Council shall, by ordinance or resolution, create, modify or abolish boards, commissions, authorities and other agencies and committees and prescribe their organization and functions consistent with this Charter and applicable State law. Their general purpose may include providing information, findings of fact, recommendations, and action on matters and problems falling within the legislative responsibility of the Council.
The number and qualifications of the members of any board, commission, authority, agency or committee shall be determined by Council, except where stated otherwise in this Charter. Council shall appoint, suspend or remove the members of such bodies by a majority vote of all the members of Council. Appointment shall be preceded by announcement of openings at a public meeting held not less than thirty days prior to the appointment. No citizen appointed or serving on such bodies shall hold any other appointive or elective Township office.
Citizens appointed to boards, commissions, authorities, agencies and committees shall serve for terms not to exceed four (4) years. No citizen shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms and the balance of an unexpired term on the same board, commission, authority, agency or committee.
Each board, commission, authority, agency or committee shall organize itself from among its members within thirty days from the date of the appointment of its initial membership and annually thereafter. The officers elected shall include a Chairman, a Secretary and other officers considered appropriate by the membership. Each board, commission, authority, agency or committee shall keep records of its proceedings and shall report at least monthly to the Council at a regular public meeting.
The Planning Commission shall be a permanent body and shall be empowered by and shall function in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968, as amended, until such time as the General Assembly of Pennsylvania shall provide uniform laws on planning and zoning which apply to a municipality with a home rule charter. The Planning Commission shall act in an advisory capacity to the Council and shall consult with other Township officials, boards, commissions, authorities, agencies and committees where appropriate. It shall be the function of the Secretary of the Planning Commission to keep the Zoning Hearing Board current on all ordinances pertaining to planning and zoning.
The Zoning Hearing Board shall be a permanent body and shall be empowered by and shall function in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968, as amended, until such time as the General Assembly of Pennsylvania shall provide uniform laws on planning and zoning which apply to a municipality with a home rule charter.
The Recreation Board shall be a permanent body and shall be responsible for the establishment, development and administration of recreation programs in the Township. The Upper Providence Recreation Board may cooperate with or withdraw from participation in any other authority, board or commission which is responsible for recreation. On or before September 1 of each year, the Commission shall present to Council a plan, outlining their proposed activities for the ensuing year.
The Code of Ethics Commission shall be a permanent body, consisting of one registered elector from each voting district, appointed by the Township Council to serve on said Commission for a period of two years. Commission members shall be appointed simultaneously and may not serve more than one term consecutively.
The function of said Commission shall be the confidential investigation of the facts surrounding any allegations pertaining to the violation of the Code of Ethics. No investigation shall commence until said allegations are submitted to the Commission in writing. Under appropriate circumstances, Council may direct said Committee to investigate violations of the Code of Ethics.
The Commission shall be required to notify by certified mail, return receipt requested, any person alleged to be in violation of the Code of Ethics of the nature of the charges against him. Further, the Commission shall afford said person notice of hearings and an opportunity to be heard and present witnesses on his behalf.
The Commission shall be required to report their fact findings to the Township Council within a reasonable period of time at a public meeting and said report shall be made a part of the Minutes of the Township Council.
The Environmental Commission shall be a permanent body and shall act in an advisory capacity to the Council. It shall consult with other Township officials, boards, commissions, authorities, agencies or committees. The purpose of said Commission shall be to make recommendations to Council in matters relating to the environment of Upper Providence Township.