[Ord. No. 1105, §§ 5, 6, 6-15-1992]
In addition to any other power to duty required by law or by
this Charter to be exercised by ordinance, those powers and duties
of Council shall be exercised by ordinance which:
1. Provide for a fine or other penalty or establish a rule or regulation
for violation of which a fine or other penalty is imposed.
2. Establish, levy and collect taxes; increases or decreases the rates
of existing taxes.
3. Grant, renew or extend a franchise.
4. Establish, alter or abolish rates charged for any utility supplied
by the Township.
5. Authorize the borrowing of money except for revenue anticipation
loans, or as otherwise provided by general law.
6. Exercise the power of eminent domain.
7. Purchase, convey, lease or authorize the purchase, conveyance or
lease of any real property.
8. Amend or repeal any ordinance previously adopted.
9. Establish, alter or amend any zoning ordinance, subdivision procedure,
land development and land use regulations, except as otherwise may
be authorized, required or provided by the Pennsylvania Municipalities
Planning Code.
No ordinance shall contain more than one subject which shall
be clearly expressed in its title. Any ordinance which repeals or
amends an existing ordinance shall clearly indicate matter to be omitted
or added.
An ordinance may be introduced by any member of Council at any
regular or special public meeting after publication as set forth herein.
A written synopsis of the proposed ordinance shall be provided by
the Manager to each Council member and shall be read prior to a vote
on its adoption. Citizens of the Township shall have an opportunity
to be heard prior to a vote on the adoption of the ordinance. Council
may adopt the ordinance as proposed, but if the substance of the proposed
ordinance is materially changed, Council may not adopt the ordinance
until a revised summary shall have been published as set forth herein.
Every ordinance shall contain the date of its enactment and the signature
of the presiding officer. However, the failure of the presiding officer
to sign an ordinance shall not in any way invalidate an otherwise
valid ordinance.
[Ord. No. 1105, § 7, 6-15-1992]
A. Prior Publication. The Manager shall publish a summary of all proposed
ordinances which shall clearly state its subject matter at least once
in at least one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the Township
not more than thirty (30) days nor less than seven (7) days prior
to the public meeting at which it is to be considered by Council and
provide in the offices of the Township a reasonable number of copies
of a synopsis of the proposed ordinance for the citizens of the Township.
The publication shall set forth the date, time and place of the public
meeting when Council shall consider the proposed ordinance and that
a copy of the proposed ordinance may be obtained at the offices of
the Township. In the event the consideration of the proposed ordinance
is tabled or continued, it shall not be given further consideration
unless republished as set forth herein.
B. Subsequent publication. Unless otherwise required or provided by
General Law, the Manager shall publish at least once in at least one
(1) newspaper of general circulation in the Township within ten (10)
days after the date of adoption of an ordinance either the full text
thereof or the title and a brief summary setting forth all the provisions
in reasonable detail and a reference to a place within the Township
where copies of the full text of the ordinance may be examined. If
the full text of the ordinance is not published, then a copy of the
ordinance certified by the Manager shall be supplied to the said newspaper
of general circulation in the Township at the time the public notice
is published. A certified copy thereof shall be filed in the Montgomery
County Law Library or other County office designated by the Montgomery
County Commissioners.
C. Effective date. Except for emergency ordinances or the adoption or
amendment of operating and capital budgets as otherwise provided in
this Charter, every ordinance adopted by Council shall become effective
on the thirty-first (31) day after the date of adoption or at any
later date specified therein.
Council may, in the event of a substantial public emergency
affecting the life, health, property or peace of the citizens of the
Township, adopt emergency ordinances, but such ordinances shall not
levy taxes or authorize borrowing of money except as provided by law.
An emergency ordinance shall be clearly so designated and shall contain
a declaration of the emergency described in clear and specific terms.
The manner for adoption of ordinances set forth herein shall be followed
except that no publication prior to adoption shall be necessary and
the emergency ordinance may be adopted at the meeting at which it
is introduced. An emergency ordinance shall become effective immediately,
shall automatically stand repealed as of the thirty-first (31) day
following its date of adoption, but may be re-enacted as provided
herein if the emergency still exists. An emergency ordinance may also
be repealed by adoption of a repealing ordinance in the same manner
specified in this Section for adoption of emergency ordinances.
Council may adopt any Standard Code of Technical Regulation
by adopting an ordinance incorporating said Code by reference. Copies
of such Code shall be available at the offices of the Township for
public use and inspection or purchase at a reasonable price fixed
by Council.