[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Millersville 11-11-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-4. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
In creating the Millersville Borough Historic Commission, the
Borough Council is establishing a policy to support historic preservation,
in accordance with provisions of the Borough Code and of the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code.[1] The Borough Council recognizes the importance of the Borough's
historic resources as elements that help define the character of the
Borough and the people who live here. The Borough Council also realizes
the potential economic development tool that historic resources can
be in attracting businesses, tourists and residents.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 45101 and 53 P.S. § 10101
et seq., respectively
B.
It is the goal of Borough Council to provide tools
to the citizens of the community that can be utilized to preserve
and enhance the historic character that makes Millersville a unique,
distinctive and identifiable place.
A.
The Borough Council of the Borough of Millersville
hereby creates an Historic Commission, which shall report to the Borough
Council and which shall consist of no fewer than five members who
shall be appointed by the Borough Council. The membership of the Historic
Commission shall include individuals who have professional expertise
or a demonstrated interest in cultural history, architectural history,
architecture, archaeology, historic preservation, or knowledge in
a field related to the objectives of the Historic Commission, such
as real estate, construction, grant-writing, fund-raising, local business,
economic development and the like.
B.
Each Historic Commission member shall serve for a
term of five years. The creation of the Historic Commission shall
be established so that one term shall expire each year. The Historic
Commission shall notify the President of Borough Council of any vacancies
in the Historic Commission, and the Borough Council shall fill those
vacancies. Appointments to fill vacancies for unexpired terms shall
only be filled for the unexpired portion of the term vacated. Members
shall serve without pay but shall be reimbursed for any personal expenditures
in the conduct of Historic Commission business when authorized by
the Borough Council.
The Historic Commission shall annually elect
from its own membership a Chair, who will direct the activities of
the Historic Commission, and such other officers as may be required
to conduct its business. A quorum shall be a majority or more of its
membership. The Historic Commission may make, alter, and rescind rules
and forms for its procedures consistent with the laws and regulations
of the Borough and of the commonwealth. The Historic Commission shall
conduct business at regular public meetings. An agenda for each public
meeting shall be available for inspection prior to the start of each
meeting.
The Historic Commission shall keep full public
records of its business and shall submit a report of its activities
to the Borough Council annually. The report shall include, at minimum:
Within the limits of funds appropriated by the
Borough Council and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations,
the Historic Commission may employ staff or contract for clerical,
consulting or other technical services.
Historic Commission members are required to
recuse themselves from any discussion and disqualify themselves from
voting on any project in which their own financial interest or those
of their immediate families are involved.
In accordance with the purposes of this chapter,
the Historic Commission shall have the following functions and duties:
A.
To participate in the preparation of Comprehensive
Plan updates and to assist with development of the historic preservation
component of said Comprehensive Plan update.
B.
To participate in the periodic review of and update
to Borough ordinances to ensure against provisions which may conflict
with historic preservation goals.
C.
To make proposals to the Borough Council for the creation
of historic preservation ordinances and/or their revision as may be
required to implement the goals of the historic preservation plan.
D.
To prepare design guidelines for historic buildings
to serve as an aid to owners of historic buildings.
E.
To prepare and maintain maps and historic resource
inventories in accordance with survey information either gathered
by the Historic Commission or provided by a consultant.
F.
To provide information on historic preservation issues
to the Borough Planning Commission or Borough Council.
G.
To review and comment on proposals for demolition
of historic structures.
H.
To review and comment on proposals for additions and
alterations to buildings or structures designated as historic resources.
I.
To review and comment on proposals for infill and/or
new construction in neighborhoods which contain historic resources.
J.
To work with the Planning Commission in review of
land development and subdivision plans to determine if they will have
an impact on historic resources and, if so, to propose alternatives
to mitigate any negative impact, for presentation and consideration
by the developer/builder/owner.
K.
To review and comment on the potential impact of proposed
state and federal agency actions on historic resources.
L.
To conduct research on and propose the nomination
of significant resources or districts to the National Register of
Historic Places and other appropriate lists or programs.
M.
To advise the Zoning Hearing Board and/or Borough
Council on all requests for special exceptions, variances or conditional
uses affecting historic resources.
N.
To develop informational brochures and educational
materials about the Borough's history and historic resources.
O.
To develop a resource file or library to guide citizens
in their preservation efforts.
P.
To promote, conduct, or participate in activities
which educate or enhance the community's understanding of the Borough's
history and historic resources.
Q.
To develop a walking tour brochure and map which features
the Borough's historic resources.
R.
To actively pursue funding through grants, gifts,
donations and other sources for the purposes stated herein.
The Historic Commission shall meet at regularly scheduled, advertised meetings. The Historic Commission shall review applications in accordance with the provisions of § 380-30 of Chapter 380, Zoning. The Historic Commission may establish bylaws for the purpose of directing its activities. Said bylaws shall be created in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Copies of any bylaws, policies or guidelines shall be provided to the Planning Commission and Borough Council.
