[Amended 6-18-2003 by Ord. No. 3682]
A. The Commission shall consist of three members and
two alternates who shall be qualified electors of the Township and
shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners initially to serve
for the terms of two, four and six years and, as terms thereafter
expire, shall be appointed for terms of six years.
B. Any vacancy occurring in the Commission for any reason
whatsoever shall be filled by the Board of Commissioners for the unexpired
term within the period of 60 days after such vacancy occurs.
C. Each member of the Commission, before entering upon
the discharge of the duties of his/her office, shall take an oath
or affirmation to support the Constitution of the United States and
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to perform his/her official
duties with fidelity. No Civil Service Commissioner shall receive
compensation.
No Commissioner shall at the time hold an elective
or appointed office under the United States government, the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania or any political subdivision of the commonwealth.
[Amended 6-18-2003 by Ord. No. 3682]
The Commission shall organize annually by electing
one of its members as its Chairperson and one as the Secretary. Three
members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, and no action
of the Commission shall be valid unless it shall have the concurrence
of at least two members.
[Amended 6-18-2003 by Ord. No. 3682]
The Chairperson or, in his/her absence, the
Vice Chairperson, shall preside at all meetings and hearings of the
Commission, decide all points of order or procedure and perform any
duties required by law or these rules and regulations.
The Secretary shall carry on at the direction
of the Commission all official correspondence of the Commission, send
out all notices required by law and these rules and regulations, keep
a record of each examination or other official action of the Commission
and perform all other duties required by law or these rules and regulations.
[Amended 6-18-2003 by Ord. No. 3682]
All meetings shall be held either at the call
of the Chairperson or at the call of two members of the Commission.
The Commission shall have the discretion to determine whether meetings
shall be open to the public when not specifically regulated by law
or these rules and regulations. The Secretary of the Commission shall
give the Township Manager, the Superintendent of Police and each member
of the Commission at least 72 hours' notice of each and every meeting
of the Commission.
The governing body shall furnish the Commission
with such supplies and clerical assistance as may be necessary for
the Commission to fulfill its duties. In addition, the Commission,
upon consultation with the Township Manager, may retain counsel and
other consultants or experts, including physicians and psychiatrists,
as are necessary. The elected and appointed officials of the Township
shall assist the Commission with all reasonable and appropriate efforts,
including compensation for any counsel or experts retained by the
Commission.
The Commission may amend, revise, void or replace
these rules and regulations for any reason by action of a majority
of the Commission at any properly convened meeting of the Commission.
Before any changes to these rules and regulations become effective,
those changes must be reviewed by the Township Manager and approved
by the Township Board of Commissioners. These rules and regulations
and any amendments thereto shall be made available to the public for
distribution or inspection.
The Commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings
and records of examinations and other official action for a period
of at least 10 years. All recommendations of applicants for appointment
to any sworn position within the Police Department received by the
Commission shall be kept and preserved for a period of 10 years. The
Secretary shall keep minutes of its proceedings showing the vote of
each member upon each question. If the member is absent or fails to
vote, the Secretary shall indicate that fact in the minutes.
The Commission shall have the power to make
investigations concerning all matters relating to the administration
and enforcement of these rules and regulations. The Chairperson of
the Commission is authorized to administer oaths and affirmations
in connection with such investigations.
The Commission shall make an annual report to
the Township Manager and the Board of Commissioners containing a brief
summary of its work during the year and a full accounting for any
expenditures of public moneys. The annual report shall be available
for public inspection.