Newly appointed commission members should receive basic training and orientation to their new position by staff or other commission members. Existing members of the commission should make a strong effort to welcome and accept new members, and to make themselves available to answer any questions that new members may have.

Introductory Materials

New commission members should be given an introductory packet of materials that includes copies of the following documents:

• Local preservation ordinance
• Commission bylaws
• Commission standards and procedures
• Design guidelines
• Maps of each existing historic district
• Roberts Rules of Order
• Other materials that explain the roles and responsibilities of the commission

It is tremendously important for each member of the commission to have a copy of the local historic preservation ordinance and to become thoroughly familiar with it. Commissioners should know this document inside and out, because it is the basis of the commission's power and all decisions the commission makes. Commission members should bring their copy of the ordinance to every meeting and refer to it often when discussing projects and rendering decisions.

Additional Resources and Training

Training sessions or workshops are also beneficial and can help ease a shift in commission membership. Slideshows or PowerPoint presentations can be used to explain the commission's activities. These can be made available on CD-ROM for home use or available through the commission's website, which can also be a source of information and further resources.

If your historic preservation commission has design review as part of its major responsibilities, new members should be briefed by a staff member, or the commission chairperson or vice-chairperson, on typical design review issues. It is important that a commission establish and apply consistent rulings regarding design guideline standards and explain the reasoning behind these standards to incoming members. This will orient new members to the rationale the commission has used in the past on guidelines for rehabilitation and new construction and the precedents to help articulate future decisions.

Throughout their tenure on the commission, members should continue to educate themselves and keep informed of issues concerning historic preservation within their community.

• Commission Membership and Authority
• Working With (or Without) Staff