[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
North Codorus 6-16-1993 by Ord. No. 127-06-93.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 165.
The name of this organization shall be the "North Codorus Township Planning
Commission."
The authorization for the establishment of the Planning Commission is
set forth under Section 201 et seq. of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning
Code and amendments and supplements thereto.[1] Certain powers and duties are hereby delegated to the Planning
Commission by the Township Board of Supervisors of North Codorus Township
by this chapter, which supersedes prior Ordinance No. 9, enacted April 10,
1964, in accordance with the above-mentioned enabling law and its predecessor.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10201 et seq.
A.
Membership shall consist of five persons to be appointed
by the Board of Supervisors. At least three members shall be citizen members
who are not officers or employees of the Township. The term of each of the
members of the Commission shall be four years or until his or her successor
is appointed and qualified. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be only
for the unexpired portion of the term. No more than two members shall be reappointed
or replaced during any calendar year. All members of the said Commission shall
reside within the Township. Each member shall be entitled to one vote.
B.
Except for elected or appointed officers or employees
of the Township, members of the Commission may receive compensation in an
amount fixed by the Board of Supervisors. Compensation shall not exceed the
rate of compensation authorized to be paid to members of the Board of Supervisors.
Without exception, members of the Planning Commission may be reimbursed for
necessary and reasonable expenses. However, elected or appointed officers
or employees of the municipality shall not, by reason of membership thereon,
forfeit the right to exercise the powers, perform the duties or receive the
compensations of the municipal offices held by them during such membership.[1]
C.
The Chairman of the Commission shall promptly notify
the Board of Supervisors concerning vacancies in the Commission, and such
vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term. If a vacancy shall occur otherwise
than by expiration of term, it shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired
term.
A.
The officers of the Planning Commission shall consist
of a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary.
B.
The Chairman shall preside at all meetings and hearings
of the Planning Commission and shall have the duties normally conferred by
parliamentary usage on such officers.
C.
The Vice Chairman shall act for the Chairman in his absence.
D.
The Secretary shall keep the minutes and records of the
Commission and, with the assistance of such staff as is available, shall prepare
the agenda of regular and special meetings under the direction of the Chairman,
provide notice of all meetings to Commission members, arrange proper and legal
notice of all meetings and hearings, attend to correspondence of the Commission
and such other duties as are normally carried out by a Secretary.
A.
An annual organizational meeting shall be held on the
third Tuesday of January.
B.
Nominations shall be made at the annual organizational meeting, and the election of the officers specified in § 37-4A shall follow immediately thereafter.
C.
A candidate receiving a majority vote of the entire membership
of the Planning Commission shall be declared elected and shall serve for one
year or until his successor shall take office. Officers may succeed themselves
in office.
D.
Vacancies in office shall be filled immediately by regular
election procedure.
A.
Meetings shall be held monthly on such dates and times
as determined and advertised annually for each calendar year. In the event
of conflict with holidays or other events, a majority at any meeting may change
the date of said meeting, provided that the new date of said meeting is duly
advertised.[1]
B.
A quorum shall consist of three members of the Commission.
The number of votes necessary to transact business shall be a majority of
the number of members. A record of the vote shall be kept as part of the minutes.
C.
Special meetings may be called by the Chairman. It shall
be the duty of the Chairman to call a special meeting when required to do
so by a majority of members of the Commission. The Secretary shall notify
all members of the Commission in writing within a reasonable time in advance
of such special meeting.
D.
All meetings or portions of meetings at which official
action is taken shall be open to the general public, and the Commission shall
at all times conform to the provisions of the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act (65
Pa.C.S.A. § 701 et seq.). However, the Commission may meet in closed
session for purposes permitted by the aforesaid Act. [2]
E.
Unless otherwise specified, Robert's Rules of Order
shall govern the proceedings at the meetings of this Commission.
The order of business at regular meetings shall be:
A.
In addition to those required by law, the Commission
may hold public hearings when it decides that such hearings will be in the
public interest.
B.
Notice of the time and place of such hearing, when on
a matter of widespread interest, shall be published once a week for two successive
weeks in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the territorial
jurisdiction of the Commission, with the first publication not more than 30
days and the second publication not less than seven days from the date of
the hearing. For a matter of limited territorial interest, notice shall be
given in such manner as is deemed appropriate by the Commission.[1]
C.
The matter before the Commission shall be presented in
summary by a member of the Commission designated by the Chairman, and parties
in interest shall have the privilege of the floor.
D.
No record or statement shall be recorded or sworn to
as evidence for any court of law without notice to the parties.
E.
A record shall be kept of those speaking before the Commission
at such hearings.
Any member of the Commission, once qualified and appointed, may be removed
from office for malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in office or for other
just cause by a majority vote of the Board of Supervisors after the member
has received 15 days' advance notice of the intent to take such a vote.
A hearing shall be held in connection with the vote if the member shall request
it in writing.
At the discretion of the Board of Supervisors, the Solicitor for the
Township or an attorney appointed by the Board shall serve the Commission
as legal advisor.