A new chapter, "Environmental Advisory Council," is hereby added
to the Upper Moreland Code, in order to create an advisory council
to be known as the "Upper Moreland Township Environmental Advisory
Council" (EAC), which shall continue to function until this chapter
is repealed.
[Amended 11-10-2014 by Ord. No. 1638]
The EAC shall be composed of seven residents of the Township.
EAC members shall be appointed in accordance with the following
procedures:
A. All EAC members shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners.
B. EAC members' terms of office shall expire on the first Monday
in January following the last year of their term of office.
C. Duly appointed EAC members shall serve a term of three years, except
that initial appointments shall be so staggered that the terms of
approximately 1/3 of the EAC members shall expire each year.
D. Whenever possible, one EAC member shall also be a member of the Township
Advisory Planning Agency (APA).
E. The Board of Commissioners may also designate "affiliate members"
without the right to vote, as necessary and desirable, to allow participation
by other persons, students, or business owners, or members of conservation
organizations operating within the Township.
F. The EAC may, by a majority vote of all voting members, designate
up to two "affiliate members" without the right to vote, as necessary
and desirable, so as to allow further participation by other persons,
students, or business owners, or members of conservation organizations
operating within or outside the Township.
[Added 11-10-2014 by Ord. No. 1638]
EAC members shall receive no compensation for their services
but may be reimbursed for the expenses actually and necessarily incurred
by them in the performance of their duties, with the approval of the
Board.
The EAC shall be advisory to and shall coordinate its activities
with the Board, the Township Advisory Planning Agency, the Township
Park and Recreation Board, and other local governmental boards and
agencies.
The Board of Commissioners shall designate the Chairman of the
EAC.
The EAC shall have the following powers:
A. Identify environmental issues affecting the Township, the areas surrounding
the Township, and the Township's residents, including but not
limited to stormwater management and energy conservation issues.
B. Recommend plans and programs to the appropriate agencies for promotion
and conservation of natural resources and for the protection and improvement
of the quality of the environment within the Township and the areas
surrounding the Township.
C. Make recommendations as to the possible use of open land areas within
the Township.
D. Promote a community environmental program.
E. Keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including,
but not limited to, flood-prone areas, swamps, and unique natural
areas.
F. Advise the appropriate local governmental agencies in the acquisition
and management of real property and open areas owned by the Township.
G. To undertake such environmental tasks as requested by the Board of
Commissioners and/or to propose environmental issues that the EAC
considers to be significant to be undertaken within the community.
H. The EAC shall operate in accordance with bylaws of the EAC, as approved
and amended from time to time by the Board of Commissioners.
The EAC shall keep records of its meetings and activities and
shall make an annual report to the Board of Commissioners, which shall
be made publicly available. Minutes of each meeting of the EAC shall
be forwarded to the Board.
The Board of Commissioners may, from time to time, appropriate
funds for expenses to be incurred by the EAC.