An Environmental Advisory Council consisting of three to seven members as appointed by the Board of Supervisors is hereby created and established for Dickinson Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, pursuant to the provisions of Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Part III, Subpart D, Chapter 23, Subchapter B, as established by the Act of December 19, 1996, P.L. 1158, No. 177, as amended.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Dickinson 10-1-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-02. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Environmental Advisory Council shall be composed of no less than three and no more than seven Township residents who shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors of Dickinson Township. Whenever possible, one member shall also be a member of the Dickinson Township Planning Commission. Environmental Advisory Council members shall serve for three years except that initial appointments shall be so staggered that the terms of approximately 1/3 of the membership shall expire each year. Subsequent terms of Environmental Advisory Council members shall be for three years. The Board of Supervisors shall fill any vacancies in membership of the Environmental Advisory Council.
All members of the Environmental Advisory Council shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for the expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties, with approval of the Board of Supervisors.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall have the following responsibilities:
A.
Elect a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary at its initial organizational meeting each year.
B.
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 Dickinson Township.
C.
Make recommendations as to the possible use of open land areas of Dickinson Township within the limits of the Township.
D.
Promote a community environmental program.
E.
Keep and 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.
F.
Advise the appropriate local government agencies, including the Dickinson Township Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Board, in the acquisition of both real estate and personal property by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, easement, devise or lease, in matters dealing within the purposes herein set forth.
G.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall not exercise any powers or perform any duties which by law are conferred or imposed upon a commonwealth agency.
H.
Keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report which shall be printed in the annual report of Dickinson Township.