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:
(1) 
To act as a quasi-judicial body responsible for conducting hearings and issuing rulings on appeals from decisions of any Township officer charged with enforcing the Township zoning ordinance,[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: See Ch. 205, Zoning and on requests for special exceptions and variances.
(2) 
To perform any other function required by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
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.
(1) 
The Zoning Hearing Board shall be an administrative board and shall have authority only pursuant to the provisions of the Municipalities Planning Code.
(2) 
The Board shall make an annual report of its proceedings in writing and file it with the Township Manager during January of each year.
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]
[1]
Editor’s Note: See Ch. A211, Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations which is incorporated hereby as part of this chapter, and other applicable ordinances of the Township.
(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.
[1]
Editor’s Note: See also Ch. 42, Shade Tree Commission.