[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Perkiomen 10-2-2007 by Ord. No. 202. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks and recreation areas — See Ch. 207.
By this chapter, an organization to be known as the "Perkiomen
Township Park and Recreation Board" is hereby created.
The purpose of this organization is to:
A.
Formulate park and recreation plans and policies and to equip, supervise
and maintain public parks and recreation areas in the Township in
accordance with the laws governing public recreation as set forth
in the Second Class Township Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
B.
Integrate public recreation and parks programs into and about public
grounds, facilities and schools wherever possible.
C.
Conduct a public recreation program utilizing the physical properties
available in and around Perkiomen Township.
D.
Provide leadership and coordinating activities of a recreational
nature for the benefit of the citizens of Perkiomen Township.
E.
Provide an adequate and balanced recreational program to meet the
various needs and interests of the citizens of Perkiomen Township.
F.
Such other and related activities as authorized and directed by the
Board of Supervisors of Perkiomen Township.
The Park and Recreation Board shall consist of seven members,
each of whom shall be a resident of Perkiomen Township. Members shall
serve without pay; however, they may be reimbursed for authorized
expenses incurred in performing their duties. Approval of the Board
of Supervisors shall be obtained before any such expenses are incurred.
All members of the Park and Recreation Board shall be appointed
by the Perkiomen Township Board of Supervisors.
The term of office for each member of the Park and Recreation
Board shall be five years or until a qualified successor is appointed
to fill the term of a member whose term has expired, except that the
members first appointed shall be appointed to staggered terms so that
the terms of not more than two members expire annually.
If a vacancy on the Park and Recreation Board occurs by death,
resignation, removal from the office, or relocation outside of the
Township, said vacancy shall be filled by the Board of Supervisors
for the duration of the unexpired term.
Any member of the Park and Recreation Board, once qualified
and appointed, may be removed from office for malfeasance, misfeasance
or nonfeasance in office or for other just cause by majority vote
of the Board of Supervisors, taken after the member has received at
least 15 days' advance notice of the intent to take such a vote. A
hearing shall be held before the Board of Supervisors in connection
with the vote if the affected member shall request it in writing.
At its annual meeting, the Park and Recreation Board shall elect
a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary. Said officers shall
serve annual terms, which may be successive.
Each December, the Park and Recreation Board shall conduct an
annual meeting, at which it will establish a schedule of meetings
for the subsequent year. Additional meetings may be held as needed.
All meetings shall be open to the public.
A member's absence, without good cause, from two successive scheduled meetings or a member's absence without excuse from four scheduled meetings in a calendar year shall constitute just cause for removal from office as provided in § 38-7 of this chapter.
The attendance of four members shall be required to constitute
a quorum.
Official action of the Park and Recreation Board shall require
the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board.
The Park and Recreation Board may make and alter bylaws and
rules and regulations to govern its procedures consistent with this
chapter and the Second Class Township Code. The Park and Recreation
Board shall keep a full record of its business and shall annually
make a written report, by March 1 of each year, of its activities,
expenditures and accomplishments, to the Board of Supervisors. Interim
reports may be made as often as may be necessary or as requested by
the Board of Supervisors.
The Park and Recreation Board shall have the authority and responsibility
to:
A.
Maintain and keep on file records of its actions. All records and
files of the Park and Recreation Board shall be kept at the Township
Building.
B.
Make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors with regard to the
following:
(1)
The development of community recreation areas and facilities.
(2)
The development of park and recreational programs.
(3)
Acquisition of ground for open space and/or park purposes.
(4)
Appropriation of Township funds for park and recreation purposes.
(5)
Enforce the rules and regulations for the use of any park, open space
or conservation easement area, as established by the Board of Supervisors.
(6)
Enforce covenants, easements and restrictions for the use of Township
park property, open space and conservation easement areas.
The powers and duties to act as a shade tree commission are
hereby conferred upon the Perkiomen Township Park and Recreation Board
in accordance with § 67903 of the Second Class Township
Code, 53 P.S. § 67903, as amended. As the shade tree commission,
the Park and Recreation Board shall have the following powers and
duties:
A.
Exclusive control of shade trees in the Township and authority to
plant, remove, maintain and protect shade trees on the public streets
and highways in the Township, excluding state highways;
B.
To require owners of property to cut and remove trees located on
the property if the condition of the tree, through disease or otherwise,
unreasonably affects or interferes with the health, safety or welfare
of the general public or the right of the public to the unobstructed
use of public roads or public property;
C.
If within 30 days after notice by certified mail, return receipt
requested, to cut or remove a dangerous tree the property owner has
not complied with the order, the commission may enter the premises
and cut or remove the tree, as necessary. The cost of cutting or removing
any tree by the shade tree commission shall be charged to the property
owner. If those costs are not paid within 30 days, the charge shall
be a lien against the real estate of the property owner and shall
be collected in the same manner as other municipal liens. The shade
tree commission shall annually certify the costs incurred under this
chapter to the Board of Supervisors. All such costs shall be paid
from the general Township fund.
D.
The shade tree commission may assess penalties for the violation
of its regulations and of this chapter. Any penalty so assessed, if
not paid within 30 days, shall be a lien upon the real estate of the
offender and may be collected as municipal claims are collected. All
penalties or assessments imposed under this chapter shall be paid
to the Township.
E.
To submit a written report to the Board of Supervisors for the preceding
year by March 1 of each year, setting forth its transactions, expenses
and accomplishments.
