The Board shall exercise by ordinance those powers and duties which:
a. 
Provide for a fine or other penalty or establish a rule or regulation for the violation of which a fine or other penalty may be imposed;
b. 
Establish, levy and collect taxes, and provide the rates thereof;
c. 
Establish, alter or abolish the rates or charges for any utility supplied by the Township;
d. 
Authorize the borrowing of money except for revenue anticipation loans;
e. 
Grant, renew, or extend a franchise;
f. 
Exercise the power of eminent domain;
g. 
Purchase, convey, lease or authorize the purchase, conveyance or lease of any real property;
h. 
Authorize the construction of public capital improvements;
i. 
Establish, alter or amend any zoning, subdivision, land development or building regulations;
j. 
Amend or repeal any ordinance previously adopted; and
k. 
Otherwise are required by this Charter or general law to be exercised by ordinance.
All other powers and duties of the Township and the Board may be exercised by ordinance or resolution.
An ordinance shall contain only one subject clearly expressed in its title. Any ordinance which repeals or amends an existing ordinance shall clearly indicate the matter to be repealed, omitted or added.
The Board may adopt any standard code of technical regulations or parts thereof by adopting an ordinance incorporating said code or parts thereof by reference. The details of such standard codes need not be advertised, but copies thereof shall be available at the Township Office for public use, inspection and purchase at a reasonable fee fixed by the Board.
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, the procedure for adoption shall be as follows:
a. 
Introduction. A proposed ordinance may be introduced by a Supervisor at any regular or special public meeting. Such ordinance shall be submitted to the Manager in advance thereof, who shall place it on the agenda of the next public meeting for introduction and first consideration. A proposed ordinance not included in the agenda shall be introduced and given first consideration only with the affirmative vote of at least three members of the Board.
b. 
Advance advertisement. If the proposed ordinance is approved by the Board upon introduction and first consideration, the Manager shall advertise the full text thereof or a summary thereof prepared or approved by the Township Solicitor if the proposed ordinance is lengthy and advertisement of the full text would be unduly costly or burdensome to the Township as determined by the Board of Supervisors and the date, time and place when the ordinance will receive further consideration. Said advertisement shall be published at least once in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the Township, not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days before the said public meeting. When maps, plans or drawings of any kind are proposed as part of an ordinance, the Manager may, instead of publishing same, provide that they are on file and may be examined at the Township Office.
[Amended 8-8-2005 by Ord. No. 8053]
c. 
Adoption by the Board. Provided that citizens of the Township have been given an opportunity to express their views at the advertised public meeting, the Board may:
1. 
Adopt the ordinance as proposed;
2. 
Postpone action until a later meeting; or
3. 
Amend a proposed ordinance before final adoption.
If there is a postponement and no announcement made thereat of a later date, time and place when the ordinance will receive further consideration or if an amendment makes any change in the substance of the ordinance as originally advertised, then no final action may be taken until the ordinance has again been advertised in accordance with § 404b of this Charter. Final adoption of an ordinance, except as otherwise provided in this Charter, shall require the affirmative vote of at least three members of the Board.
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, an ordinance shall take effect on the day after the date of adoption or such later date as the Board may prescribe.
The Manager shall record the full text of all ordinances with proofs of publication in a permanent record book which shall be available for public inspection at the Township Office.
The Board shall provide for the general codification of all Township ordinances having the force and effect of law. The general codification shall be adopted by ordinance and include this Charter and the Administrative Code. The codification shall be known and cited as the "Code of the Township of Whitemarsh." All new ordinances shall be integrated in the codification.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, the Board may, in the event of a substantial public emergency affecting the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Township, adopt emergency ordinances. Emergency ordinances shall be so designated, introduced in the form required for ordinances and clearly state the nature of the emergency. No prior publication of an emergency ordinance shall be required and it may be introduced and adopted at any public meeting at which it is introduced. An emergency ordinance shall require the affirmative vote of at least three members of the Board. In the event it is impossible for the total membership to be present, an emergency ordinance may be adopted by the majority vote of the members present, provided there is a quorum. Emergency ordinances shall not levy taxes. An emergency ordinance shall become effective immediately upon adoption and shall automatically be repealed on the 31st day following the date of its adoption, but may be reenacted as provided herein if the emergency still exists. An emergency ordinance may also be repealed by adoption of a repealing ordinance in the manner set forth herein. An emergency or repealing ordinance shall be advertised as soon as possible after it is adopted.
The Board may, by the affirmative vote of at least three members thereof, approve a resolution to provide for a referendum on the question of adopting any proposed ordinance. The referendum resolution shall be filed with the Board of Elections of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, at least 60 days prior to the next primary, municipal or general election, and a referendum shall be held thereat by special election as provided in the election laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The said Board of Elections shall place the question on the ballot in a manner fairly representing its contents.
If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the proposed ordinance vote in favor thereof, such ordinance shall thereupon become a valid and binding ordinance of the Township upon certification of the election results. If the provisions of two or more proposed ordinances approved or adopted at the same election conflict, then the proposed ordinance receiving the greatest affirmative vote shall control.