[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Borough of Darby 4-17-1974 by Ord. No. 549, approved 4-17-1974; amended
in its entirety 11-5-2003 by Ord.
No. 703. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
An Historical Commission is hereby established by the Borough
of Darby to be composed of seven members, who shall be residents of
the Borough, appointed by Darby Borough Council. The membership of
the Board shall be as follows:
A.
One member shall be a registered architect; one shall be a licensed
real estate broker; one shall be the Building Inspector and four shall
be persons with knowledge or an interest in the preservation of the
historic resources of the Borough of Darby. The resumes evidencing
the qualifications of the members shall be filed with the Borough
Secretary. In the event a registered architect and/or a licensed real
estate broker who is also a resident of the Borough of Darby cannot
be appointed to serve or is unwilling to serve on the Historical Commission,
Council may appoint a registered architect and/or a licensed real
estate broker who is not a resident of the Borough but who otherwise
meets the qualifications to serve on the Historical Commission. In
the event a Borough resident who is a registered architect and/or
licensed real estate broker desires to serve on the Historical Commission,
that individual(s) shall be given preference over non-Borough residents
applying for the same position.
B.
The terms of the first members shall be so fixed that no more than
two members shall be replaced or reappointed during any one calendar
year. Their successors shall serve for a term of five years. The position
of any member of the Commission appointed in his/her capacity such
as a registered architect, a licensed real estate broker, or Building
Inspector who ceases to be so engaged shall be automatically considered
vacant. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be only for the unexpired
portion of the term.
The Commission shall meet, at a minimum, quarterly. A majority
of the Commission shall constitute a quorum and any action taken at
any meeting shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the
Commission. The members shall provide accurate and complete minutes
of their meetings and make an annual report to the Borough Council.
The Historical Commission shall have, in addition to the aforementioned
duties, the following powers and duties:
A.
To conduct a survey of buildings for the purpose of determining those
of historical and/or architectural significance and pertinent facts
about them; and to maintain and periodically revise the detailed listings
of historic sites and buildings and data about them, appropriately
classified with respect to national, state or local significance,
and to period or field of interest, including cultural characteristics
of the Borough of the life of an individual significant in the past
and associated with the Borough.
B.
To propose, as deemed appropriate, the establishment of historical
districts and revisions to existing historic districts located in
the Borough of Darby.
C.
To formulate recommendations concerning the establishment of and
appropriate system of markers for selected historic and/or architectural
sites and buildings, including proposals for the installation and
care of such historic markers.
D.
To formulate recommendations concerning the preparation and publication
of maps, brochures and descriptive material about the history of Darby
Borough and/or its historic and architectural sites.
E.
To cooperate with and to advise the Borough of Darby, Borough Planning
Commission and any other agencies or boards in matters involving historically
and/or architecturally significant sites and buildings (such as appropriate
land usage, parking facilities and signs, as well as adherence to
lot dimensional regulations and minimum structural standards).
F.
To cooperate with and enlist assistance from the National Park Service,
the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Pennsylvania Historical
and Museum Commission and other agencies, both public and/or private,
from time to time concerned with historic sites and buildings located
within the Borough.
G.
To advise owners of historical buildings on problems of preservation.
H.
To promote public interest in the purpose of this chapter by carrying
on a public relations program.
I.
To testify before boards, commissions and Borough Council on any
matter affecting historically and architecturally significant property,
structures and/or areas located within the Borough of Darby.
J.
To make recommendations to the Darby Borough Council and/or the Darby
Borough Planning Commission on guidelines for alterations, new construction,
demolition or relocation of landmarks or property and structures within
the Borough of Darby.
K.
To recommend to the Borough Council a list of historical structures in the Borough of Darby. In recommending inclusion of a structure on the list, the Commission shall consider the standards set forth in § 12-8 of the Code of the Borough of Darby. Said recommendations shall be in writing, with specific references to the standards articulated in § 12-8, and shall be approved by a majority of the Commission at a duly advertised public meeting. In addition, the Commission shall from time to time make recommendations to Borough Council for additions or deletions from the list of historical structures.
[Added 12-20-2006 by Ord.
No. 731, approved 12-20-2006]
The Historical Commission shall immediately hereafter have an
organizational meeting and shall elect a chairperson, secretary and
other such officers as it shall desire. Said Historical Board shall
prepare such rules and regulations as it shall deem proper, including,
but not exclusively, a requirement of regular periodic meetings; provided,
however, that such rules and regulations shall not in any way be in
conflict with the terms of this chapter, the Code of the Borough of
Darby, the Pennsylvania Borough Code[1] or any other laws or statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 8 Pa.C.S.A. § 101 et seq.
