The name of this organization shall be the "Vanport Township Planning and Zoning Commission."
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Vanport 5-10-1966 by Ord. No. 172. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The authorization for the establishment of this Planning and Zoning Commission is set forth under Section 3201 of the First Class Township Code,[1] and amendments and supplements thereto. Powers and duties are delegated to the Planning and Zoning Commission by the Board of Township Commissioners of Vanport, Beaver County, Pennsylvania by this chapter of the Township of Vanport Code in accordance with the above-mentioned enabling law.
[1]
Editor's Note: Section 3201 of the First Class Township Code was repealed July 31, 1968, by P.L. 805, No. 247. See now 53 P.S. § 10201.
[Amended 12-12-1997 by Ord. No. 281]
Membership of the Commission shall consist of five persons to be appointed by the Vanport Township Commissioners. In the first instance, one member of said Commission shall be appointed for one year, one member for two years, one member for three years, one member for four years and one member for five years, and annually thereafter a member of said Commission shall be appointed for a term of four years. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term. All members of the said Commission shall reside within the Township of Vanport. Each member shall be entitled to one vote.
A.
The officers of the Planning and Zoning Commission shall consist of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
B.
The Chairman shall preside at all meetings and hearings of the Planning and Zoning Commission and shall have the duties normally conferred by parliamentary usage on such officers.
C.
The Vice Chairman shall act for the Chairman in his absence.
D.
The Secretary shall keep the minutes and records of the Commission and with the assistance of such staff as is available shall prepare the agenda of regular and special meetings under the direction of the Chairman, provide notice of all meetings to Commission members, arrange proper and legal notice of hearings and attend to correspondence of the Commission and such other duties as are normally carried out by a Secretary.
E.
The Treasurer shall maintain and keep records of all receipts and disbursements which records shall be audited annually by an auditing committee of three appointed by the Chairman. A copy of the annual audit shall be furnished to each member of the Commission and others an directed by the Chairman.
A.
Nominations shall be made from the floor at the annual organization meeting and election of the officers specified in § 33-4A shall follow immediately thereafter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The first sentence of former Article V, dealing with the annual organization meeting, which immediately preceded this subsection, was repealed 12-12-1997 by Ord. No. 281.
B.
A candidate receiving a majority vote of the entire membership of the Planning and Zoning Commission shall be declared elected and shall serve for one year or until his successor shall take office.
C.
Vacancies in office shall be filled immediately by regular election procedure.
A.
A quorum shall consist of three of the members of the Commission. The number of votes necessary to transact business shall be three members. Voting shall be by roll call. A record of the roll call vote shall be kept as a part of the minutes.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 1 of Article V, dealing with the date and time of the Commission's monthly meeting, which immediately preceded this subsection, was repealed 12-12-1997 by Ord. No. 281.
B.
Special meetings may be called by the Chairman. It shall be the duty of the Chairman to call a special meeting when requested to do so by a majority of members of the Commission. The Secretary shall notify all members of the Commission in writing not less than five days in advance of such special meeting.
C.
All meetings or portions of meetings at which official action is taken shall be open to the general public. However, the Commission may meet in closed session for discussion purposes.
Within the limits imposed by the funds available for its use, the Commission may employ such staff personnel and/or consultants as its sees fit to aid in its work. Appointments shall be made by a majority vote of the entire Commission membership.
A.
In addition to those required by law, the Commission may hold public hearings when it decides such hearings will be in the public interest.
B.
Notice of the time and place of such hearing, when on matters of widespread interest, shall be published once a week for two successive weeks in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the territorial jurisdiction of the Commission not earlier than three weeks prior to the hearing. For matters of limited territorial interest, notice shall be given in such manner as is deemed appropriate by the Commission.
C.
The matter before the Commission shall be presented in summary by a member of the Commission designated by the Chairman, and parties in interest shall have the privilege of the floor.
D.
No record or statement shall be recorded or sworn to as evidence for any court of law without notice to the parties.
These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the entire membership of the Planning and Zoning Commission.