[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of Falls Township 9-18-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-19. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
There is hereby created by the Board of Supervisors
of Falls Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the Falls Township
Community and Economic Development Commission (Commission).
The Commission shall serve in the capacity as
an advisory body charged with the duty of researching and planning
for economic development alternatives for Falls Township consistent
with the development of the Comprehensive Plan, with its purposes
to create programs to assist commercial enterprises to locate, expand
and revitalize with Falls Township and to advise the Board of Supervisors
of potential grants, aids, assistance and other opportunities available
with the cooperation or involvement of Falls Township resources.
"Commercial enterprises" shall mean any business
or for-profit enterprise engaged in manufacturing, processing or other
establishments, including but not limited to stores, sales facilities,
offices, restaurants, service or repair facilities, sports or recreational
facilities and theaters.
Each member of the Commission shall either be
a taxpayer, resident or engaged in a business within Falls Township.
Upon the failure of any person to be so qualified, such person may
not thereafter act as a member of the Commission.
[Amended 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-04]
The Commission shall be composed of five members,
one of whom shall be a member of the Township Planning Commission.
The members shall serve under the direction of and at the pleasure
of the Board of Supervisors, which shall select diverse members, including
owners or operators of Falls Township businesses and citizens with
a record of community involvement by reason of qualifications and
experiences with an understanding of business operations, economic
development, community involvement, local government operations and
knowledge of planning and zoning throughout Falls Township in order
to address the specific concerns of Falls Township residents and business
community. The appointed chairperson shall be responsible for the
decorum of the meetings, setting the time and place of meetings and
preparing agendas. Unless the Commission has submitted for approval
to the Board of Supervisors requesting adoption of rules of procedure
or bylaws to the contrary, the Commission meetings will be conducted
professionally and formally, and the parliamentary procedures of Robert's
Rules of Order will govern the conduct of each meeting, including
formal actions or decisions of the Commission.
The initial appointment of members shall be
for a term of office to commence _________, 2002, on the following
staggered basis wherein the term of membership shall expire on the
first Monday of January in the years indicated as follows:
Upon the expiration of the respective terms
of membership of the initial appointees, including any substitutions
of members by reason of vacancy, each of the subsequent terms of membership
commencing on the respective expiration dates aforesaid shall be for
a term of five years.
The members of the Commission shall serve without
financial remuneration, but the Board of Supervisors may annually
appropriate for the conduct of the Commission's business such sum
of money as the Board of Supervisors shall deem necessary. No member
of the Commission shall participate in the development of any recommendations
that could create an actual or apparent conflict of interest. Members
of the Commission should be held to fully comply with all state applicable
codes of ethics and standards of conduct regulating the conduct of
any person holding or being appointed to any board, council, committee
or commission within Falls Township.
The Commission shall serve as an advisory body
researching opportunities for growth, planning and the economic development
of Falls Township over the next 10 years. The Commission shall organize
and elect such officers as it deems necessary, and it shall be charged
with execution of the purposes set forth in this chapter. The Commission
shall prescribe such other rules and procedures for its organization
and functions as shall enable it to discharge its duties, which shall
include:
A.
Researching and reporting on successful economic development
initiatives used by other local governments facing similar challenges
as Falls Township within the next 10 years.
B.
Identifying specific types of economic development
strategies that may be appropriate for the future of Falls Township
and evaluating these strategies on the basis of impact on revenues
such as tax base development; impact on expenses such as the potential
cost of delivering needed services; and addressing secondary impacts,
practicality, environmental impact, aesthetic impact and appropriateness.
C.
Identifying the manner in which Falls Township could
support these strategies in the Comprehensive Plan and through other
policies.
D.
Researching the feasibility of the following: agricultural
activities, such as farms, stables and nurseries; global maritime
import/export based industries; technology-based industries, such
as computer programming; and professional campus developments and
home-based businesses and any other commercial enterprises.
In order most effectively to accomplish its
objectives, the Commission shall receive the full assistance, advice
and cooperation of the Township Manager and staff and of the other
boards, commissions and agencies of Falls Township. Furthermore, the
Commission shall seek the aid and advice of appropriate county governments,
agencies, boards, commissions and authorities as needed.
The Commission is further hereby directed periodically
to report to and consult with the Board of Supervisors in order to
keep the latter informed of its activities and accomplishments. Such
reporting shall include a written annual report to the Board of Supervisors
from the Commission.
A duly appointed member shall attend no less
than 80% of regular meetings during any twelve-month period for which
there is no prearranged absence approved by the Chairperson. Failure
to meet these attendance requirements shall be grounds for removal
by the Board of Supervisors. A duly appointed member shall be subject
to removal upon a majority vote of the Board of Supervisors at a public
meeting. Upon a vacancy of any member position on the Commission,
the Board of Supervisors shall, in a timely manner, appoint a qualified
individual to serve out the unexpired term of said member.
