[Adopted 2-14-1996 (Ch. 25, Part 1, of the 1994 Code)]
[Amended 2-28-1996 by Ord. No. 420S; 3-27-1996 by Ord. No. 420T; 5-22-1996 by Ord. No. 420W]
A. 
A commission to be known as the “Hatfield Township Shade Tree Commission” is hereby established. The Tree Commission shall be composed of 10 residents of the Township who shall be appointed by the Township Commissioners for such terms as shall permit no more than two terms to expire in any one calendar year; of the 10 persons, five shall be a citizen representative from each designated Township ward and five shall be a citizen representative selected at large. Members of the Tree Commission shall serve without compensation.
B. 
Officers. The Hatfield Township Shade Tree Commission shall elect its own Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary to serve for a period of one year or until their successors are appointed.
[Amended 2-28-1996 by Ord. No. 420S; 3-27-1996 by Ord. No. 420T]
A. 
The five members appointed from each designated Township ward shall be appointed for an initial term of one member for one year, one member for two years, one member for three years, one member for four years and one member for five years, and after the initial appointment term a five-year term for each reappointed member will follow thereafter. The five members appointed at large shall be appointed for an initial term of one member for one year, one member for two years, one member for three years, one member for four years and one member for five years, and after the initial appointment term a five-year term for each reappointed member will follow thereafter. All initial terms shall commence from the date of appointment and shall continue until December 31 of the year the term expires.
B. 
On the expiration of the term of any Shade Tree Commissioner, a successor shall be appointed by the Hatfield Township Board of Commissioners to serve for a term of five years.
C. 
Vacancies in the office of Shade Tree Commissioner shall be filled by the Hatfield Township Board of Commissioners for the unexpired term.
A. 
The Tree Commission shall have supervision over all trees planted or growing within the lines of all public streets and highways and in the open space areas owned by the Township.
B. 
The Commission shall have the right, upon the program approval of the Hatfield Township Board of Commissioners, to trim, spray, preserve and plant such trees as may be necessary to beautify an area which is in an unsafe condition or which by reason of its nature is injurious to sewers or other public improvements or is infected with any injurious fungus, insect or other pest.
C. 
If the Tree Commission determines that it is necessary to obtain the assistance of persons especially qualified by reason of training or experience in tree planting, preservation or landscaping, in order to perform its duties, the Tree Commission shall request the Board of Commissioners to direct Township personnel to perform such tasks or to contract with other persons to perform such tasks. The employees or contractors shall be under the direction and control of the Township Manager.
The Tree Commission, at such times as directed by the Hatfield Township Board of Commissioners, shall annually submit for approval to the Hatfield Board of Commissioners a proposed budget for the ensuing year, setting forth all proposed expenditures and salaries for its annual tree planting and maintenance events. The Tree Commission shall not in any manner obligate Hatfield Township for the payment of any municipal funds until the same is appropriated and payment is authorized and approved by the Hatfield Township Board of Commissioners. Funds appropriated by the Board of Commissioners and budgeted to the Tree Commission shall be disbursed after authorization and approval by the Hatfield Township Board of Commissioners by the fiscal disbursing officer of the Township, upon vouchers issued by the Tree Commission and within the budget appropriation made. Funds received by the Tree Commission from sources other than budget appropriations shall be deposited by the Township to the credit of and for such Board and shall be disbursed as the above budget funds are disbursed, except that funds received by gift, bequest or otherwise shall be disbursed in accordance with the terms of such gift or bequest per the terms of the acceptance thereof.
The Shade Tree Commission shall meet at least quarterly at such times and on such dates as the Commission may establish. One joint meeting with the Hatfield Township Parks and Recreation Board shall be held each calendar year for the purpose of discussing and coordinating program activities. All meetings shall be public meetings held in the Township building. Meetings shall be advertised in conformity with the law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.