Zoning commissions

(a) Any municipality may, by vote of its legislative body, adopt the provisions of this chapter and exercise through a zoning commission the powers granted hereunder. On and after July 1, 1974, in each municipality, except as otherwise provided by special act or charter provision adopted under chapter 99, the zoning commission shall consist of not less than five nor more than nine members, with minority representation as determined under section 9-167a, who shall be electors of such municipality. The number of such members and the method of selection and removal for cause and terms of office shall be determined by ordinance, provided no such ordinance shall designate the legislative body of such municipality to act as such zoning commission, except that (1) in towns having a population of less than five thousand, the selectmen may be empowered by such ordinance to act as such zoning commission, (2) a legislative body which is acting as a zoning commission prior to July 1, 1974, pursuant to an ordinance, may continue to act as such zoning commission if such municipality has initiated a charter revision pursuant to section 7-188, prior to July 1, 1974, which revision proposes to designate such legislative body as the zoning commission, and such charter revision is approved as provided in section 7-191, and (3) a legislative body which is acting as a zoning commission prior to June 17, 1987, pursuant to a special act may continue to act as such zoning commission. The manner for filling vacancies arising from any cause shall be provided by vote of the legislative body. (b) The zoning commission of any town shall have jurisdiction over that part of the town outside of any city or borough contained therein except that the legislative body of any city or borough may, by ordinance, designate the zoning commission of the town in which such city or borough is situated as the zoning commission of such city or borough.