[Ord. 1867, 11/9/1999; as amended by Ord. 2194, 3/13/2012,
§ 1]
A Borough Tree Advisory Commission, to be appointed by Borough
Council, is hereby established. The Commission shall only be advisory
in nature and may perform only the duties given to it by Council.
[Ord. 1867, 11/9/1999]
In this subpart, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated below:
the Borough Tree Advisory Commission established pursuant to § 1-431.
the Borough Council.
the Borough Manager.
the Borough Planning Commission.
trees located on Borough owned parcels (e.g., Borough parks).
any and all street tree(s) and public tree(s).
any tree(s) in the Borough which is (are) located within
the public street right-of-way.
[Ord. 1867, 11/9/1999; as amended by Ord. 2194, 3/13/2012,
§ 2]
The Commission shall be composed of five members, who shall
be residents of the Borough, appointed by the Council, and shall serve
without compensation. When the Commission is initially expanded to
five members, the Council shall appoint one member for a term to expire
June 30, 2013, and one member for a term to expire June 30, 2016.
The three existing members of the Commission shall serve the balance
of their terms. On the expiration of the term of any Commissioner,
a successor shall be appointed by the Council for a term of five years.
Vacancies in the office of Commissioner shall be appointed for the
unexpired term.
[Ord. 1867, 11/9/1999]
At their first meeting and at their first meeting each year
thereafter, the Commission shall elect a Chairperson and Secretary
and shall create and fill such other offices as it may determine.
Officers shall serve at the pleasure of the Commission.
[Ord. 1867, 11/9/1999]
The Commission may make and alter its bylaws, rules and regulations
to govern its procedures and activities consistent with Borough ordinances
and other applicable laws and regulations. The Commission shall meet
regularly and in public and maintain records of its business. The
Commission shall file an annual written report to Council and the
Manager describing its completed, ongoing and proposed activities
and such other information about regulated trees as the Commission
believes should be considered by the Council and/or Manager.
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former § 1-436, Prior Review
of Proposed Regulated Tree Removal, adopted by Ord. 1867, 11/9/1999,
was repealed 3/13/2012 by Ord. 2194, § 3.
[Ord. 1867, 11/9/1999; as amended by Ord. 2194, 3/13/2012,
§ 4]
The Commission shall:
A.
Prepare and maintain an inventory, by species, size, condition and
location, of public trees and street trees.
B.
Upon request of the Borough Council or its designee, review, investigate
and make recommendations to the Planning Commission, Manager, Council
and/or Mayor concerning:
(1)
Programs,
policies, and regulations for planting, maintaining, pruning and removal
of street trees and public trees.
(2)
Amendments to the Borough’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22], Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 27] and other Borough ordinances and the adoption of regulations and policies to protect existing trees during and after construction, required planting and maintenance of street trees and public trees and establish specifications for the location of regulated trees and the design of sidewalks, parking lot islands, and other areas for the planting of regulated trees.
(3)
Budgeting
decisions concerning street tree and public tree programs.
(4)
Street
tree proposals which are part of any subdivision, land development
and/or conditional use plan being reviewed by the Planning Commission.
(5)
Permit
applications received from any person who shall desire to plant, prune,
treat, remove or cut above or below ground any public or street tree.
C.
Work to involve neighborhoods in street tree planting, maintenance
and removal planning and policies and to provide a forum for community
discussion of such issues.
D.
Provide a forum for private groups and individuals interested in
street tree and public tree programs to coordinate their efforts,
to facilitate reaching consensus on policy recommendations and to
organize community input for the Manager, the Council and the Mayor.
E.
Promote public support for, interest in and involvement in street
tree and public tree programs in the Borough.
F.
Provide a forum for discussion of proposed or requested nonemergency
street tree and/or public tree removals. The Commission shall work
to facilitate discussion between the property owners, the neighborhood
and the Borough staff.
G.
Do such other acts, consistent with Borough policy, applicable regulations
and the public interest, with respect to regulated trees, as Council
and/or the Manager shall request.
H.
Hold such public meetings as the Commission determines necessary
to implement its activities and conduct its business.
I.
By designated Commission representative, present information and
recommendations to the Manager, Council and the Mayor.
J.
Apply for public and/or private grants, as authorized by Borough
Council, for Commission programs and projects.
[Ord. 1867, 11/9/1999]
The Commission shall request such staff assistance as it determines
necessary for its activities. All such requests shall be made to the
Manager. The Manager shall provide such assistance as the Manager
determines appropriate for the Commission to implement the duties
assigned to it by Council.[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former Subpart E, Educational Service
Agency, adopted 5/13/1980 by Ord. 1382, as amended, and former Subpart
F, Board of Appeals, adopted 8/9/1988 by Ord. 1569, §§ 1
and 2, as amended, which immediately followed this section, were repealed
9/10/2013 by Ord. 2222, §§ 3 and 4.
