All powers of the Township, including those powers now in existence
or hereafter conferred on the Township by the Constitutions or the
laws of the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
shall be exclusively vested in and exercised by the Council subject
only to the provisions of this Charter.
Council shall be the legislative body charged with the responsibility
and duty to;
A. Establish the policies, goals and objectives for the executive, administrative
and advisory functions;
B. Make and adopt ordinances and resolutions consistent with the Constitutions
and laws of the United States of America and of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania and this Charter, and to prescribe fines and penalties
for the violation thereof.
The Township Council shall consist of five members. Each Council
member shall represent one voting district of the Township. If in
fact the voting boundaries are changed in accordance with the provisions
set forth by law, it is the intent of this Charter that the number
of districts remain at five and the number of Council Members remain
at five. Each of the five Council members shall be nominated and elected
by the registered electors of his district.
A Council member shall be a citizen of the United States of
America, a resident of the voting district which he represents throughout
his term of office and, at the time of his nomination, shall have
been a resident of the Township for not less than one year and shall
be a registered elector. Further, he shall not have been convicted
of a felony or embezzlement, bribery, perjury or any crime involving
moral turpitude. No Council member shall hold any other elected or
appointed public office within the Township. Prior to assuming the
position of Council member, a citizen shall affirm by oath that he
is qualified for the office and that he shall act in the best interest
of the Township.
Council members shall serve for four years, commencing at 8:00
p.m. on the first Monday of January following the year in which they
are elected. The terms of Council Members shall be staggered.
No Council member shall serve consecutively more than two full
terms, except that a Council member filling a vacancy may serve two
full terms following the unexpired term.
Council members shall be entitled to receive a compensation
established by ordinance. The ordinance establishing the compensation
for said Council members may not become effective in less than one
year from the date of its passage.
Council members shall receive no other compensation either direct
or indirect, for the performance of their duties. They shall, however,
be entitled to actual, reasonable and necessary expenses incurred
in the performance of their duties as authorized by resolution.
The Township Council shall meet at 8.00 p.m. on the first Monday
of January of each year. The purpose of this meeting shall be to elect
one of their number as Chairman and one of their number as Vice Chairman.
If the first Monday is a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held
the first day following the holiday. The Chairman or, in the Chairman's
absence, the Vice Chairman, shall preside at Council meetings, shall
serve as the Township's Ceremonial Officer and shall be empowered
to sign such documents as may be prescribed by this Charter.
Council shall make, protect and preserve written minutes and
records of its proceedings and voting which shall be entrusted to
the care of the Township. Such records shall be readily available
for public inspection during regular business hours at the office
of the Township.