[Added by Ord. No. 01-2020, 4/15/2020[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art. C, Environmental Advisory Council, Ord. No. 2015-04, 12/16/2015.
The Borough of Conshohocken Environmental Advisory Council is hereby created, having the powers and operating procedures set forth in this Part.
The EAC shall be advisory to Borough Council only, and shall not advise any other Borough agencies, committees or boards without the specific direction of Borough Council.
1. 
The EAC shall have the following powers and no others:
A. 
To identify environmental problems and recommend plans and programs to the Borough Council for the promotion and conservation of the natural resources and for the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment within the Borough.
B. 
To make recommendations as to the possible use of open land areas of the Borough to Borough Council.
C. 
To make recommendations to Borough Council for a community environmental program, with particular emphasis on reducing carbon emissions and nonrecycled waste.
D. 
To keep an index of all open space areas, publicly or privately owned, including but not limited to flood-prone areas, wetlands and other unique natural areas, for the purpose of obtaining information on the proper use of such areas.
E. 
To advise Borough Council on matters dealing with the protection, conservation, management, promotion, acquisition and use of natural resources, including air, land, water and open space resources, located within or affecting the Borough of Conshohocken.
F. 
To perform such other duties and responsibilities as specifically assigned by majority vote of Borough Council.
1. 
The EAC shall be composed of at least five but no more than seven residents of the Borough who shall be appointed by the Borough Council. Any vacancies in the membership of the EAC shall be filled by Borough Council.
2. 
Duly appointed EAC members shall serve for a term of three years, except that the initial appointments to the EAC shall be so staggered that the terms of approximately 1/3 of the membership shall expire each year, the terms of their successors to be three years each. EAC members' terms of office shall expire on the first Monday in January following the last day of their term of office.
3. 
The Borough Council shall designate the Chairperson of the EAC. The EAC may elect such other officers having specific responsibilities as the EAC determines necessary to effectively carry out the EAC's powers, and shall submit such officers for the review and approval of Borough Council. If the EAC identifies the need for a subcommittee, it shall obtain the approval of Borough Council before establishing the subcommittee. Borough Council shall have ultimate approval of any and all subcommittees, including ultimate determination of the need for the subcommittee and the membership and duties of the subcommittee.
4. 
Members may be removed by the Borough Council, with or without the recommendation of a majority of the other EAC members, for malfeasance or neglect in the performance of their duties. Failure to attend either three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings or four regularly scheduled meetings during a twelve-month period shall constitute neglect. Malfeasance shall include, but not be limited to, failure to follow the specific direction of Borough Council. The Borough Council shall appoint successors to members who resign or are removed to serve for the remaining term of the member or members.
Members of the EAC shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for the expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties, provided that the expenses have the prior approval of the Borough Council.
The EAC shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report, which shall be made available in a manner consistent with the availability of annual reports by councils and committees of the Borough of Conshohocken, including the Borough Council.
1. 
The Borough Council may appropriate funds for the expenses incurred by the EAC. Appropriations may be expended for such administrative, clerical, printing and legal services as may from time to time be required and as shall be within the limit of funds appropriated to the EAC. The whole or part of any funds so appropriated in any year may be placed in a conservation fund allowed to accumulate from year to year or be expended in any year.
2. 
The EAC may seek funding for specific programs and projects pursued by the EAC, but only with the specific prior approval of Borough Council. Sources of funding include grants and other forms of financial assistance from county and state agencies. The decision of whether to apply for such funding shall be solely at the discretion of Borough Council. The EAC shall have no authority to apply for or obtain funding without the prior approval of Borough Council, and shall have no authority to bind the Borough to expenditure of funds, e.g., required matching funds for a grant. The EAC may not accept funding, from any source, without the prior approval of Borough Council. Allocation of funds received by the EAC shall be at the sole discretion of Borough Council, as shall whether to accept offered funds.