[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of Union as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 5-15-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-4]
A.
Whereas, the Board of Supervisors ("Board") of the
Township of Union, Berks County, Pennsylvania ("Township") deems it
to be in the best interest and the general welfare of the citizens
and residents of the Township to be advised as to environmental issues
within the Township, protection and preservation of natural resources
within the Township, possible uses of open land in the Township, and
creation of inventories of natural areas with unique features within
the Township; and
B.
Whereas, § 1506 of the Second-Class Township
Code, Act of May 1, 1933, P.L. 103, No. 69, as amended by the Act
of Nov. 9, 1995, P.L. 350, No. 60, found at 53 P.S. § 66506,
entitled "General Powers," authorizes the Board to make and adopt
ordinances necessary for the proper management, care, and control
of the Township and the maintenance of peace, good government, health
and welfare of the Township; and
C.
Whereas, § 11501 of the Act of Dec. 21,
1973, P.L. 425, No. 148, Chapter 30C, Environmental Advisory Councils,
authorizes the governing body of any township to establish, by ordinance,
an Environmental Advisory Council to advise other local government
agencies, including, but not limited to, the planning commission,
the park and recreation board, and elected officials, on matters dealing
with the protection, conservation, management, promotion, and use
of natural resources, including air, land and water resources, located
within its territorial limits.
A.
An advisory council to be known as the Union Township
Environmental Advisory Council ("Council") is hereby created and shall
continue to function until this ordinance is repealed.
B.
The Council shall be composed of five residents of
the Township.
C.
Council members shall be appointed in accordance with
the following procedures:
(1)
All Council members shall be appointed by the Board.
(2)
Council members' terms of office shall expire on the
first Monday in January following the last year of their term of office.
(3)
Duly appointed Council members shall serve a term
of three years, except that initial appointments shall be so staggered
that the terms of approximately 1/3 of the Council members shall expire
each year.
(4)
Whenever possible, one Council member shall also be
a member of the Township Planning Commission.
(5)
All members are to comply with the Pennsylvania Ethics
Law, Act 170 of 1978, as amended, and the conflict of interest policies
under the bylaws of the Berks County EAC.
D.
Council members shall receive no compensation for
their services but may be reimbursed for the expenses actually and
necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties, with
the approval of the Board.
E.
The Council shall be advisory to, and shall coordinate
its activities with, the Board, the Township Planning Commission,
the Township park and recreation board, and other local governmental
boards and agencies.
F.
The members of the Council shall designate the Chairman,
Vice Chairman and Secretary of the Council.
A.
The Council shall have the following powers:
(1)
Identify environmental issues affecting the Township,
affecting the areas surrounding the Township, and affecting the Township's
residents.
(2)
Recommend plans and programs to the appropriate agencies
for promotion and conservation of natural resources and for the protection
and improvement of the quality of the environment within the Township
and the areas surrounding the Township.
(3)
Make recommendations as to the possible use of open
land areas within the Township.
(4)
Promote a community environmental program.
(5)
Keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately
owned, including, but not limited to, flood-prone areas, swamps, and
unique natural areas.
(6)
Advise the appropriate local governmental agencies
in the acquisition of real property within the Township.
(7)
Undertake such environmental tasks as requested by
the Board, and/or propose environmental issues that the Council considers
to be significant to be undertaken within the community.
(8)
The Council shall operate in accordance with the resolution
concerning the Council, as approved and amended from time to time
by the Board, and shall not exercise any powers conferred by law upon
a commonwealth agency.
B.
The Council shall keep records of its meetings and
activities and shall make an annual report to the Board which shall
be made publicly available. Minutes of each meeting of the Council
shall be forwarded to the Board.
C.
The Board may, from time to time, appropriate funds
for expenses to be incurred by the Council.
