There is hereby created and established a Shade Tree Commission
for the Borough of Waterford, Erie County, Pennsylvania, which shall
consist of three members, all of whom shall be citizens and residents
of the Borough of Waterford, and who shall be appointed by the Borough
Council, to serve without compensation, for a term of three years;
provided, however, that the term of one member of the first commission
shall be three years, one member shall be for two years, and one member
shall be for one year. Vacancies in the office of Shade Tree Commissioner
shall be filled by the Borough Council for the unexpired balance of
the term.
In addition to the three Shade Tree Commissioners appointed
by Borough Council, the Shade Tree Commission itself is hereby authorized
to delegate responsibility to associate members of the Shade Tree
Commission, which associate members shall be nonvoting members. Associate
members shall report to and be responsible to the Shade Tree Commissioners.
Associate members need not be residents of the Borough, nor need they
be ratified by Borough Council. However, the Chairman of the Shade
Tree Commission shall notify Borough Council of the appointment of
such associate members and the term of their appointment.
The Shade Tree Commission shall choose its own officers, and
make its own rules and regulations under and subject to Robert's Rules
of Order. Regular minutes of the meeting shall be kept. A majority
of the Shade Tree Commissioners shall be a quorum for transaction
of business.
It shall be the responsibility of the Shade Tree Commission
to educate, inform, and promulgate regulations for the care and protection
of shade trees within the Borough of Waterford. The Shade Tree Commission
shall be authorized to plant, maintain, and protect shade trees on
the streets and highways within the Borough. The Shade Tree Commission
shall make a recommendation to Borough Council with respect to the
proposed removal of any shade tree within the Borough, and it shall
be the responsibility of Borough Council to take the appropriate action
with the owner.
The Shade Tree Commission, when and if requested by Borough
Council, shall consider, investigate, make findings and report and
recommend upon any special matter or question coming within the scope
of its work.
The Shade Tree Commission shall present an annual report to
Borough Council. The report will be written and may include suggestions
for care, preservation, pruning, planting, and replanting trees and
shrubs along streets and other public areas within the Borough.
The Shade Tree Commission shall have the right to recommend
to Borough Council the removal of any dead or diseased tree on public
or private property within the Borough when such tree or trees constitute
a hazard to life and property, or harbor insects or disease which
constitute a potential threat to other trees within the Borough. Such
recommendation to Council shall be in writing, and shall contain the
reasons therefor.
The Shade Tree Commission shall present to Borough Council a
proposed budget for the forthcoming year, in time for consideration
by Borough Council during the normal Borough budgetary process. All
budgeted funds for the Shade Tree Commission shall be disbursed by
the Borough Treasurer after approval of the bills by Borough Council
in the normal manner.