City of Warren, PA Boards and Commissions

Except where otherwise provided by law, the Charter or ordinance, all boards and commissions shall be advisory in nature and perform no administrative function.

Upon approval, minutes of boards and commissions shall be provided to City Council.

[Amended 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1971]

At least once in every four years, before December 31 of the year before the municipal election at which regular councilmanic elections are held, Council shall survey and study every board and commission and shall, as a result of the survey and study, continue, terminate or reestablish any board or commission, except where otherwise provided by law.

§ 5-22 Membership.

[Amended 4-10-1978 by Ord. No. 1160]

The appointment of members of all boards and commissions shall be as provided for in the Charter. (See Charter, Article V and Article XI.)

All boards and commissions shall consist of not less than three nor more than seven members, with a term of four years' duration, all commencing on January 1 of the first year of the term or as otherwise provided for by law, the Charter or ordinance.

On a board or commission of four members or less, the terms shall be set so that not more than one term shall expire in any calendar year; on a board or commission of five members or more, the terms shall be set so that not more than two terms shall expire in any calendar year, except as otherwise provided for by law. After the effective date of this chapter, Council shall have prepared a listing of the membership of all boards and commissions previously established and to be continued, as provided in Subsection B of this section, indicating for each member the dates of expiration of his present term on the board or commission. If the date of commencement and/or the date of expiration of the term of any member of a board or commission is not in compliance with the provisions of this section, that date shall be reset by Council so as to comply.

The chairman of a board or commission shall promptly notify Council concerning a vacancy, and Council shall advertise the vacancy within 14 days from the date of notification.

[Amended 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1971]

A member of any board or commission may be removed by Council for cause.

No member of a board or commission shall receive any salary or other compensation for his services, but he shall be reimbursed by the municipality for authorized expenses in connection with official municipal duties.

All members of boards and commissions shall be residents of the municipality and shall possess qualifications appropriate to the purpose and function of the commission to which they are appointed.

§ 5-23 Organization.

Each board and commission shall elect its own officers and may adopt bylaws, rules and regulations to govern its operation. Those bylaws, rules and regulations shall provide for the keeping of records pertaining to its activities, and the conduct of meetings. All records, reports and files shall be made available to Council at any time.

[Amended 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1971]

Each board and commission may hold public hearings to gather information from citizens on matters of public interest.

Council may assign each board or commission to an appropriate administrative department for necessary staff and administrative assistance.

§ 5-24 Parks, Recreation, and Landscape Commission.

[Amended 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1971]

The Parks, Recreation, and Landscape Commission shall:

Be responsible for developing and recommending park and recreation programs, for the periodic review of those programs, and for advising Council on recreation needs, use of facilities, fee structures, and related matters; and

Be responsible for developing and/or reviewing proposals and making recommendations to City Council regarding new recreational facilities within City parks; and

Be responsible for developing and making recommendations affecting trees within the City’s street right-of-way, including ordinances and regulations for the placement, removal, care, and protection of trees; and

Be responsible for developing and/or reviewing proposals and making recommendations to City Administration regarding landscaping within City-owned parklands; and

Be assigned to the Department of Public Works, including the City Arborist, for necessary staff and administrative assistance; and

Shall be comprised of seven members appointed by City Council; and

The members first seated on this commission shall be the four members of the Parks and Recreation Commission whose terms continue beyond December 31, 2022, and the three members of the Street Landscape Committee whose terms continue beyond December 31, 2022, with the term expiration dates to remain the same; and

Upon expiration of the terms as provided for in Subsection G above, all new appointments to the Commission shall be for a term of four years, excepting any appointment to fulfill a vacated seat in which case the appointment shall be for the remainder of the term of the vacated seat; and

Council may approve the appointment of a nonvoting associate member, who may or may not be a resident of the City of Warren, and who may serve in an advisory capacity.

§ 5-25 Planning Commission.

[Amended 3-9-1987 by Ord. No. 1452; 12-12-1988 by Ord. No. 1491]

A Department of City Planning and a City Planning Commission are hereby created in and for the City of Warren, to perform all the duties and to exercise the powers conferred by law upon planning agencies in cities. The said Planning Commission shall be composed of seven members, appointed as provided by law, provided the City Planning Commission previously created in and for the said City shall serve as the Planning Commission in and for the said City and nothing herein shall affect the tenure of any member of the said existing Planning Commission, but any vacancy occurring therein shall be filled in the manner and for the term provided in the law governing city planning commissions in effect at the time of the occurrence of such vacancy.

The Planning Commission shall be the official planning agency of the municipality and shall perform all duties and functions and may exercise all powers vested by law in municipal planning agencies. The Planning Commission shall advise Council on all plans relating to development and long-range planning in the municipality, and Council may confer upon the Planning Commission additional powers, duties and advisory functions not inconsistent with the law.

§ 5-26 Zoning Hearing Board.

The Zoning Hearing Board shall perform all duties and functions and may exercise all powers vested by law in zoning hearing boards.

§ 5-27 Personnel Commission.

The Personnel Commission shall be constituted as provided in the Personnel Code and shall have vested in it those powers, duties and functions provided by the Personnel Code.

§ 5-28 Pension Commission.

The Pension Commission shall periodically review and advise Council on all municipal pension systems and may serve as the trustee of the pension funds, or Council may appoint a separate professional trustee to serve as the trustee of one or more of the pension funds, subject to the terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions provided by law for investment of trust funds by fiduciaries.

Execute and fulfill all duties and responsibilities vested in the Pension Commission in accordance with law or ordinance governing the pension system.

§ 5-29 Citizens Advisory Commission.

The Citizens Advisory Commission shall have the "ombudsman" responsibility of representing citizens' needs and rights to the Council to ensure the quality and quantity of municipal services and to educate the citizens with respect thereof.