[Adopted 1-21-1986 as Ch. 1, Part 2B, of the 1986 Code;
amended in its entirety at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
There is hereby created and established the
Environmental Advisory Council of the Township of Upper Southampton
for the purpose of advising the Board of Supervisors regarding ways
and means of promoting the orderly development, utilization and conservation
of the natural resources of Upper Southampton Township.
[Amended 10-4-2016 by Ord. No. 443]
The said Environmental Advisory Council shall consist of seven
members appointed by the Board of Supervisors for a term of three
years, or until their successors are appointed, except that the members
of said Board first appointed shall be appointed for such term so
that the terms of no more than three members shall expire annually
thereafter.
All members of the Environmental Advisory Council
shall be residents of Upper Southampton Township and shall serve without
compensation other than for such expenses in connection with their
duties on said Council as the Board of Supervisors may approve in
advance.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall elect
from among its members, at the first meeting thereof, and at the annual
meeting in January of each and every year thereafter, a Chairman,
Secretary and such other officers as the said Council may deem necessary,
by a majority vote of the members present at such meeting. Written
notice of the annual meeting shall be mailed to each member by the
Secretary at least 10 days prior to said meeting; regular or special
meetings shall be convened at the call of the Chairman, or in such
other manner as the members may, by a majority vote, designate.
A.
General rule. An Environmental Advisory Council shall
have the power to:
(1)
Identify environmental problems and recommend plans
and programs to the appropriate agencies for the promotion and conservation
of the natural resources and for the protection and improvement of
the quality of the environment within its territorial limits.
(2)
Make recommendations as to the possible use of open
land areas of the municipal corporations within its territorial limits.
(3)
Promote a community environmental program.
(4)
Keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately
owned, including flood-prone areas, swamps and other unique natural
areas, for the purpose of obtaining information on the proper use
of those areas.
(5)
Advise the appropriate local government agencies,
including the Planning Commission and Recreation and Park Board or,
if none, the elected governing body or bodies within its territorial
limits, in the acquisition of both real and personal property by gift,
purchase, grant, bequest, easement, devise or lease, in matters dealing
with the purposes of this article.
B.
Limitation. An Environmental Advisory Council shall
not exercise any powers or perform any duties which by law are conferred
or imposed upon a commonwealth agency.