[Ord. 1966, 6/9/2003, § 1]
Pursuant to the authority granted to the Borough of Pottstown as a municipal corporation to establish an Environmental Advisory Council (53 Pa.C.S.A. § 2322, et seq.), the Borough of Pottstown enacts the following ordinance.
[Ord. 1966, 6/9/2003, § 2]
Consistent with the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (53 Pa.C.S.A. § 2322 et seq.), Borough Council hereby establishes an Environmental Advisory Council ("Council") to advise other local governmental agencies including, but not limited to, the Planning Commission, the Parks and Recreation Board and elected officials, on matters dealing with protection, conservation, management, promotion and use of natural resources, including air, land and water resources, located within the corporate limits of the Borough of Pottstown.
[Ord. 1966, 6/9/2003, § 3]
1. 
Composition. The Council shall be composed of no less than five residents of the Borough of Pottstown, who shall be appointed and all vacancies filled by Borough Council. Whenever possible, one member of the Council shall also be a member of the Pottstown Planning Commission.
2. 
Term of Office. Council members shall serve for three years except that initial appointments shall be so staggered that the terms of approximately one-third of the membership shall expire each year, the terms of their successors to be of three years each.
3. 
Compensation and Expenses. Council members shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for the expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
4. 
Chairman. Borough Council shall designate the Chairman of the Council.
5. 
Should any member of the EAC fail to attend three scheduled meetings in any calendar year, Borough Council, upon recommendation of the EAC, may remove said member and thereafter appoint another qualified person to fill the vacancy.
[Added by Ord. No. 2175, 5/14/2018]
[Ord. 1966, 6/9/2003, § 4]
1. 
General Rule. The Council shall have the power to:
A. 
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 the corporate limits of the Borough of Pottstown.
B. 
Make recommendations as to the possible use of open land areas of the Borough of Pottstown within its corporate limits.
C. 
Promote a community environmental program.
D. 
Keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including floodprone areas, swamps and other unique natural areas, for the purpose of obtaining information on the proper use of those areas.
E. 
Advise the appropriate local government agencies, including the Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Board and Borough Council, 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 Part.
2. 
Limitation. The Council shall not exercise any powers or perform any duties which by law are conferred or imposed upon a Commonwealth agency.
[Ord. 1966, 6/9/2003, § 5]
The Council shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report which shall be printed in the annual report of the Borough of Pottstown, or, if none is produced, shall be otherwise made known and available.
[Ord. 1966, 6/9/2003, § 6]
The Borough Council of Pottstown may appropriate funds for the expenses incurred by the Council. Expenses may be expanded for those administrative, clerical, printing and legal services as may be required and as shall be within the limit of funds appropriated to the Council. The whole or any part of any funds so appropriated in any year may be placed in a conservation fund and allowed to accumulate from year to year or may be expended in any year.
[Ord. 1966, 6/9/2003, § 7]
The Council shall look to the State Conservation Commission for assistance which may include educational services, exchange of information, assignment of technical personnel for natural resources planning assistance, and the coordination of State and local conservation activities. The Council shall look to the Department of Community and Economic Development for assistance in planning for the management, use and development of open space and recreation areas.