[Amended 8-10-1978 by Ord. No. O-16-1978]
A. 
Purpose.
(1) 
Those covered are as follows:
(a) 
Code Review Board.
(b) 
Human Relations Commission.
(c) 
Parks and Recreation Commission.
(d) 
Police Pension Board.
(e) 
Firemen's Pension Board.
(f) 
Planning and Zoning Commission.
(g) 
Zoning Hearing Board.
(h) 
Redevelopment Authority.
(i) 
Library Board.
(j) 
Civil Service Commission.
(2) 
Except as limited or prohibited by Home Rule Charters and Optional Plans Law, the Farrell Home Rule Charter, and except as provided for in this section for the Code Review Board, all boards and commissions shall be advisory in nature and perform no administrative function. No member of any board, commission or authority shall direct or request the appointment of any person to or his removal from office or employment by the Manager or any of his subordinates. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the Boards, commissions and authorities and their members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the Manager. Neither the Boards, commissions and authorities, nor any of their members, shall give orders to any subordinates of the Manager either publicly or privately.
B. 
Membership.
(1) 
The appointment of members of all boards, commissions and authorities shall be by the Mayor with the advice and consent of Council.
(2) 
A member of any board, commission or authority may be removed by the appointing authority if said member shall miss two consecutive meetings without cause and a member may be removed otherwise for cause shown.
(3) 
The membership number and term of office of all boards, commissions and authorities shall be set by Council.
(4) 
The terms of members shall be staggered so that in no case shall a majority of the membership terms expire during the same calendar year.
(5) 
Any vacancy on a board, commission or authority shall be filled by the appointing authority for the remainder of the unexpired term. The filling of such vacancies or of expired terms shall take place within 30 days of the date the vacancy occurs or the term expires.
(6) 
The members of any board, commission or authority shall serve without compensation. However, members may be reimbursed for any reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties so long as such expenses are provided for in the adopted City budget.
(7) 
All members of boards, commissions and authorities shall be residents of the City of Farrell.
C. 
Organization.
(1) 
Each board and commission shall provide for rules and regulations governing its operation. Such rules and regulations shall provide for the keeping of records pertaining to its duties, the conduct of meetings and public hearings and a periodic reporting to the residents of the City and the City Manager. All such rules and regulations shall be subject to the approval or disapproval of City Council.
(2) 
The City Manager shall attach each board and commission to an appropriate unit of the administrative service for necessary staff, liaison and administrative assistance.
A. 
Function. The Code Review Board shall be responsible for the review of all building, housing and related codes for the purpose of recommending changes; for advisement of the City Manager, the Council and the appropriate City Department on the need for additional regulations; and for serving as a Board of Appeals for appeals arising under the provisions of any building, housing or related codes.
B. 
Duties. The duties of the Code Review Board shall be to:
(1) 
Review periodically all building, housing and related ordinances of the City.
(2) 
Advise the City Manager, the Council and the head of the appropriate City Department on projected and proposed policies and procedures for the enforcement of building, housing and related codes.
(3) 
Hear appeals brought before it under the provisions of such building, housing and related ordinances adopted by the City in accordance with law.
A. 
Functions. The Human Relations Commission shall be responsible for encouraging compliance with all laws involving the rights of citizens, the quality and quantity of municipal services, and educating the citizens with respect thereto; and advising the City Manager, the Council and all appropriate municipal units in connection therewith. In addition, if they deem necessary, the Human Relations Commission may take action independent of the municipal government in order to assure compliance with all appropriate laws.
B. 
Duties. The duties of the Human Relations Commission shall be to:
(1) 
Keep informed on all problems or issues which exist within the City concerning the compliance of laws involving the rights of citizens and the quality and quantity of municipal services.
(2) 
Make such studies as may be deemed desirable.
(3) 
Hear complaints and make recommendations for the resolution thereof.
(4) 
Conduct educational programs and distribute materials relating to the rights of all citizens.
(5) 
Take independent action if necessary to assure compliance with all appropriate laws concerning rights of citizens and the quality and quantity of City services.
A. 
Function. The Parks and Recreation Commission shall be responsible for the periodic review of parks and recreation programs for the purpose of recommending changes; and for advising the City Manager, the Council and appropriate City departments on recreation needs, use of facilities and programs and fee structures relating thereto.
B. 
Duties. The duties of the Parks and Recreation Commission shall be to:
(1) 
Receive complaints dealing with parks and recreation programs or facilities and make recommendations pursuant to them.
(2) 
Make recommendations to the City Manager, the Council and appropriate City Departments on rules and regulations and practices concerning the utilization of programs and facilities, schedule of fees for programs and facilities and operation of concessions at park and recreation facilities.
(3) 
Advise the City Manager, the Council and appropriate City departments on needed facilities and programs.
A. 
Composition. The Police Pension Fund Board shall consist of seven members as follows:
(1) 
The Mayor, who shall be ex-officio Chairperson thereof and whose membership shall be concurrent with his term of office as Mayor.
(2) 
Three members of Council to be appointed by Council, whose membership on the Board shall be concurrent with their respective terms of office, one of whom shall be elected treasurer thereof.
(3) 
The Chief of the Police Department.
(4) 
Two duly confirmed and active members of the Police Department elected in a manner approved by Council by and from the members of the Police Pension Fund Association; one of whom shall serve for one year and the other of whom shall serve for two years and whose successors shall be elected for a period of two years. A vacancy occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term by the election of a successor in the same manner as his predecessor.
B. 
Function.
(1) 
The direction of the police pension fund is hereby committed to the Police Pension Fund Board, subject to regulations contained in the police pension fund ordinance of the City of Farrell as amended and to such other regulations as Council may by ordinance hereafter from time to time prescribe.
(2) 
The fund shall at all times be under the direction and control of Council but its custody and management shall at all times be under the direction of the Police Pension Fund Board.
(3) 
The Board may, within the legal limitations, retain a corporate trustee to manage the fund and such corporate trustee shall be entitled to and shall be paid out of the general fund of the City such fees as are legally allowed to fiduciaries.
A. 
Composition. The Fire Pension Fund Board shall consist of seven members as follows:
(1) 
The Mayor, who shall be ex-officio Chairperson thereof and whose membership shall be concurrent with his term of office as Mayor.
(2) 
Three members of Council to be appointed by Council, whose membership on the Board shall be concurrent with their respective terms of office, one of whom shall be elected treasurer thereof.
(3) 
The Chief of the Fire Department.
(4) 
Two duly confirmed and active members of the Fire Department elected in a manner approved by Council by and from the members of the Fire Pension Fund Association; one of whom shall serve for one year and the other of whom shall serve two years and whose successors shall be elected for a period of two years. A vacancy occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term by the election of a successor in the same manner as his predecessor.
B. 
The Fireman's Pension Fund shall be under the direction and control of the Board of Managers and shall be applied under such regulations as the Board of Managers shall prescribe as set forth in the firemen's pension fund ordinance as amended, subject to the approval of Council, and Council may from time to time by ordinance alter, modify, change or repeal such rules and regulations and establish new rules and regulations for the administration of the Fireman's Pension Fund by the Board of Managers and the transaction of its business.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A. 
Establishment. A Planning Commission consisting of seven members is hereby created and established for the City of Farrell, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, pursuant to the provisions of Article II, Section 201, of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as established by the Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, as amended and reenacted.
B. 
Composition; terms of office. The Planning Commission shall be comprised of seven members who shall be appointed for terms of office of four years, or until a successor is appointed and qualified, except that the terms of the members first appointed pursuant to this chapter shall be so fixed that no more than two shall be reappointed or replaced during any future calendar year.
C. 
Powers and duties. The Planning Commission shall have all the powers and duties conferred and imposed upon it as set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, established by the Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, as amended and reenacted.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A. 
Function. The Zoning Hearing Board shall be responsible for hearing appeals on rulings by the Zoning Officer.
B. 
Duties. The Zoning Hearing Board shall perform those duties prescribed by law including the duties to:
(1) 
Conduct hearings and render decisions on appeals from the Zoning Officer.
(2) 
Hear challenges to the validity of any ordinance or map.
(3) 
Hear requests for variances and render decisions thereon; attaching such reasonable conditions and safeguards as it may deem necessary to implement the purposes of law, the Charter or ordinance.
(4) 
Hear and decide upon requests for special exceptions pursuant to criteria and standards adopted by the Council.
A. 
Function. The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Farrell, in addition to the duties and powers prescribed in the Redevelopment Act of 1949, as amended, shall act as an advisory body to the City Manager, Council and the appropriate City departments in matters relating to the physical development of the City of Farrell. This authority shall continue until terminated as provided in its Charter.
B. 
Duties. The duties of the Redevelopment Authority shall be to:
(1) 
Keep informed on all problems and programs relating to the physical development of the City.
(2) 
Make such studies and prepare such applications as may be deemed desirable by the Council in order to ascertain the feelings of the citizens concerning specific development programs.
A. 
Function. The Library Board shall be responsible for recommending policy to the City Manager, Council and the appropriate City departments concerning the administration of the Farrell Public Library.
B. 
Duties. The duties of the Library Board shall be to:
(1) 
Prepare and submit to the City Manager recommendations concerning the Library's budget, suggested sources of revenue and expenditures for his review, revision and submission to Council for approval.
(2) 
Make recommendations concerning the administration of the approved budget as so to provide the best possible library services for the residents of the City of Farrell.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 181, Personnel Commission, which immediately followed, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
Creation and duties. The Council and chief executive officer may appoint ad hoc boards or commissions to advise them on specific matters.
B. 
Membership.
(1) 
The term of membership on any ad hoc board or commission shall for the duration of its existence.
(2) 
Upon completion of its responsibilities, any ad hoc board or commission shall dissolve, and the terms of its members expire unless the Board or commission is recreated and its members reappointed.
(3) 
The members of ad hoc boards or commissions need not be residents of the City.