The governing body of any municipality electing to enact an ordinance, pursuant to this chapter, to provide for the creation, protection, and enhancement of historic properties or historic districts, shall establish an historic preservation commission, hereinafter sometimes called the commission, and may establish one or more architectural review boards, hereinafter sometimes called the boards, to carry out the purposes and responsibilities of that ordinance.
Ala. Code § 11-68-2 (1975)