The effective date of this Charter shall be January 1, 1977.
The Commissioners in office at the time this Charter becomes effective shall remain in office for the full terms for which they were originally elected. However, they shall have the responsibilities, duties and authority as set forth in this Charter. All other elected officials of the township in office at the time this Charter becomes effective shall remain in office for the full term for which they were elected, and they shall continue to perform the duties and receive the same compensation which they received prior to the adoption of this Charter; provided that with this agreement the Board may designate the elected Treasurer as the elected Finance Officer and may make such assignments to him as are provided in this Charter. If a vacancy shall occur in the existing office of elected Treasurer before the first Monday of January, 1978, it shall be filled as if it had been a vacancy in the office of Finance Officer pursuant to § C804, and the person so selected shall be the Finance Officer and shall be assigned duties accordingly. Any vacancy which may occur in the office of elected auditor shall not be filled.
Nothing in this Charter unless otherwise provided shall affect or impair the rights or privileges of persons who are township officers or employees at the time of the adoption of this Charter. An employee holding a township position at the time this Charter takes full effect, who was serving in the same or a comparable position at the time of adoption, shall not be subject to competitive tests as a condition of continuance in the same position, but in all other respects shall be subject to the personnel system as provided in this Charter and the Personnel and Administrative Codes,[1] when adopted.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 44, Personnel, and Ch. 5, Administration of Government.
A. 
Unless otherwise provided, each citizens' group, unless earlier abolished or modified by the Board, shall continue in existence until December 31, 1977, at which time each such organization shall cease to exist unless otherwise required by state law or this Charter or unless the Board shall have enacted an ordinance continuing its existence pursuant to § C1301A.
B. 
All appointed members of citizens' groups shall continue in office for the balance of the term of their original appointments or until such group ceases to exist, whichever first occurs.
C. 
During the transition period herein specified, any citizens' group which could under this Charter exercise administrative functions only pursuant to § C1301C(4) shall have any such administrative action subject to review by the Manager or the Board as specified in § C1301C(4).
All ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations, or portions thereof, in force when this Charter takes effect and not in conflict herewith are hereby continued in force and effect until they are amended, repealed, superseded or expire by their own terms.
Commentary: One (1) of the effects of this section is to continue the standing committees of the Board.
A. 
The township shall continue to own and control all rights and property owned or controlled by it when this Charter takes effect and shall be subject to all its obligations and duties.
B. 
All actions and proceedings of a legislative, executive or judicial character which are pending upon the effective date of this Charter shall be maintained, carried on or dealt with by the township department, office or citizens' group appropriate under this Charter.
It is the intention of the electors of the township that, if this Charter cannot take effect in its entirety because of the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding invalid any part or parts hereof, the remaining provisions of the Charter shall be given full force and effect as completely as if the part or parts held invalid had not been included herein.
This Charter may be amended in conformity with the provisions of the Pennsylvania Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law[1], Act 62 of 1972, as amended from time to time.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 1-101 et seq.
This Home Rule Charter shall be known as the "Cheltenham Township Charter."