Planning Commission

Regular meetings are held in each quarter of the calendar year at a date, time, and location to be determined by the President of the Planning Commission.  Public notices of meetings are provided in the Hinton News and in the Summers County Courthouse and the Memorial Building.

The Summers County Planning Commission is organized in accordance with Chapter 8A, Article 2, Section 11, of the West Virginia Code in order to improve the present health, safety, and convenience and welfare of the citizens of Summers County by planning ahead to meet the needs of the future, in particular, to create a comprehensive land use management plan for those unincorporated areas of Summers County.

The Planning Commission consists of eleven members appointed by the County Commission in a manner to achieve geographical, business, industry, farming, and labor representation of the County.  Planning Commissioners must have been residents of the County for at least one (1) year prior to appointment.  One Planning Commission member shall be appointed from each of the three (3) districts.  One County Commission member will serve on the Planning Commission, to be appointed by the Commission as its representative at the first regular County Commission meeting each year.  Members shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years.  Members of the Planning Commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their official duties.

In accordance with West Virginia State Code Chapter 8A Article 2, Section 11, the Planning Commission has the following powers and duties:

(1) Exercise general supervision for the administration of the affairs of the commission;

(2) Prescribe rules and regulations pertaining to administration, investigations and hearings: Provided, that the rules and regulations are adopted by the governing body;

(3) Supervise the fiscal affairs and responsibilities of the commission;

(4) With consent from the governing body, hire employees necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the planning commission: Provided, that the governing body sets the salaries;

(5) Keep an accurate and complete record of all planning commission proceedings;

(6) Record and file all bonds and contracts;

(7) Take responsibility for the custody and preservation of all papers and documents of the planning commission;

(8) Make recommendations to the appropriate governing body concerning planning;

(9) Make an annual report to the appropriate governing body concerning the operation of the planning commission and the status of planning within its jurisdiction;

(10) Prepare, publish and distribute reports, ordinances and other material relating to the activities authorized under this article;

(11) Adopt a seal, and certify all official acts;

(12) Invoke any legal, equitable or special remedy for the enforcement of the provisions of this article or any ordinance, rule and regulation or any action taken thereunder;

(13) Prepare and submit an annual budget to the appropriate governing body;

(14) If necessary, establish advisory committees;

(15) Delegate limited powers to a committee composed of one or more members of the commission; and

(16) Contract for special or temporary services and professional counsel with the approval of the governing body. Upon request, a county prosecuting attorney, the county surveyor, the county engineer, or any other county employee may render assistance and service to a planning commission without compensation