[Adopted 4-14-2021 by Ord. No. 333-2021[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art. III, Historical Commission, adopted 3-10-1975 by Ord. No. 48-75, as amended.
Pursuant to the powers granted by the Historic Preservation Act,[1] there is hereby created the East Whiteland Township Historical Commission.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 37 Pa.C.S.A. § 501 et seq.
A. 
The said Commission:
(1) 
Shall consist of seven members who must be legal residents of East Whiteland Township.
(2) 
Shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
(3) 
Shall be appointed for a term of four years. Terms shall be staggered so that no more than two members are replaced in any calendar year unless resignations require that open positions be filled mid-term.
B. 
Any vacancies in the Commission occurring otherwise than by expiration of a term shall be filled by the Board of Supervisors and shall be for the unexpired term of said member.
C. 
The Commission shall have the right to make recommendations for appointees to the Board of Supervisors for unfulfilled terms or full terms.
All members of the Commission will serve without pay. Members may be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses with prior approval of such expenses by the Board of Supervisors.
The Board of Supervisors may remove members from the Commission for malfeasance, conflict of interest, disruptive behavior, or dereliction of duty. Any concerns regarding member actions should be brought to the Board of Supervisors' attention.
The Commission shall elect its own Chairman and Secretary each January and create and fill such other offices as it deems proper. The Commission may make and alter its rules of procedure consistent with the ordinances of the Township and the laws of the commonwealth. It shall keep records of its resolutions, transactions, findings, and determinations and provide written records of those actions to the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of each meeting. A majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, and action taken at any meeting shall require the affirmative vote of that majority.
The Commission's duties shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
A. 
To record the history of East Whiteland Township and its significant architectural and historic 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 review all applications and historic resource impact studies which are submitted pursuant to Article V of Chapter 200, Zoning, of the Code of the Township of East Whiteland, which provides regulations for the preservation of historic resources.
D. 
To cooperate with all Township 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 Township.
E. 
To consider, promote and, with the approval of the Board of Supervisors, to apply for technical and financial assistance from all appropriate local, Township, county, state, federal and other agencies in the preservation of significant architecture and historic sites within East Whiteland Township and to report all related action to the Board of Supervisors. To prepare and submit a yearly budget to the Board of Supervisors for sums deemed necessary to carry out the objectives of the Historical Commission.
F. 
To review and comment on subdivision or land development applications which affect historic resources, in accordance with the requirements and procedures of Chapter 175, Subdivision and Land Development, and Chapter 200, Zoning, of the Code of the Township of East Whiteland.
G. 
To make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning revisions, updates or corrections to the Historic Resources Map.
H. 
To maintain an updated list which clearly identifies buildings, cemeteries, structures, objects, and districts and their respective classifications on the Historic Resources Map.
I. 
To advise the Zoning Hearing Board and Board of Supervisors on all requests for special exceptions, conditional uses, or variances affecting historic resources.
J. 
To function as a Board of Historical Architectural Review (HARB) for historic districts in East Whiteland which may be certified by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in accordance with PA Act 167.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 8001 et seq.
K. 
To review applications for the rehabilitation, enlargement, or alteration of historic resources for compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings as required by § 200-30 of Article VI of Chapter 200, Zoning.
The Board of Supervisors may appropriate from the general Township 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.
All members shall be required to sign and abide by the Township's social media policy. Failure to comply with the policy may result in removal from the Commission.