There is hereby established a Commission to be known as the "Historical
Commission."
The members of the Historical Commission shall serve without compensation,
but they may be reimbursed for expenses necessary to carry out the objectives
of the Commission when those expenses are deemed necessary and appropriate
and approved by the Borough Council.
The Borough Council of the Borough of Malvern may, after a duly advertised
public hearing, remove any member of the Commission from office for inefficiency,
neglect of duty, malfeasance in office or conflict of interest.
The Commission shall elect its own Chairman and shall create and fill
such other offices as deemed proper. The Commission shall make and alter its
rules of procedure consistent with the ordinances of the Borough and the laws
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It shall keep records of its resolutions,
transactions, findings and determinations, and such records shall be considered
public records, except when contrary to the public interest as determined
by the Borough Council pursuant to applicable statutes, ordinances or other
rules and regulations. A majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum,
and action taken at any meeting shall require the affirmative vote of that
majority.
Duties shall be as follows:
A. To record the history of Malvern Borough and its significant
architectural, historic and natural sites.
B. To gather documentary evidence, illustrations, photographs
and all other appropriate materials which will establish architecture and
sites as significant and worthy of preservation.
C. To prepare regular reports of its activities for the
Borough Council, as well as specific reports as may, from time to time, be
requested by the Borough Council.
D. In conjunction with its recordation of the history of
the Borough, to prepare an index of significant architectural, historical
and natural sites for use and information by Borough officials and the citizens
of the Borough.
E. To cooperate with all Borough officials and agencies
in relation to the preservation and restoration of historic structures and
sites, including the possible acquisition and use of the same by the Borough.
F. To consider, promote and, with the approval of the Borough
Council, to apply for technical and financial assistance from all appropriate
local, county, state, federal and other agencies in the preservation of significant
architecture and natural and historic sites within the Borough of Malvern
and to report all related action to the Borough Council.
G. To prepare and submit a yearly budget to the Borough
Council for sums deemed necessary to carry out the objectives of the Historical
Commission.
H. In conjunction and cooperation with the Borough Council,
the Planning Commission, the Zoning Officer and other interested Borough officials,
to study the feasibility of creating an Historic District in accordance with
and pursuant to the Act of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
entitled "Historic Districts" (Act of June 13, 1961, P.L. 282, No. 167), described
as follows: "An Act authorizing counties, cities, boroughs, incorporated towns
and townships to create historic districts within their geographic boundaries;
providing for the appointment of an Historical Architectural Review Board;
and empowering governing bodies of political subdivisions to protect the distinctive
historical character of these districts and to regulate the erection, reconstruction,
alteration, restoration, demolition or razing of buildings within the historic
district."
The Borough Council may appropriate from the general Borough funds such
funds as may be necessary and available for the work of the Historical Commission
in the year for which the appropriation is made.