CHC 1979-1980 Proposals - Rationale

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? r CORPORATION COUNSEL The duties of the Corporation .Counsel .have been slightly revised in order to keep it consistent with the commission proposal for the council attorney. The commission has added a new section, "Term of Office." This provision states that the term of office of the corporation counsel, assistant corporation counsel, and deputies shall be the same as that of the mayor. When a successor has not been appointed and confirmed, the Corporation Counsel shall remain in office, but for no longer than three months. III. PLANNING DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR AND PLANNING COMMISSION The commission has refined the procedures and duties of the Planning Department for greater efficiency. Under the commission proposal, the Director will, in addition to his present duties, process rezoning and special exception applications and be charged with the approval of variances. Inline with this change, the Planning Commission will hear appeals on the above applications. BOARD OF APPEALS After examining the Tinction of the present board of appeals under the planning Department and realizing that a similar board exists under the Department of Public Works, the commission voted to consolidate the functions of the existing two boards of appeals. This new board will consist of seven members, and for administrative purposes only, be part of the Planning Department. This board will now be able to review all the facts of the case and shall not be limited to a reversal based on procedural matters only. IV. DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY Another major proposal for more efficiency is to bring the Department of Water Supply under the direct control and super- vision of the mayor and eliminate its present semi-autonomous nature.. The director of the Department shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the council. -3..