[1]
Editor's Note: For additional information
regarding the County Government Review Commission, see Charter § 1.13-1305.
[Amended 3-15-2005 by Ord. No. 19-05]
In accordance with Article XIII, § 1.13-1305,
of the Charter,[1] a County Government Review Commission shall be first established
in 2005, and then every 10 years thereafter. The Review Commission
shall study the Charter and County Government, including the organization,
practices and responsibilities of all County departments and agencies.
The Review Commission shall evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency
and equity of the County government and Charter. The Review Commission
may make recommendations to the people of the County on County government
and may recommend amendments to the Charter.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Charter is included at
the beginning of this volume.
The Review Commission shall be composed of nine
members who shall serve one year terms. The members shall be voters
of the County, five of whom shall be appointed by County Council and
four of whom shall be appointed by the Chief Executive. The political
party affiliation, racial, geographic, age and gender diversity of
the County shall be considered in the appointment process. No County
officer, County official, employee, or member of an agency shall be
a member of the Review Commission. The Review Commission shall submit
a final report to the people of the County on the Review Commission's
findings and recommendations within one year after appointment of
the Review Commission.
A.
At a regularly scheduled meeting of Council in February
of 2005, and every 10 years thereafter, the Council shall select and
appoint five voters of the County to serve on the Review Commission.
B.
Within 15 days after Council has formally appointed
the aforesaid five members of the Review Commission, the Chief Executive
shall appoint four voters of the County to serve on the Review Commission.
[Amended 3-15-2005 by Ord. No. 19-05]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided that
it shall be retroactive to 1-1-2005.
[Amended 3-15-2005 by Ord. No. 19-05]
Within 10 days of the final appointment of all
nine members, the members of the Review Commission shall make oath
or affirmation to support the Constitution of the United States and
the Constitution of the Commonwealth, and to perform the duties of
the office with fidelity.
In the event that a member of the Review Commission
is unwilling or unable to perform his duties, the Review Commission
may declare the member's position vacant and request a new appointment
by the individual or body that appointed the member. The Chief Executive
or the County Council shall make the appointment within 15 days of
receiving the request for a new appointment.
A.
Within 15 days of appointment, the Review Commission
shall organize and hold its first meeting to elect one of its members
as Chairman and another member as Vice Chairman, to agree on rules
and regulations governing the operation, and to establish a work plan
and schedule for review.
B.
The rules and regulations governing the operation
of the Review Commission shall provide for the keeping of records
pertaining to its duties, the conduct of meetings and public hearings,
and a periodic reporting to the County Council, Chief Executive and
voters of the County.
C.
A majority of the members of the Review Commission
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
D.
The final report of Review Commission shall be adopted
only by a majority of the members of the Review Commission.
All Review Commission meetings and hearings
shall be held in accordance with the "Sunshine Act."[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 65 P.S. § 701
et seq.
[Amended 3-15-2005 by Ord. No. 19-05]
A.
The members of the Review Commission shall serve without
compensation, but shall be reimbursed by the County for their necessary
travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The Chief
Executive shall request and the County Council shall approve appropriations
necessary for such purpose in the balanced annual operating budget.
B.
Members of the Review Commission shall be entitled
to reimbursement for actual and necessary travel expenses incurred;
provided, however, that the expenditure is incurred for attendance
at a regularly scheduled Review Commission meeting. The reimbursable
travel expense, in accordance with the County's travel policy, shall
be governed by the following:
(1)
Reimbursable travel expenses include the use
of a privately owned vehicle and shall include parking, mileage, and
tolls;
(2)
Reimbursable travel expense requests must be
documented with an original itemized receipt, excluding mileage;
(3)
Mileage reimbursable requests must include the
travel date, origination, destination, number of roundtrip miles,
and purpose;
(4)
Reimbursements for mileage will be made at the
prevailing Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rate; and
(5)
Reimbursements shall not exceed $500 per Government
Review Commission member for the duration of the existence of the
Commission.
[Amended 3-15-2005 by Ord. No. 19-05]
Provision shall be made by the Chief Executive
and County Council for the contracting of an independent, professional
staff for the Review Commission, whose roles and responsibilities
shall be explicitly provided for within the contract. In the event
that a legal opinion is required by the Review Commission, the members
shall, to the extent possible, utilize the County Law Department.
If the Commission deems it necessary to solicit an independent legal
opinion, any resulting expense shall be subject to the availability
of funds from the appropriation made for the Commission.
A.
The Review Commission shall hold such public hearings
as it deems necessary for the proper conduct of its review.
B.
The Review Commission shall have the power to conduct
inquiries and investigations to aid in the performance of its duties.
C.
The County Council, the Chief Executive, the County
Manager, County officials, and County agencies shall make available
to the Review Commission all information, data, reports, records and
other documents necessary for carrying out the duties of the Review
Commission. This cooperation shall be provided in a timely fashion
and may include the attendance of County officials, County officers,
and Department Directors at meetings and hearings.
[Amended 3-15-2005 by Ord. No. 19-05]
D.
In the event that a referendum question amending the
County Home Rule Charter is to be considered during its term, the
Review Commission shall also make recommendations based on whether
the question is approved or defeated.
[Added 12-21-2004 by Ord. No. 39-04]
(1)
If the referendum is approved by a majority
of electors and certified as such by the Board of Elections, the Review
Commission shall consider the effect of the question and make recommendations
regarding implementation of changes, including organization, practices,
and responsibilities that are to be altered pursuant to the amendment.
Such recommendations shall also include a time frame in which implementation
could be accomplished.
(2)
If the referendum is defeated, the Review Commission
shall consider the question and make recommendations as to whether
another question should be posed to the electorate or whether other
action should be taken to effectuate the premise of the failed referendum.
[Amended 3-15-2005 by Ord. No. 19-05]
A.
The Review Commission shall issue its final report
to the Chief Executive, County Council and voters of the County within
one year of the initial appointment to the Review Commission.
B.
The final report shall be posted on the Internet at
an appropriate County Web site. Copies of the final report shall be
made available for public inspection in the County Manager's Office
during normal business hours.
C.
Within 30 days following issuance of the report, the
Review Commission shall file a statement sworn to by members of the
Review Commission listing in detail the funds, goods, materials and
services, both public and private used by the Review Commission in
the performance of its work and the preparation and filing of the
report. The sworn statement shall be attached to the report of the
Review Commission.
