[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Polk 8-30-1999 by Ord. No. 1999-03. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby created a society consistent with Section 1541 of the Second Class Township Code,[1] to take charge of, care for, maintain and keep in good order and repair historical property designated by the Township or acquired by the Township or Society. The Society shall be known as the "Polk Township Historical Society."
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 66541.
The purposes of the Society are:
A. 
To discover, collect and preserve any material which may help to establish or illustrate the prehistory or history of Polk Township and surrounding areas; to collect published materials, manuscripts, archival items, artifacts and objects of local historical interest.
B. 
To establish and maintain a historical museum and research library.
C. 
To promote and encourage historical research about Polk Township.
D. 
To disseminate historical information and promote public knowledge about the history of Polk Township by publishing historical materials, holding lectures, meetings, discussions and tours.
E. 
To mark historic buildings, sites, trails and places of local historical significance.
F. 
To endeavor to bring about the preservation of historic buildings, landmarks, sites, monuments and markers.
The officers of the Society shall consist of four members in good standing of the Society who are residents of Polk Township and who are elected by the members of the Society pursuant to the election procedures and qualifications set forth in the Society bylaws. The elected or appointed officers of the Society are subject to ratification by the Supervisors.
Any officer may be removed for malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in office or for other just cause by a majority vote of the Supervisors of Polk Township, taken after the officer has received 15 days' advance notice of the intent to take such a vote. A hearing shall be held in connection with the vote if the officer shall request it in writing.
The officers of the Society shall be a Chairman, a Vice Chairman, a Secretary and Treasurer, and any other officers necessary to enable the Society to function.
The Society is authorized to receive funds from persons or organizations and to expend the same to carry out the purposes of the Society. All funds shall be subject to audit by the auditors of the Township.
The Society shall report annually to the Supervisors not later than January 31 of each year on the state and condition of the historical property, the activities of the Society during the prior year, and the receipt and expenditure of funds. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Society may render advice to the Supervisors from time to time on matters relevant to acquiring, displaying or maintaining property.
The Society shall hold meetings from time to time at the Polk Township Municipal Building pursuant to the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, as the same may be amended from time to time.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See now 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 701 et seq.
The Society shall enact bylaws to carry out the purpose of the Society and to assure the orderly function of the Society. The bylaws shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter.
The Society may hold property as provided by applicable law. In the event the Society disbands, becomes defunct, or otherwise fails to be a viable functioning entity, its personal property and chattel shall be turned over to the control of Polk Township. The appropriate officers of the Society shall, as the last official act of the Society, deed and quitclaim any real property it maintains an ownership interest in at the request of a majority of the Polk Township Board of Supervisors.
If any sentence, clause, section, or part of this chapter is for any reason found to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, such findings shall not affect or impair any of the remaining sections, sentences, clauses, or parts of this chapter. It is hereby declared as the intent of the Township that this chapter would have been adopted had all unconstitutional, illegal or invalid sentences, clauses, sections or parts hereof not been included therein.