The Washington Township Planning Commission
shall consist of seven members. Except for elected or appointed officers
or employees of the municipality, members of the Commission may receive
compensation in an amount fixed by the governing body. Compensation
shall not exceed the rate of compensation authorized to be paid to
members of the governing body. Without exception, members of the Planning
Commission may be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses.
However, elected or appointed officers or employees of Washington
Township shall not, by reason of membership of the Commission, forfeit
the right to exercise the powers, perform the duties or receive the
compensations of the municipal offices held by them during such membership.
All members of the Planning Commission shall
be residents of the Township. At least five of the members of the
Commission shall be citizen members, who shall not be officers or
employees of the Township.
Any member of a Planning Commission once qualified
and appointed may be removed from office for malfeasance, misfeasance
or nonfeasance in office or for other just cause by a majority vote
of the Board taken after the member has received 15 days' advance
notice of the intent to take such a vote. A hearing shall be held
in connection with the vote if the member shall request it, in writing.
Any appointment to fill a vacancy created by removal shall be only
for the unexpired term.
The Board may employ administrative and technical
services to aid in carrying out the provisions of this chapter either
as consultants on particular matters or as regular employees of the
Township.
The Planning Commission may, with the consent
of the Board, accept and utilize any funds, personnel or other assistance
made available by the county, the commonwealth or the federal government
or any of their agencies or from private sources. The Board may enter
into agreements or contracts regarding the acceptance or utilization
of the funds or assistance in accordance with the governmental procedures
of the Township.