[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of West Reading 10-18-2011 by Ord. No. 1002. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Shade Tree Commission — See Ch. 103.
Wyomissing Creek Watershed Stormwater Coalition — See Ch. 110.
Air pollution — See Ch. 131.
[Amended 3-20-2018 by Ord. No. 1080]
There is hereby created and established a Borough of West Reading Environmental Advisory Council (hereinafter referred to as the "Council"), pursuant to the authority granted by 53 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2322 to 2329 (P.L. 1158, No. 177).
The Council shall advise other local governmental agencies, including but not limited to the Planning Commission and the West Reading Borough Council and, at the request thereof, other officials, employees, boards, councils or other entities of the Borough of West Reading on matters dealing with protection, conservation, management, promotion and use of natural resources, including air, land and water resources, located within the territorial limits of the Borough of West Reading.
The Council shall have the power to:
A. 
Identify environmental problems and recommend plans and programs to the appropriate Borough of West Reading agencies for the promotion, protection and conservation of the natural resources and for the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment within the Borough of West Reading;
B. 
Make recommendations as to the possible use of open land areas of the Borough of West Reading;
C. 
Promote a community environmental program;
D. 
Keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including but not limited to flood-prone areas, swamps and other unique natural areas for the purpose of obtaining information on the proper use of such areas; and
E. 
Advise the appropriate Borough of West Reading agencies with respect to the acquisition of property, both real and personal, by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, easement, devise or lease, in matters dealing with the protection, conservation, management, promotion and use of natural resources.
[Amended 3-20-2018 by Ord. No. 1084; 11-17-2020 by Ord. No. 1128; 12-17-2024 by Ord. No. 1189]
The Environmental Advisory Council shall be composed of seven residents of this municipality. All Council members shall be appointed by West Reading Borough Council. Council members' terms of office shall expire on the first Monday in January following the last year of their term of office. Duly appointed Council members shall serve a term of three years, except that initial appointments shall be so staggered that the terms of approximately 1/3 of the membership shall expire each year. Whenever possible, membership shall include a member of the West Reading Borough Council or the Planning Commission. The duly appointed Environmental Advisory Council members shall designate the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Council. The Chairperson shall preside over all meetings of the Council; the Vice Chairperson shall act as Chairperson in the Chairperson's absence. Additional members who are not appointed as identified by this section shall be considered associate members. These individuals who periodically advise the Environmental Advisory Council and/or periodically attend meetings for the purpose of advisement are not considered Environmental Advisory Council members.
Any Council member who fails to attend two meetings within a twelve-month period without prior approval from the Chairman of the Board may be removed from Council by the West Reading Borough Council at a duly convened meeting of Borough Council without the necessity of amending this chapter.
Members shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for the expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
The Council shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report which shall be printed in the annual municipal report, if any, or, if there shall be no annual municipal report, the Council shall otherwise make its written annual report to the West Reading Borough Council and generally make the report known and available.
Funds for the expenses incurred by the Council shall, at the discretion of the West Reading Borough Council, be appropriated to the Council. The Council may expend monies for such administrative, clerical printing and legal services as may from time to time be required, but its expenditures shall be limited to the amount of funds appropriated to it by the West Reading Borough Council. The whole or any part of any funds so appropriated in any year may be placed in a conservation fund, allowed to accumulate from year to year, or be expended in any year. The Council shall submit a detailed written itemized budget proposal to the West Reading Borough Council at least 30 days prior to adoption of the Borough's preliminary budget.
The Council shall endeavor to take advantage of such programs of assistance to Environmental Advisory Councils, including but not limited to educational services, exchange of information, assignment of technical personnel for natural resources planning assistance and coordination of state and local conservation activities, as may be established by the State Conservation Commission in the Department of Environmental Protection and any program or assistance to Environmental Advisory Councils in planning for the management, use and development of open space and recreation areas as may be established by the Secretary of Community and Economic Development and any other program of assistance as may be deemed by the Council and the West Reading Borough Council to be advantageous.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed as abolishing or limiting any existing municipal agency, board, authority or commission even though such agency, board, authority or commission may have a responsibility related to the responsibilities delegated to the Environmental Advisory Council hereunder.