§ 35-2. Members of the board.

(a)

The board shall consist of five (5) members which shall be appointed by resolution of the common council.

(b)

Of the members first appointed, one shall be appointed for a term ending on December 31, 1972, one for a term ending December 31, 1973, one for a term ending December 31, 1974, one for a term ending December 31, 1975 and one for a term ending December 31, 1976. Upon the expiration of such terms, the terms of office of their successors shall be for five (5) years. Vacancies occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments for the unexpired term. Each member shall continue to serve until the appointment and qualification of such successor.

(c)

Two (2) of such members may be public officers or employees of the city provided, however, that no employees or officer of the department of assessment shall be eligible to serve on the board.

(d)

Members shall be paid for their services at the annual meeting to hear complaints and at subsequent adjourned hearings on a per diem basis in an amount provided for by resolution of the common council.

(e)

Any member may be removed by a majority vote of the common council upon written charges served on such member and after a hearing conducted by the common council or a duly appointed member thereof.

(f)

The members shall, by a majority vote of its total membership, elect a chairman, vice-chairman and secretary of the board from among its membership.

(g)

The members may engage in outside employment, however, they shall be deemed to be public officers within the meaning of article 18 of the General Municipal Law and the Code of Ethics of the city of Syracuse.

(h)

No member shall be eligible to vote on any matter relating to the assessment of any property in which he has either a direct or indirect interest. An attorney, real estate broker or other agent shall be deemed to have an interest in the property of any client appearing before the board.

(i)

No person shall be appointed as a member of such board nor shall any member continue as a board member whose real property taxes are in arrears, as defined herein. "Real property taxes in arrears" is defined to mean any real property taxes levied and collected by the city of Syracuse which are due and owing for real property owned by the person nominated for appointment to the board or while a member of the board and/or real property owned by such person's spouse and which are unpaid for any tax year prior to the tax year in which the nomination of the person is submitted or the tax year prior to the current tax year in the case of a member of the board. Real property taxes subject to a tax trust agreement as authorized by section 47-a of the Tax and Assessment Act of the city of Syracuse, being Chapter 75 of the Laws of 1906, as amended, and payments to which are current shall not be deemed real property taxes in arrears.

(Gen. Ord. No. 68-1971, § 12-15-71; Gen. Ord. No. 9-1992, 3-2-92)