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.
