[Adopted 12-20-1976 by Ord. No. 365]
[Amended 10-14-1996 by Ord. No. 96-10]
A Borough of Sharpsburg Planning Commission consisting of five persons shall be appointed by the Council, of which two members shall be appointed for an initial period of four years, one member shall be appointed for an initial period of three years, one member shall be appointed for a an initial period of two years and one member shall be appointed for an initial period of one year. Thereafter, the term shall be four years.
All members of the Planning Commission shall be appointed by the appointing authority of the Borough of Sharpsburg. All such appointments shall be approved by the governing body, except where the governing body is the appointing authority. The Chairman of the Planning Commission shall promptly notify the appointing authority of the Borough of Sharpsburg concerning vacancies in the Planning Commission, and such vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term.
All of the members of the Planning Commission shall be residents of the Borough of Sharpsburg. At least three members must be citizen members and the remaining two members can be officers or employees of the Borough of Sharpsburg. All members of the Planning Commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses. However, elected or appointed officers or employees of the Borough shall not, by reason of membership thereon, forfeit the right to exercise the powers, perform the duties or receive the compensations of the Borough offices held by them during the membership.
Any member of the Planning Commission once qualified and appointed may be removed from office for malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in office or for other just cause by a majority vote of the governing body which appointed the member, taken after the member has received 15 day's advance notice of the intent to take such a vote. A hearing shall be held in connection with the vote if the member shall request it in writing. Any appointment to fill a vacancy created by removal shall be only for the unexpired term.
The Planning Commission shall elect its own Chairman and Vice Chairman and create and fill such other offices as it may determine. Officers shall serve annual terms and may succeed themselves. The Planning Commission may make and alter bylaws and rules and regulations to govern its procedures consistent with the ordinances of the Borough and the laws of the Commonwealth. The Planning Commission shall keep a full record of its business and shall annually make a written report by March 1 of each year of its activities to the Borough of Sharpsburg Council body. Interim reports may be made as often as may be necessary or as requested by Council.
1. 
The Planning Commission shall, at the request of the Borough Council, have the power and shall be required to:
A. 
Prepare the Comprehensive Plan for the development of the Borough of Sharpsburg as set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code and present it for consideration of Council.
B. 
Maintain and keep on file records of its action. All records and files of the planning agency shall be in the possession of the Council.
2. 
The Planning Commission. at the request of Council. may:
A. 
Make recommendations to the Council concerning the adoption or amendment of an Official Map.
B. 
Prepare and represent to Council a zoning ordinance and make recommendations to Council on proposed amendments to it as set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
C. 
Prepare, recommend and administer subdivision and land development, planned residential development regulations, as set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
D. 
Prepare and present to the Council a building code and a housing code and make recommendations concerning proposed amendments thereto.
E. 
Do such other act or make such studies as may be necessary to fulfill the duties and obligations imposed by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
F. 
Prepare and present to Council an environmental study.
G. 
Submit to Council a recommended capital improvements program.
H. 
Promote public interest in and understanding of the Comprehensive Plan and planning.
I. 
Make recommendations to governmental, civic and private agencies and individuals as to the effectiveness of the proposals of the Planning Commission.
J. 
Hold public hearings and meetings.
K. 
Require from the departments and agencies of the Borough of Sharpsburg such available information as relates to the work of the Planning Commission.
L. 
In the performance of its functions, enter upon any land to make examinations and surveys with the consent of the owner.
3. 
In the performance of its powers and duties, any act or recommendation of the Planning Commission which involves engineering consideration shall be subject to review and comments of the Engineer, which shall be incorporated and separately set forth in any report, written act or recommendation of the Planning Commission.
Council may employ administrative and technical services to aid in carrying out the provisions of this subpart either as consultants on particular matters or as regular employees of the Borough of Sharpsburg. The Allegheny County planning body, with the consent of the Council, may perform planning for the Borough of Sharpsburg or assist the Planning Commission of the Borough of Sharpsburg, when the Borough of Sharpsburg Council requests such assistance, and Council may enter into agreements or contracts for such work or assistance.
The Planning Commission may, with the consent of Council, accept and utilize any funds, personnel or other assistance made available by the county, the commonwealth or the federal government or any of their agencies or from private sources. Council may enter into agreements or contracts regarding the acceptance or utilization of the funds or assistance in accordance with the governmental procedures of the Borough of Sharpsburg.