[Ord. No. 218, 11/15/2005]
An advisory council to be known as the Amity Township Environmental
Advisory Council (the "Council") is hereby created and shall continue
to function until this Subpart is repealed.
[Ord. No. 218, 11/15/2005;
as amended by Ord. No. 240, 10/2/2007]
The Council shall be composed of five voting members at least
three of whom shall be residents and the other two of whom shall own
property in the Township. The voting members of the Council may consist
of up to five residents, but may contain up to two property owners
whose residence is not in the Township. The Council may also have
an unlimited number of associate members, who may be either residents
of or property owners in the Township. Said associate members may
participate in discussions, deliberations and activities of the Environmental
Advisory Council, but shall not have a vote on any issue or on appointments
of officers, nor shall said nonvoting members be counted towards a
quorum.
[Ord. No. 218, 11/15/2005;
as amended by Ord. No. 240, 10/2/2007]
Voting Council members shall be appointed in accordance with
the following procedures:
(a)
All Council members shall be appointed by the Board.
(b)
Voting Council members' terms of office shall expire on the first
Monday in January following the last year of their term of office.
Non-voting associate members may be appointed at any time, and shall
not serve for any set period of time. Non-voting associate Council
members may be removed by a majority vote of the Council or Board
of Supervisors at any time, with or without cause.
(c)
Duly appointed voting Council members shall serve a term of three
years, except that initial appointments shall be so staggered that
the terms of approximately 1/3rd of the Council members shall expire
each year.
(d)
Whenever possible, one voting Council member shall also be a member
of the Township Planning Commission.
[Ord. No. 218, 11/15/2005]
All members are to comply with the Pennsylvania Ethics Law,
Act 170 of 1978, as amended, and the conflicts of interest policies
under the Bylaws of the Berks County EAC.
[Ord. No. 218, 11/15/2005]
Council members shall receive no compensation for their services,
but may be reimbursed for the expenses actually and necessarily incurred
by them in the performance of their duties, with the approval of the
Board.
[Ord. No. 218, 11/15/2005]
The Council shall be advisory to, and shall coordinate its activities
with, the Board, the Township Planning Commission, the Township Parks
and Recreation Board, and other local governmental boards and agencies.
[Ord. No. 218, 11/15/2005;
as amended by Ord. No. 240, 10/2/2007]
The voting members of the Council shall designate the chairman,
vice chairman and secretary of the Council.
[Ord. No. 218, 11/15/2005]
The Council shall have the following powers:
(a)
Identify environmental issues affecting the Township, the areas surrounding
the Township, and the Township's residents.
(b)
Recommend plans and programs to the appropriate agencies for promotion
and conservation of natural resources and for the protection and improvement
of the quality of the environment within the Township and the areas
surrounding the Township.
(c)
Make recommendations as to the possible use of open land areas within
the Township.
(d)
Promote a community environmental program.
(e)
Keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including
but not limited to flood prone areas, swamps and unique natural areas.
(f)
Advise the appropriate local governmental agencies in the acquisition
of real property within the Township.
(g)
Undertake such environmental tasks as requested by the Board and/or
propose environmental issues that the Council considers to be significant
to be undertaken within the community.
(h)
The Council shall operate in accordance with the Bylaws of the Council,
as approved and amended from time to time by the Board.
[Ord. No. 218, 11/15/2005]
The Council shall keep records of its meetings and activities
and shall make an annual report to the Board which shall be made publicly
available. Minutes of each meeting of the Council shall be forwarded
to the Board.
[Ord. No. 218, 11/15/2005]
The Board may, from time to time, appropriate funds for expenses
to be incurred by the Council.
