An architectural review board and a preservation district review board with the following membership, duties, and powers may be created by the county commission.

(a) Each board shall be composed of five members selected by the county commission to serve overlapping terms. Except for the first members, their terms shall be five years.

(b) Each board shall adopt rules for the transaction of business and shall keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, findings, and determinations, which record shall be a public record. Meetings shall be held at regular intervals, but at least monthly. Each board may appoint such employees as it may deem necessary for its work, whose appointment, promotion, demotion, and removal shall be subject to the same provisions of law as govern other civil employees of the county. Each board may also contract with architects and other professional and technical consultants for such services as it may require. The expenditures of each board, exclusive of gifts or grants, shall be within the amounts appropriated for the purpose by the county commission, which may provide the funds, equipment, and accommodations necessary for the work of each board.

(c) It shall be the duty of the architectural review board and preservation district review board to approve or disapprove plans for buildings to be erected or renovated which are located or are to be located within the historic and preservation districts respectively and landscaping for the same. The boards' authority shall extend only to the exterior of any building within the boundaries of such districts and the board shall have no authority to review the interior construction, renovation, or style of any buildings within such districts.