Borough of Bell Acres, PA Chapter 27 Environmental Advisory Council

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Bell Acres 7-11-2022 by Ord. No. 311. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 27-1 Establishment.

Pursuant to 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 2322 et seq., an advisory council to be known as the Borough of Bell Acres Environmental Advisory Council (the "Environmental Advisory Council") is hereby created and shall continue to function until this Ordinance is repealed.

§ 27-2 Members.

The Environmental Advisory Council shall be composed of five residents of the Borough.

§ 27-3 Procedure for appointment of members.

Members of the Environmental Advisory Council shall be appointed in accordance with the following procedures:

A. All members of the Environmental Advisory Council shall be appointed by Borough Council.

B. The term of each of the members of the Environmental Advisory Council shall be for three years, or until a successor is appointed and qualified, except that initial appointments shall be so staggered that the terms of approximately one-third of the membership shall expire each year.

C. Whenever possible, one member shall also be a member of the Borough's Planning Commission.

§ 27-4 Compensation of members.

Members of the Environmental Advisory Council 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 as provided in 53 Pa. C.S.A. § 2323(c).

§ 27-5 Chairperson.

Borough Council shall designate the Chairperson of the Environmental Advisory Council.

§ 27-6 Powers.

A. The Environmental Advisory Council shall have the following powers:

(1) Identify environmental problems and recommend plans and programs to the appropriate agencies for the promotion and conservation of the natural resources and for the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment within the Borough's territorial limits.

(2) Make recommendations as to the possible use of open land areas of the Borough.

(3) Promote a community environmental program.

(4) Keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including flood-prone areas, swamps, and other unique natural areas, for the purpose of obtaining information on the proper use of those areas.

(5) Advise the appropriate local government agencies in the acquisition of both real and personal property.

(6) To undertake such environmental tasks as requested by Borough Council.

B. The Environmental Advisory Council is to be advisory to and shall coordinate its activities with the Borough Planning Commission, the Borough Council, and other Borough commissions and boards. The Environmental Advisory Council shall not exercise any powers or perform any duties which by law are conferred upon other agencies of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

§ 27-7 Appropriation of funds.

Borough Council, by establishing the Environmental Advisory Council, may appropriate funds for the expenses incurred by the Environmental Advisory Council. 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 Environmental Advisory Council. The whole or any 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.

§ 27-8 Recordkeeping.

The Environmental Advisory Council shall keep records of its meeting and activities and shall make an annual report to Borough Council. Once approved, the minutes of each meeting shall be forwarded to Borough Council.