[Ord. 641, 10/9/1978; as amended by Ord. 841, 12/19/2001]
The composition of committees of Town Council and their duties
shall be determined by the Town Council, from time to time.
[Ord. 612, 5/5/1975, § 1; as amended by Ord. 641,
10/9/1978]
A commission of the Town of Bloomsburg is hereby created to
be known as the "Town Planning Commission." The Engineer for the Town,
or an engineer appointed by the Town Council, shall serve the Planning
Commission as engineering advisor.
[Ord. 612, 5/5/1975, § 2]
The Town Planning Commission shall consist of seven persons
to be appointed by the Council. In the first instance, one member
shall be appointed for one year, two members for two years, two members
for three years and two members for four years and annually thereafter,
one or two members of said Commission shall be appointed for a term
of four years. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be only for
the unexpired portion of the term.
[Ord. 612, 5/5/1975, § 3]
All members of the Planning Commission shall be residents of
the Town and shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed
for reasonable and necessary expenses. Six members of the Commission,
designated as citizen members, shall not be officers or employees
of the Town. However, elected or appointed officers or employees of
the Town shall not, by reason of membership thereon, forfeit the right
to exercise the powers, perform the duties or receive the compensation
of the Town offices held by them during such membership.
[Ord. 612, 5/5/1975, § 4]
The Commission shall elect its own chairman and vice chairman
and create and full such other offices as it may determine. Officers
shall serve annual terms and may succeed themselves. The Commission
may make and alter by-laws and rules and regulations to govern its
procedures consistent with the ordinances of the Town and the laws
of the Commonwealth. The Commission shall keep a full record of its
business and shall make a written report by March 1, of each year
of its activities to the Town Council. Interim reports may be made
as often as may be necessary or as requested by the Town Council.
[Ord. 612, 5/5/1975, § 5]
The Secretary of Council shall, upon introduction, furnish to
the Town Planning Commission for its consideration a copy of all proposed
ordinances and all amendments thereto, relating to the location of
any public building of the Town and to the location, extension, widening,
narrowing, enlargement, ornamentation and parking of any street, highway,
avenue, boulevard, alley, parkway, park, playground or other public
ground and to the relocation, vacation, curtailment, changes of use
or any other alteration of the Town Plan with relation to any of the
same and to the location of any bridge, tunnel and railway, whether
located on the surface, under the ground or elevated. The said Commission
shall have the right to disapprove any of the said ordinances, bills
or amendments, which disapproval; however, must be communicated to
Council, in writing, within 10 days of the introduction of said ordinances,
but such disapproval shall not operate as a veto.
[Ord. 612, 5/5/1975, § 6]
1. The Town Planning Commission, after proper authorization by Council
and the appropriation of the necessary funds, may make, or cause to
be made and laid before Council and, at its discretion, cause to be
published maps of the Town or any portion thereof, including territory
extending three miles beyond the Town limits showing the streets and
highways and other natural and artificial features and also locations
proposed by it for any new public buildings, civic center, street,
parkway, park, playground or any other public ground or public improvement
or any widening, extension or relocation of the same, or for the location
or preservation of ancient landmarks and other property of historical
or antiquarian interest, or any change in the Town Plan by it deemed
advisable and it may make recommendations to Council, from time to
time, concerning any such matters and things aforesaid, for action
by Council thereon and, in so doing, have regard for the present conditions
and future needs and growth of the Town and the distribution and relative
location of all the principal and other streets and railways, waterways
and all other means of public travel and business communications,
as well as the distribution and relative location of all public buildings,
public grounds and open spaces devoted to public use.
2. The Town Planning Commission may make recommendations to any public
authorities or any corporations or individuals in said Town with respect
to the location of any building, structures or works to be erected
or constructed by them.
3. All plans, plots or replots of lands laid out in building lots and
the streets or other portions of the same, intended to be dedicated
to public use or for the use of purchasers or owners of lots fronting
thereon or adjacent thereto and located within the Town limits, shall
be submitted to the Town Planning Commission and approved by it, before
they shall be recorded, and it shall be unlawful to receive or record
such plan in any public office, unless the same shall bear thereon,
by endorsement or otherwise, the approval of the Town Planning Commission.
The disapproval of any such plan by the Planning Commission shall
be deemed a refusal of the proposed dedication shown thereon. The
approval of the Commission shall be deemed an acceptance of the proposed
dedication, but shall not impose any duty upon the Town concerning
the maintenance or improvement of any such dedicated parts, until
the proper authorities of the Town shall have made actual appropriation
of the same by entry, use or improvement. No sewer, water or gain
main or pipes or other improvement shall be voted or made, within
the area under the jurisdiction of said Commission, for the use of
any such purchasers or owners, nor shall any permit for connection
with, or other use, any such improvement existing or for any other
reason made be given to any such purchasers or owners until such plan
is so approved. Provided, that any person aggrieved by action of the
Commission may appeal the decision to the next regular meeting of
the Town Council held more than 10 days after the date of such decision.
4. The Planning Commission shall have the power to provide all services
and functions set forth in § 209.1 of the Municipality Planning
Code (53 P.S. § 10209.1) when requested by Town Council.