shall  be  a  registered architect  or  a  professional  engineer,  may  be  established  by such municipality before September thirty, nineteen hundred sixty-six located within such county to have jurisdiction solely  within  the  territorial limits  of  such municipality. The powers and duties of a local board of review, insofar as the operation of the provisions of  this  chapter  is concerned,  shall  be  the  same,  within  the territorial limits of the municipality, as those of  a  county  board  created  pursuant  to  this section.   9. In the event that, and so long as, there shall not be in any county or  municipality  a  review  board  authorized to be established in this section, appeals authorized to be taken  to  such  county  or  municipal review  board,  as  herein provided, within the area in which such board would, if established, have jurisdiction, may be taken to the commission instead, and in such event and  with  respect  to  any  such  county  or municipality, the commission shall have the same powers and jurisdiction as  is herein provided for a county or municipality review board in such county.