[Our thanks to Berlin, New Hampshire, city planner Pamela Laflamme for providing us with a copy of the following information on planning board associate members]

CITY PLANNING BOARD
City of Berlin, New Hampshire
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

... V. MEMBERSHIP:
The Planning Board shall consist of nine voting members; five alternate members; and associate members who do not have the right to vote.

A. Appointment

1. Regular Members. The Mayor will appoint six members to the Planning Board with the advice of the City Planning Board, subject to the approval of the City Council.

2. Ex-officio Members. Ex-officio voting members shall include the City Manager, one of the administrative officials of the municipality who shall be selected by the City Manager, and a member of the Council who shall be selected by the City Council.

3. Alternate Members. Pursuant to RSA 673:6, the Planning Board shall include five (5) alternate members. Whenever a regular member shall be absent, the Chair shall designate an alternate member to vote in the absent member's place. Alternate members shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the advice of the City Planning Board, subject to the approval of the City Council.

4. Associate Members. The Planning Board may include any number of associate members who shall serve in an advisory capacity and who shall not have the right to vote. The purpose of associate membership is to provide education and training for potential regular and alternate members. Associate members shall be appointed by the Planning Board Chair with the concurrence of a majority of the members present.

5. At its regular March meeting the Planning Board shall discuss membership and send recommendations to the Mayor for new appointments.

B. Qualifications.

1. Residency. All members of the City Planning Board must be residents of Berlin as required in RSA 673:1.

2. Regular, Ex-Officio, and Alternate Members. Pursuant to RSA 673:7, appointed members shall not hold any other municipal office except that:

a. One member may be a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
b. Either one regular or one ex-officio member may be a member of the Conservation Commission, if one exists in the city.
c. Either one regular or one ex-officio member may be a member of the Historic District Commission, if one exists in the city.

3. Regular and Alternate Members. It is in the best interest of the community that members have an understanding of Planning Board responsibilities and policies to ensure good judgement in planning for Berlin.

4. Associate Members. Any resident of Berlin, who does not hold any other municipal office, and expresses a genuine interest in planning is eligible to be an associate member of the Planning Board.

C. Terms.

1. Regular Members. The terms of regular members shall be three years. (RSA 673:5) The term of two regular members shall expire each year after the regular April meeting of the Board. Three consecutive 3-year terms shall be the limit for regular membership.

2. Ex-Officio Members. The terms of ex-officio members shall correspond to their respective official tenures, except that the term of the administrative official selected by the City Manager shall terminate with the term of the City Manager selecting him or her. (RSA 673:5)

3. Alternate Members. Each term of alternate members shall be for three years (RSA 673:6). The term of at least one alternate member shall expire after the regular April meeting of the Board. There are no limitations to the number of terms an alternate member may serve.

4. Associate Members. Associate members shall serve at the discretion of the Planning Board.

D. Attendance.

Three consecutive and unexcused absences or six unexcused absences in a year from regular planning board meetings shall be considered neglect of duty. The Chair shall then ask for the resignation of said member. If the member fails to resign and absences continue to six months the Board shall follow the procedure outlined in NH RSA 673:13 to remove said member from board.

E. Removal of Members.

1. Regular and Alternate Members. Members of the Planning Board may, after public hearing, be removed by the Mayor with the concurrence of the City Council for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. The Mayor shall file with the City Clerk a written statement of the reasons for such removal. (RSA 673:13)

2. Ex-officio Members. The City Council may remove the Council member of the Planning Board for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. The Council shall file with the City Clerk a written statement of the reasons for such removal. The administrative official may, after public hearing, be removed by the City Manager for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. The City Manager shall file with the City Clerk a written statement of the reasons for such removal.

3. Associate Members. Associate members of the Planning Board may be removed by the Chair with the concurrence of a majority of the members present.