[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
Worcester 6-19-1996 by Ord. No. 149. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
The Board of Supervisors of Worcester Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania,
does hereby create the Worcester Township Shade Tree Commission. This Commission
shall have five members who are also serving as the Planning Commission. The
Planning Commission shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors and shall
serve on the Shade Tree Commission without compensation.
The purpose of the Shade Tree Commission is to promote the beautification
of public spaces and encourage well-designed planting and landscaping of private
spaces in the Township. In addition, the Commission will strive to:
A.
Develop a shade tree planting plan that meets the tree
planting requirements of the Montgomery County Open Space Preservation Program.
B.
Provide a source of expertise available to residents
for private planting and landscaping activities and that assists the Township
in its review of proposed land developments.
C.
Encourage public/private partnerships in tree planting
and similar Township beautification activities.
D.
Encourage special planting programs, such as an Avenue
of Trees Program or designating an official tree of Worcester.
E.
Encourage volunteerism among interested citizens.
When first established, the Board of Supervisors shall appoint to the
Commission the Planning Commission members to serve and vacancies will be
filled in accordance with the Planning Commission Ordinance.[1] The Commission shall meet from time to time as members determine
to be necessary, such meetings being duly advertised and open to the public.
A.
The Commission shall have the responsibility to plan
and make recommendations for the planting, replacement, removal, protection
and needed maintenance of shade trees on public roads and in public spaces
in the Township and to make similar recommendations for planting and landscaping
of land developments in accordance with the Subdivision and Land Development
Ordinance.[1] It shall specifically be responsible for implementing new tree
planting in accordance with the tree planting provisions of the Montgomery
County Open Space Program. All plans and recommendations of the Commission
shall be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for review and approval.
B.
Installation, maintenance, replacement or removal of
all new and existing planting provided as part of land development or provided
in public areas shall meet all applicable standards of the Subdivision and
Land Development Ordinance. The Commission may recommend that the owner(s)
of property be required to remove trees or parts thereof that, because of
disease or a similar adverse condition, threaten to injure or destroy shade
trees in a public right-of-way or other public space.
C.
Whenever the Commission formally recommends that the
Township plant, transplant, remove or prune shade trees on any street or public
area, notice of the work proposed shall be announced at a Board of Supervisors'
meeting. The announcement shall specify in detail the public streets or public
areas upon which the proposed action will occur.
A.
The Commission shall elect its own Chairman and Vice
Chairman and create and fill such other offices (from its members) as it may
determine. Officers shall serve annual terms and may succeed themselves.
B.
The Commission shall annually report in full its activities,
transactions, expenses and related activities for the last fiscal year of
the Township. This report shall be submitted to the Township Board of Supervisors
for review and approval.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding
pending in court or any rights acquired or liabilities under the ordinances
of the Township prior to the enactment of this chapter.
The failure of the Township to enforce any provision of this chapter
shall not constitute a waiver by the Township of its rights of future enforcement
hereunder.
The Board of Supervisors, through this chapter, intends to amend all
other Township ordinances or resolutions or parts thereof insofar as they
are inconsistent with this chapter.
