There is hereby created a society consistent with Section 1541
of the Second Class Township Code, 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."
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.
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.