The administrative boards and commissions in this chapter are
hereby established for the proper and official conduct of Township
affairs. The purpose of the boards and commissions is to perform duties
of a continuing nature in specified areas or as designated by the
First Class Township Code,[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: See 53 P.S. § 55101 et seq. this
chapter and general law.
A.
The boards
and commissions recognized in this article have been established by
ordinance. Additional boards and commissions may from time to time
be established by ordinance as may be deemed necessary by Council.
B.
The boards
and commissions specified herein have been established within the
requirements of the First Class Township Code, this chapter and general
law. These boards and commissions shall perform only the administrative
duties and possess only the authority in those specific areas of responsibility
as designated by the applicable law.
No administrative board or committee shall have the authority
to spend or to commit Township funds unless provided in the annual
Township budget and subsequently approved by the Township Manager.
Township employees designated by the Township Manager shall serve
as liaison to provide staff service to the boards or committees. No
board or committee shall have the power to enter into contracts unless
otherwise provided by ordinance.
A.
The Township
Manager shall appoint the members of administrative boards and committees
with the advice and consent of Council. Applicants for appointments
to administrative boards and committees shall submit a resume of their
qualifications, training and experience to the Township Manager and
shall be residents of the Township.
B.
Any member
of any administrative board or committee may be removed prior to the
expiration of his or her appointed term in accordance with the general
law applicable to such board or committee or as prescribed in this
chapter or by ordinance.
C.
The term
of office shall be as provided in this chapter. Any vacancy in office
shall be filled within 60 days, unless otherwise provided by applicable
ordinance, general law or the First Class Township Code.
D.
The members
of any administrative board or commission shall serve without compensation,
except as otherwise provided by applicable ordinance, general law
or the First Class Township Code or action of Council.
A.
A Chair and
Vice Chair shall be elected by the members of each administrative
board or committee at an annual organization meeting to be held in
January, and they shall hold office until their successors are elected.
B.
The members
of each administrative board or committee may elect one of their members
or appoint an employee of the Township designated by the Township
Manager to act as Secretary. The Secretary, if elected from the membership,
shall serve a one-year term. If the Secretary is an appointed Township
employee, the Secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the board or
committee.
C.
The Chair,
or in his/her absence, the Vice Chair, shall preside at all meetings
of the administrative board or commission and decide all points of
order and procedure.
D.
The Secretary
shall be responsible for, at the direction of the administrative board
or commission, all official correspondence of the board or committee;
shall send out all notices required by law; shall keep a record of
each meeting, examination or other official action and shall perform
all other duties required by the board or committee, applicable law
or ordinance.
A.
All meetings
and hearings of administrative boards and committees shall be open
to the public except to the extent otherwise provided by the Sunshine
Act.
B.
Regular
meetings of administrative boards and commissions shall be held at
least once each month on a designated day.
C.
Special
meetings may be held as needed upon the call of the Chair and Vice
Chair provided that appropriate notice of each meeting is given to
each member and to the public.
D.
A quorum
shall consist of at least a majority of all members of the board or
committee, except where otherwise provided by the First Class Township
Code or general law.
E.
The Secretary
shall keep minutes of the administrative board or committee proceedings,
showing the vote of each member upon each question or, if absent or
failing to vote, indicating such fact.
F.
A file of
all materials and decisions relating to each case shall be kept by
the Secretary as part of the records of each administrative board
or committee.
G.
All records
of administrative boards and committees shall be public records except
as otherwise provided by the Right-to-Know Law.
A.
Establishment
and purpose. In accordance with the Municipalities Planning Code of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the ordinances of the Township,
the Zoning Hearing Board is hereby established for the following purposes:
B.
Composition
and term of office.
(1)
The
Zoning Hearing Board shall consist of five members who shall be appointed
by the Township Manager with the advice and consent of Council.
(2)
The
term of office shall be for five years, provided that the terms shall
be staggered so that the term of office of one member of the Board
shall expire each year.
(3)
The
appointment of alternate members and the filling of any vacancy on
this Commission shall be completed as set forth in the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code.
C.
Powers and
duties.
D.
Zoning Hearing
Board Solicitor. The Zoning Hearing Board Solicitor shall be appointed
as provided by the Municipalities Planning Code and shall act as legal
counsel to the Zoning Hearing Board.
A.
Establishment
and purpose. In accordance with the Municipalities Planning Code of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Planning Commission is hereby
established for the following purposes, in addition to those required
by general law:
(1)
Review
and make recommendations to Council on all matters affecting physical
development and land usage in the Township.
(2)
Recommend
zoning ordinance amendments and review proposed zoning ordinance amendments.
(3)
Undertake
projects and studies relating to the above matters, at its own initiative,
provided that they are within the budget established by Council.
(4)
Promote
public interest in an understanding of the Comprehensive Plan and
all other planning and development as it affects the development of
the Township.
(5)
Hold
public hearings and regular meetings to carry out the above purposes.
B.
Composition
and term of office.
(1)
The
Planning Commission shall consist of five members who shall be appointed
by the Township Manager with the advice and consent of Council.
(2)
The
term of office shall be for four years, and the terms shall be staggered
so that the terms of office of not more than three members shall expire
in any one year.
(3)
Should
a vacancy occur, the Township Manager with the advice and consent
of Council shall appoint a member to fill the vacancy for the unexpired
portion of the term.
C.
Powers and
duties.
(1)
The
Planning Commission shall be an administrative board, and as such
it shall have authority to perform all duties required under the Municipalities
Planning Code.
(2)
The
Planning Commission shall undertake and discharge assignments or projects
given to it by Council.
(3)
The
Commission shall make an annual report of its proceedings in writing
and file it with the Township Manager during January of each year.
A.
Establishment
and purpose. In accordance with the First Class Township Code, the
Civil Service Commission is hereby established.
B.
Composition
and term of office.
(1)
The
Civil Service Commission shall consist of three members who shall
be appointed by the Township Manager with the advice and consent of
Council.
(2)
The
term of office shall be six years, which terms shall be staggered
so that the term of office of no more than one member shall expire
every two years.
(3)
The
appointment of alternate members and the filling of any vacancy on
this Commission shall be completed as set forth in the First Class
Township Code.
C.
Powers and
duties.
(1)
The
Civil Service Commission shall be an administrative board, and as
such it shall have authority to perform all duties required under
the First Class Township Code, the civil service provisions set forth
in this chapter in Appendix II,[1]
(2)
The
Commission shall make an annual report of its proceedings in writing
and file it with the Township Manager during January of each year.
A.
Establishment
and purpose. A Shade Tree Commission is hereby established whose purpose
shall be to regulate the planting, removal and maintenance of vegetation
within the ultimate rights-of-way of streets and highways within the
Township, to ensure the selection of proper and suitable plant materials
and to assist in the safe, orderly and efficient movement of pedestrian
and vehicular traffic through public rights-of-way.
B.
Composition
and term of office. The Shade Tree Commission shall be composed of
three members who shall be appointed by the Township Manager with
the advice and consent of Council. The first appointment shall be
one member for one year, one member for two years and one member for
three years, with the successors of such members thereafter to be
appointed for terms of five years or until their successors are chosen.
Said members shall serve without compensation. Appointments to fill
vacancies shall be made by the Township Manager with the advice and
consent of Council.
C.
Powers and
duties. The powers and duties of the Shade Tree Commission shall consist
of the following:
(1)
To regulate
the planting, removal and maintenance of vegetation within the ultimate
rights-of-way of streets and highways within the Township.
(2)
To review
subdivision and land development applications to ensure the selection
of proper and suitable plant materials.
(3)
To assist
in the safe, orderly and efficient movement of pedestrian and vehicular
traffic through public rights-of-way.
(4)
To make
an annual report of its proceedings in writing and file it with the
Township Manager during January of each year.
