[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Elverson 8-9-1988 by Ord. No. 88-2. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby established a commission, to be known as the "Elverson Historical Commission."
The said Commission:
A. 
Shall consist of four members, who must be residents of the Borough of Elverson;
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
B. 
Shall be appointed by Borough Council;
C. 
Original terms of office shall be as follows: two members for two years, two members for three years, two members for four years, and one member for five years. Thereafter the term shall be for five years;
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
D. 
A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled by Borough Council for the unexpired term; and
E. 
The Commission shall have the right to make recommendations for appointees to the Borough Council for unfulfilled terms and full terms.
The members of the Elverson Historical Commission shall serve without compensation, but they may be reimbursed for expenses necessary to carry out the objectives of the Commission when those expenses are deemed necessary and appropriate and approved by Borough Council.
The Borough Council of the Borough of Elverson may, after a duly advertised public hearing, remove any member of the Commission from office for inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance in office or conflict of interest.
The Commission shall elect its own Chairman and shall create and fill such other offices as deemed proper. The Commission shall make and alter its rules of procedure consistent with the ordinances of the Borough and the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It shall keep records of its resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations, and such records shall be considered "public records," except when contrary to the public interest as determined by Borough Council pursuant to applicable statutes, ordinances or other rules and regulations. A majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, and action taken at any meeting shall require the affirmative vote of that majority.
A. 
To record the history of Elverson Borough and its significant architectural, historic and natural sites;
B. 
To gather documentary evidence, illustrations, photographs and all other appropriate materials which will establish architecture and sites as significant and worthy of preservation;
C. 
To prepare regular reports of its activities for Borough Council, as well as specific reports as may from time to time be requested by Borough Council;
D. 
In conjunction with its recordation of the history of the Borough, to prepare an index of significant architectural, historical and natural sites plus create Pennsylvania Historic Resource Survey Forms on each property for use and information by Borough officials and the citizens of the Borough;
E. 
To cooperate with all Borough officials and agencies in relation to the preservation and restoration of historic structures and sites, including the possible acquisition and use of the same by the Borough;
F. 
To consider, promote and, with the approval of Borough Council, to apply for technical and financial assistance from all appropriate local, county, state, federal and other agencies in the preservation of significant architecture, natural and historic sites within the Borough of Elverson, and to report all related action to Borough Council;
G. 
To prepare and submit a yearly budget to Borough Council for sums deemed necessary to carry out the objectives of the Historical Commission; and
H. 
In conjunction and cooperation with Borough Council, the Planning Commission, Zoning Officer and other interested Borough officials, to study the feasibility of creating a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in accordance with and pursuant to the Act of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania entitled "Historic Districts" (Act of June 13, 1961, P.L. 282, No. 167),[1] described:
"An Act authorizing counties, cities, boroughs, incorporated towns and townships to create historic districts within their geographic boundary; providing for the appointment of an Historical Architectural Review Board; empowering governing bodies of political subdivisions to protect the distinctive historical character of these districts and to regulate the erection, reconstruction, alteration, restoration, demolition or razing of buildings within the historic district."
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 8001 et seq.
Borough Council may appropriate from the general Borough funds such funds as may be necessary and available for the work of the Historical Commission in the year for which the appropriation is made.
If any section, paragraph, subsection, clause or provision of this chapter shall be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of this chapter as a whole or of any other part hereof.