All regularly scheduled monthly meetings and
special meetings of the Board of Commissioners shall be open to the
public, and all official votes of the Board shall be taken openly
at such meetings.
The public shall be given the opportunity to
address the Board on all matters of general concern at regular monthly
meetings. At special meetings the public shall be given the opportunity
to address the Board on those specific matters for which the special
meeting has been called, subject to reasonable limitation of numbers
of persons and time so as not to unduly impede the progress of any
general or special meeting.
All public meeting agendas shall be posted in
the Township and Library Buildings at least 24 hours before the date
and time of the meeting. In addition, extra copies of the agenda shall
be made available at the meeting.
All proposed ordinances of general township-wide
interest, such as tax and appropriation ordinances and all regulatory
ordinances shall be read in their entirety, or the contents thereof
summarized, at two public meetings prior to enactment by the Board
of Commissioners. Following the first reading, copies of the proposed
ordinance shall be made available to any resident, property owner
or his agent who requests a copy thereof. Notwithstanding this general
provision, however, emergency ordinances affecting life, health, property,
safety or public peace may be enacted by the Board of Commissioners
at a regular or special meeting at which the ordinance is introduced;
provided, however, that the ordinance is labeled as an emergency ordinance.
Such emergency ordinance shall be posted in the Township Building
and the Library within 24 hours after its enactment.
All township ordinances shall be codified in
the Code of Springfield Township. Such codification shall be kept
current at all times.
Selective competitive bidding shall be required
for contracts of insurance and Treasurer's and surety bonds. General
insurance contracts shall be subjected to selective competitive bidding
every three years.
All vacancies in positions of employment shall
be posted in the Township Building and the Library and otherwise advertised
at least 10 days prior to filling job openings, with the exception
of seasonal or temporary positions.
The following activities shall be prohibited
in the operation of township government:
A. No person who seeks appointment on any township board,
commission or agency, or employment by the township in any capacity,
shall, directly or indirectly, give or pay any money, service or other
consideration to any person in connection with such appointment or
employment.
B. In any case where an elected or appointed official
knows or by the exercise of reasonable diligence could know that he
is interested to any appreciable degree, either directly or indirectly,
in any action or contract for the sale or furnishing of any personal
property or service for the use of the township of more than $300
in any year, he shall notify the Board thereof; and any such contract
shall not be passed and approved by the Board except by an affirmative
vote of at least 2/3 of the members thereof. Any interested Commissioner
shall refrain from voting upon said contract. The provisions of this
subsection shall not apply where such official is an employee of the
person, firm or corporation to which money is to be paid, in a capacity
with no possible influence on the transaction and in which he cannot
possibly be benefited, either financially or in any other material
manner.
C. No officer or elected or appointed employee shall
accept or receive, directly or indirectly, from any person, any service
or franchise right upon terms more favorable than are granted to the
public generally.
D. No candidate for office, appointment or employment
and no officer, appointee or employee shall, directly or indirectly,
give or promise any person any office, position, employment, benefit
or anything of value for the purpose of influencing or obtaining the
political support, aid or vote of any person, under the penalty of
being disqualified to hold the office or employment to which he may
be or may have been elected or appointed.
This chapter is intended only to supplement
the requirements of the First Class Township Code and any and all
ordinances that have been enacted by the Board of Commissioners in
conformity therewith. Any section or portion of this ordinance that
may be found to be inconsistent therewith shall not be deemed to affect
the validity of any other section or part hereof.
[Added 6-8-2011 by Ord. No. 911]
To each municipal lien duly filed by Springfield Township in
accordance with the provisions of any Township ordinance and pursuant
to the Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Law, 53 P.S. § 7143,
there shall be added interest at the rate of 10% per annum, calculated
in accordance therewith.