A. 
The following boards, commissions and authorities presently in existence are hereby continued:
(1) 
Planning Commission.
(2) 
Zoning Hearing Board.
(3) 
Environmental Advisory Council.
(4) 
Fire Safety Advisory Board.
(5) 
Historical Commission.
(6) 
Hampton Township Municipal (Water) Authority.
B. 
Except where otherwise provided by law, the Charter or ordinance, all boards and commissions shall be advisory in nature and perform no administrative function.
A. 
The appointment and removal of members of all boards, commissions and authorities shall be as provided by law and by the Charter.
B. 
Any vacancy on a board, commission or authority shall be filled by Council for the remainder of the unexpired term.
C. 
The members of any board, commission or authority shall serve without compensation, except as otherwise provided by law, the Charter or ordinance. When authorized by Council, members may be reimbursed for any reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
D. 
Each member of a board, commission or authority shall have been a qualified and registered voter of the municipality for at least one year at the time of appointment and shall continue to be at all times during his term.
E. 
A member of any board, commission or authority shall forfeit his office if he fails to attend three consecutive regular meetings of the respective board, commission or authority without having been excused by said board, commission or authority.
A. 
Each board, commission and authority shall establish written rules and regulations governing its operation. Such rules and regulations shall provide for the keeping of records pertaining to its duties, the conduct of meetings and public hearings and a periodic reporting to Council, the Manager and the residents of the municipality. All such rules and regulations shall be approved by Council.
B. 
The Manager shall identify an appropriate unit of the Administrative Service to provide necessary staff, liaison and administrative assistance to each board, commission or authority.
A. 
The Planning Commission, as authorized by the provisions of the Municipalities Planning Act, as amended, the Act of 1968, P.L. 805, No. 407, as reenacted and amended,[1] shall advise Council and the Manager upon all plans related to land development in the municipality. It shall function as the planning agency for the municipality.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
B. 
The duties of the Planning Commission shall be to:
(1) 
Promote public interest in, and understanding of, the Comprehensive Plan, community development and planning, and shall hold public meetings to this end;
(2) 
Review and make recommendations to Council and the Manager concerning the Comprehensive Plan, the Official Map, Chapter 310, Zoning, subdivision and land development plans, building standards regulations for the municipality and all other plans for community development; and
(3) 
Hold public hearings as necessary when reviewing plans identified in Subsection B(2).
A. 
The Zoning Hearing Board, as authorized by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Act, as amended,[1] shall be authorized and responsible to conduct such activities and to assert such jurisdiction as is provided to it by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Act.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
B. 
The Zoning Hearing Board shall perform those duties prescribed by law including the duties to:
(1) 
Conduct hearings and tender decisions on appeals from the Zoning Officer;
(2) 
Hear challenges to the validity of Chapter 310, Zoning, or the Zoning Map, as amended;
(3) 
Hear requests for variances and render decisions thereon; attaching such reasonable conditions and safeguards as it may deem necessary to implement the purposes of law, the Charter or ordinance; and
(4) 
Hear and decide upon requests for special exceptions pursuant to criteria and standards adopted by the Council.
The Environmental Advisory Council, as provided by Chapter 19, Advisory Council, provides advice on environmental matters as part of the land use application review process and upon request by the Planning Commission or Council.
The Fire Safety Advisory Board, as provided by Ordinance No. 191, February 17, 1976, provides advice on firesafety to the Fire Marshal and Land Use Administrator.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
The Historical Commission, as provided by Resolution No. 95, March 18, 1969,[1] provides advice to Council and the Manager on matters relating to the history of the municipality.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said Commission was dissolved 2-24-2010 by Res. No. 861. The Historical Commission dissolved and consolidated its powers with the Depreciation Lands Museum Association.
The Hampton Community Association, as authorized by Council on August 28, 1998, serves as a not-for-profit arm of the municipality for charitable donation purposes.
[Added 9-26-2018 by Ord. No. 812]
A. 
Creation of Construction Code Board of Appeals. The Township hereby creates a Construction Code Board of Appeals pursuant to 35 P.S. § 7210.501(c) and 34 Pa. Code § 403.121.
B. 
Powers and duties of the Construction Code Board of Appeals. The powers and duties of the Construction Code Board of Appeals shall be as prescribed under 35 P.S. § 7210.501 and 34 Pa. Code § 403.121, as may be amended from time to time.
C. 
Jurisdiction of the Construction Code Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals shall hear and rule on appeals, requests for variances and requests for extensions of time. An application for appeal shall be based on a claim that the true intent of the Act or Uniform Construction Code has been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions of the Act or Uniform Construction Code do not fully apply or an equivalent form of construction is to be used.
D. 
Appointment, vacancies, removal, residency, compensation, and term of office of members of Construction Code Board of Appeals.
(1) 
Appointment. The President of the Hampton Township Council shall appoint the members of the Construction Code Board of Appeals with the advice and consent of the majority of all the members of the Hampton Township Council.
(2) 
Number of members. The Construction Code Board of Appeals shall consist of five members.
(3) 
Qualifications. Members shall be qualified by training and experience to pass on matters pertaining to building construction. Training and experience may consist of licensure as an architect or engineer, experience in the construction industry, and training or experience as an inspector or plan reviewer.
(4) 
Membership restrictions. Members of the Hampton Township Council and Hampton Township Code administrators may not serve on the Board of Appeals.
(5) 
Residency of members. Members of the Construction Code Board of Appeals shall be residents of the Township, unless a position on the Board cannot be filled with a person residing in the Township having the minimum qualifications, in which case a qualified person who resides outside of the Township may serve as a member.
(6) 
Vacancies. The Hampton Township Council may declare a vacancy on the Construction Code Board of Appeals upon the death, removal, permanent disability or removal from the Township of any member of the said Board. A qualified person shall be appointed to fill the unexpired term of the vacated office. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be only for the unexpired portion of any term. Vacancies shall be filled by the Hampton Township Council within 60 days of notification from the Chairman of the Construction Code Board of Appeals that a vacancy occurs.
(7) 
Removal. Any member of the Construction Code Board of Appeals may be removed prior to the expiration of an appointed term of the member by the Hampton Township Council in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania applicable to the Pennsylvania Construction Code. A member of the Construction Code Board of Appeals shall serve at the will of the Hampton Township Council.
(8) 
Conflict. No member of the Construction Code Board of Appeals may hear an appeal in which that member has any personal, professional, or financial interest.
(9) 
Term of office. The term of office of a member of the Construction Code Board of Appeals shall be for a period of three years. During the first year of effective date of this section, one member shall be appointed for a term expiring December 31, 2019; two members shall be appointed for a term each expiring December 31, 2020; and two members shall be appointed for a term each expiring December 31, 2021. Thereafter, in each succeeding year, the Hampton Township Council shall appoint members of the Construction Code Board of Appeals for appropriate terms at the annual reorganization meeting of the Hampton Township Council.
(10) 
Compensation. No member of the Construction Code Board of Appeals shall be compensated for duties performed in such office.
E. 
Officers; duties of officers.
(1) 
Chairman and Vice Chairman. A Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Construction Code Board of Appeals shall be elected by the remaining members in January of each year. Each such officer shall serve a one-year term.
(2) 
Secretary. The members of the Construction Code Board of Appeals may elect one of their own members as Secretary. The Secretary, if elected from the membership, shall serve a one-year term.
F. 
Meetings, procedures for meetings.
(1) 
All meetings and hearings of the Construction Code Board of Appeals shall be open to the public, unless otherwise permitted by law.
(2) 
Regular and special meetings of the Board shall be held as necessary at the call of the Chairman. The first meeting of each year shall constitute the annual organization meeting of the Board.
(3) 
A quorum shall consist of at least a majority of all members of the Board.
(4) 
The Chairman or, in his absence, the Vice Chairman shall administer oaths and may compel the attendance of witnesses when required by law, in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the commonwealth.
(5) 
The Secretary or his designee shall keep minutes of Board of Appeals proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question or, if absence or failing to vote, indicating such fact.
G. 
Expenditure of public funds. The Construction Code Board of Appeals shall have no authority to spend Township funds unless provided for in the budget, as specifically approved by the Hampton Township Council.
H. 
Administrative personnel. Within the limit of funds appropriated by the Hampton Township Council, the Construction Code Board of Appeals may employ or contract, from time to time, for secretaries, legal counsel, other than the Township Solicitor, consultants, and other technical and clerical services.
I. 
Savings clause. The provisions of the Township Code of Ordinances, so far as they are the same as those ordinances and regulations in force immediately prior to the adoption of this section, are intended as a continuation of such ordinances and regulations and not as a new enactment. The provisions of this section shall not affect any suit or prosecution pending or to be instituted to enforce any of the prior ordinances or regulations except as otherwise provided by law.
J. 
Severability of part of section. It is hereby declared to be the intention of the Hampton Township Council that the chapters, parts, sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, and phrases of this section are severable. If any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this section is declared unconstitutional, illegal, or otherwise invalid by judgment or decree of a court with competent jurisdiction, that invalidity shall not affect any of the remaining chapters, parts, sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, or phrases of this section.