[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of West Reading 2-20-1996 by Ord. No. 773 (Ch. I, Part 6B, of the 1993 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
Pursuant to Section 2708 of the Borough Code, Act of February 1, 1966 (1965, P.L. 1656, No. 581),[1] as amended, the authority to supervise and maintain public parks, parkways and playgrounds, playfields, swimming pools, public baths, bathing places, indoor recreation centers and gymnasiums (hereinafter called "recreation places") is hereby vested in the Borough Council of the Borough of West Reading.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 8 Pa.C.S.A. § 2708.
B. 
A Commission is hereby established to be known as the "Recreation Commission of the Borough of West Reading" (the "Recreation Commission"). The Recreation Commission shall have the power to make recommendations to Borough Council concerning the operation and maintenance of recreation places, along with recommendations concerning planning, organizing, directing, staffing and coordinating community events to be held at recreation places and in the Borough in general. The Recreation Commission shall also perform other legally permissible and proper duties and functions as Borough Council shall, from time to time, assign and in accordance with 8 Pa.C.S.A. § 2701 et seq., as amended.
[Amended 2-18-2020 by Ord. No. 1123]
[Amended 12-18-2001 by Ord. No. 855; 1-16-2006 by Ord. No. 929; 5-15-2006 by Ord. No. 933]
A. 
The Recreation Commission shall consist of a minimum of five members and a maximum of nine members appointed by the Borough Council of the Borough of West Reading for two-year terms commencing January 7, 2002 (the "members"). A quorum shall be established when a majority of the existing members of the Recreation Commission are in attendance. The Borough Manager and the Borough Parks and Recreation Director shall organize, attend and participate in meetings of the Recreation Commission in an advisory capacity but shall not be entitled to vote or be deemed members of the Recreation Commission for the purpose of establishing a quorum.
[Amended 2-18-2020 by Ord. No. 1123]
B. 
All members of the Recreation Commission shall be residents of the Borough of West Reading. At least one member shall be an elected member of Borough Council whose term will expire as provided in § 92-2A or upon the expiration of his or her term of office as a Borough Council person, whichever first occurs. At the discretion of Borough Council, up to two Commission members may be members or appointees of the Wyommissing Area School Board.
C. 
Appointments to fill vacancies on the Commission shall be for the unexpired term of the member whose services have terminated.
D. 
All members of the Recreation Commission must attend a minimum of 16 hours of Recreation Commission meetings and participate in 80 hours of events during the previous calendar year to be granted a single pool membership.
[Added 2-18-2020 by Ord. No. 1123]
[Amended 2-18-2020 by Ord. No. 1123]
A. 
The Recreation Commission shall elect its own Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary and create and fill such other offices as may be determined; provided, nevertheless, that the Chairman of the Recreation Commission shall also be a duly elected member of Borough Council. Officers shall serve annual terms and may succeed themselves.
B. 
The Recreation Commission shall make a monthly written report of its activities to Borough Council.
C. 
The responsibilities and powers of the officers of the Recreation Commission shall be as follows:
(1) 
Chair:
(a) 
Preside at all meetings of the Recreation Commission.
(b) 
Call special meetings of the Recreation Commission in accordance with legal requirements.
(c) 
Sign documents for and on behalf of the Recreation Commission.
(d) 
See that all actions of the Recreation Commission are properly taken.
(e) 
Assist staff in determining agenda items.
(2) 
Vice Chair: During the absence, disability or disqualification of the Chair, the Vice Chair shall exercise or perform the duties and responsibilities of the Chair.
(3) 
Secretary: The Secretary shall keep Recreation Commission records, prepare agendas, prepare minutes and otherwise provide staff assistance to the Recreation Commission in the performance of its duties.
[Added 2-18-2020 by Ord. No. 1123]
A. 
Regular meetings.
(1) 
Regular meetings shall be held on the first Tuesday of the month in the Council Chambers room of Borough Hall, unless otherwise determined by the Recreation Commission.
(2) 
To conduct a meeting, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the existing Recreation Commission members.
(3) 
Whenever a regular meeting falls on a public holiday, no regular meeting shall be held on that day. Such regular meeting may be rescheduled to another business day, or canceled by motion adopted by the Recreation Commission.
B. 
Special meetings. Special meetings of the Recreation Commission may be held at any time upon the call of the Chair or by a majority of the voting members of the Recreation Commission or upon request of the Borough Council following at least twenty-four-hour notice to each member of the Recreation Commission and shall be advertised.
C. 
Study session/workshops/site visits. The Recreation Commission may convene in whole or in part, in either manner prescribed for regular or special meetings, for the purpose of holding a workshop on any topic of its choosing. When so convened, a quorum shall not be required, and no official action may be taken.
D. 
General meeting conduct:
(1) 
All meetings shall be conducted in a courteous, professional and efficient manner, and all persons in attendance shall comport themselves in a manner befitting the proceedings.
(2) 
Speaking without the Chair's permission or speaking out of turn in the course of any discussion is not acceptable and may be ruled out of order.
(3) 
Obscene language or gestures, excessively loud tones, personal attacks, or any other threatening speech or actions are not acceptable and shall be ruled out of order.
(4) 
Repetitive or unduly argumentative testimony or discussion is not acceptable and may be ruled out of order.
E. 
Order of business:
(1) 
The Chair shall call the Recreation Commission to order at the hour appointed for the meeting.
(2) 
Members present, absent, or excused shall be recorded.
(3) 
The minutes of any preceding meeting shall be considered for approval.
(4) 
Any member of the audience may comment on any matter that is not listed on the agenda during public comment. They shall be advised of the procedures to be followed in the meeting.
(5) 
The Recreation Commission shall then hear and act upon those proposals scheduled for consideration or public hearing, together with such other matters of business that require Recreation Commission consideration.
(6) 
Adjournment shall be recorded.
F. 
Motions:
(1) 
A motion to adjourn shall always be in order except during roll call.
(2) 
The Chair or other presiding member may make and second motions and debate from the Chair, subject only to such limitations of debate as are imposed on all members of the Recreation Commission.
(3) 
A motion should precisely state the action it proposes and detail its justification for the action, including all formal findings as may be required for the action.
G. 
Voting requirement:
(1) 
A quorum shall consist of a majority of the then-appointed members of the Recreation Commission to cast a vote.
(2) 
In order to cast a vote on a particular agenda item, a member must be present during the vote on that item.
(3) 
Certain votes of the Recreation Commission require a majority vote of the entire Commission to carry. When a member of the Commission abstains from voting on such matters for any reason, the abstention shall be counted with the majority, when one exists.
[Amended 2-18-2020 by Ord. No. 1123]
A. 
Any member of the Recreation Commission, once qualified and appointed, may be removed from office for malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in office or for other just cause by majority vote of Borough Council.
B. 
Attendance regulations. If any member of the Recreation Commission fails to attend three consecutive regular meetings without cause, the office of such member shall be deemed to be vacant and the term of such member shall be terminated, and the Borough Parks and Recreation Director shall immediately inform Borough Council for approval of such termination.
C. 
An absence for cause shall mean either:
(1) 
An absence due to illness or an unavoidable absence from the Commission and written notice thereof to the Chair of the Recreation Commission or staff liaison on or before the day of any regular meeting by the Commission; or
(2) 
A finding by the Chair of the Recreation Commission that the absence was due to a reasonably unforeseeable occurrence, such as an accident or illness, that renders it unreasonably difficult to attend the meeting.