[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Lower Merion 10-16-1985 by Ord. No. 2087. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
An advisory council, to be known as the "Lower
Merion Township Environmental Advisory Council," is hereby created
and shall continue to function until this chapter is revoked.
[Amended 12-16-2020 by Ord. No. 4203]
The Environmental Advisory Council shall be
composed of not more than nine and not fewer than five residents of
the Township of Lower Merion.
The Board of Commissioners of the Township of
Lower Merion shall appoint all members of the Lower Merion Environmental
Advisory Council and shall designate the Chairperson of the Council.
The Board of Commissioners shall appoint members to the Environmental
Advisory Council in accordance with the following procedures:
A.
At least two of the members shall have experience
in the development of environmentally sensitive land or technical
training in the environmental sciences.
B.
Whenever possible, one member shall also be a member
of the Township of Lower Merion Planning Commission.
C.
Terms of office.
(1)
Council members shall serve four-year terms, appointments
shall be so staggered that the terms of approximately 1/4 of the members
of the Council shall expire each year.
[Amended 1-20-1993 by Ord. No. 3307]
(2)
Council members' terms of office shall expire on the
first Monday in January following the last year of their term of office,
or when the Board of Commissioners appoints a successor.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall provide
advice to the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Lower Merion
and the Planning Commission of the Township of Lower Merion and shall
coordinate its activities with all appropriate boards, agencies and
officials of the township.
Members of the Environmental Advisory Council
shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed
for the expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the
performance of their duties. The Council may not contract for professional
services.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall have
the following powers:
A.
To recommend plans and programs to the Board of Commissioners
for the promotion and conservation of the natural resources of the
Township of Lower Merion and for the protection and improvement of
the quality of the environment within the township.
B.
To make recommendations as to the possible use of
open land areas within the Township of Lower Merion.
C.
To promote a community environmental program.
D.
To keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately
owned, including but not limited to flood-prone areas, swamps and
other unique natural areas, for the purpose of obtaining information
on the proper use of such areas.
E.
To advise the appropriate boards, agencies and officials
of the township in the acquisition of property, both real and personal,
by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, easement, devise or lease in matters
dealing with environmental issues.
The Council shall undertake such environmental
tasks as may be requested by the Board of Commissioners. These tasks
may include:
A.
Providing technical expertise on environmental aspects
of subdivisions and land developments generally and providing environmental
advice on specific projects or properties upon request by the Board
of Commissioners or the Planning Commission.
B.
Recommending plans and programs, including proposed
amendments to the Code of the Township of Lower Merion, for the promotion
and conservation of the natural resources of the township and for
the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment within
the township.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall keep
records of its meetings and activities. The Council shall make an
annual report to the Board of Commissioners and the Planning Commission.
Copies of said reports shall be maintained in the offices of the township.
The Environmental Advisory Council may explore
sources of funding, including but not limited to gifts and grants.
The Council shall consult with the Township Solicitor regarding the
legal implications connected with receiving funding from sources other
than the township.
