[1]
Editor's Note: For additional information regarding the County Government Review Commission, see Charter § 1.13-1305.
[Amended 3-15-2005 by Ord. No. 19-05]
In accordance with Article XIII, § 1.13-1305, of the Charter,[1] a County Government Review Commission shall be first established in 2005, and then every 10 years thereafter. The Review Commission shall study the Charter and County Government, including the organization, practices and responsibilities of all County departments and agencies. The Review Commission shall evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of the County government and Charter. The Review Commission may make recommendations to the people of the County on County government and may recommend amendments to the Charter.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Charter is included at the beginning of this volume.
The Review Commission shall be composed of nine members who shall serve one year terms. The members shall be voters of the County, five of whom shall be appointed by County Council and four of whom shall be appointed by the Chief Executive. The political party affiliation, racial, geographic, age and gender diversity of the County shall be considered in the appointment process. No County officer, County official, employee, or member of an agency shall be a member of the Review Commission. The Review Commission shall submit a final report to the people of the County on the Review Commission's findings and recommendations within one year after appointment of the Review Commission.
[Amended 1-4-2005 by Ord. No. 02-05; 1-18-2005 by Ord. No. 04-05[1]]
A. 
At a regularly scheduled meeting of Council in February of 2005, and every 10 years thereafter, the Council shall select and appoint five voters of the County to serve on the Review Commission.
B. 
Within 15 days after Council has formally appointed the aforesaid five members of the Review Commission, the Chief Executive shall appoint four voters of the County to serve on the Review Commission.
[Amended 3-15-2005 by Ord. No. 19-05]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided that it shall be retroactive to 1-1-2005.
[Amended 3-15-2005 by Ord. No. 19-05]
Within 10 days of the final appointment of all nine members, the members of the Review Commission shall make oath or affirmation to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth, and to perform the duties of the office with fidelity.
In the event that a member of the Review Commission is unwilling or unable to perform his duties, the Review Commission may declare the member's position vacant and request a new appointment by the individual or body that appointed the member. The Chief Executive or the County Council shall make the appointment within 15 days of receiving the request for a new appointment.
A. 
Within 15 days of appointment, the Review Commission shall organize and hold its first meeting to elect one of its members as Chairman and another member as Vice Chairman, to agree on rules and regulations governing the operation, and to establish a work plan and schedule for review.
B. 
The rules and regulations governing the operation of the Review Commission shall provide for the keeping of records pertaining to its duties, the conduct of meetings and public hearings, and a periodic reporting to the County Council, Chief Executive and voters of the County.
C. 
A majority of the members of the Review Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
D. 
The final report of Review Commission shall be adopted only by a majority of the members of the Review Commission.
All Review Commission meetings and hearings shall be held in accordance with the "Sunshine Act."[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 65 P.S. § 701 et seq.
[Amended 3-15-2005 by Ord. No. 19-05]
A. 
The members of the Review Commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed by the County for their necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The Chief Executive shall request and the County Council shall approve appropriations necessary for such purpose in the balanced annual operating budget.
B. 
Members of the Review Commission shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary travel expenses incurred; provided, however, that the expenditure is incurred for attendance at a regularly scheduled Review Commission meeting. The reimbursable travel expense, in accordance with the County's travel policy, shall be governed by the following:
(1) 
Reimbursable travel expenses include the use of a privately owned vehicle and shall include parking, mileage, and tolls;
(2) 
Reimbursable travel expense requests must be documented with an original itemized receipt, excluding mileage;
(3) 
Mileage reimbursable requests must include the travel date, origination, destination, number of roundtrip miles, and purpose;
(4) 
Reimbursements for mileage will be made at the prevailing Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rate; and
(5) 
Reimbursements shall not exceed $500 per Government Review Commission member for the duration of the existence of the Commission.
[Amended 3-15-2005 by Ord. No. 19-05]
Provision shall be made by the Chief Executive and County Council for the contracting of an independent, professional staff for the Review Commission, whose roles and responsibilities shall be explicitly provided for within the contract. In the event that a legal opinion is required by the Review Commission, the members shall, to the extent possible, utilize the County Law Department. If the Commission deems it necessary to solicit an independent legal opinion, any resulting expense shall be subject to the availability of funds from the appropriation made for the Commission.
A. 
The Review Commission shall hold such public hearings as it deems necessary for the proper conduct of its review.
B. 
The Review Commission shall have the power to conduct inquiries and investigations to aid in the performance of its duties.
C. 
The County Council, the Chief Executive, the County Manager, County officials, and County agencies shall make available to the Review Commission all information, data, reports, records and other documents necessary for carrying out the duties of the Review Commission. This cooperation shall be provided in a timely fashion and may include the attendance of County officials, County officers, and Department Directors at meetings and hearings.
[Amended 3-15-2005 by Ord. No. 19-05]
D. 
In the event that a referendum question amending the County Home Rule Charter is to be considered during its term, the Review Commission shall also make recommendations based on whether the question is approved or defeated.
[Added 12-21-2004 by Ord. No. 39-04]
(1) 
If the referendum is approved by a majority of electors and certified as such by the Board of Elections, the Review Commission shall consider the effect of the question and make recommendations regarding implementation of changes, including organization, practices, and responsibilities that are to be altered pursuant to the amendment. Such recommendations shall also include a time frame in which implementation could be accomplished.
(2) 
If the referendum is defeated, the Review Commission shall consider the question and make recommendations as to whether another question should be posed to the electorate or whether other action should be taken to effectuate the premise of the failed referendum.
[Amended 3-15-2005 by Ord. No. 19-05]
A. 
The Review Commission shall issue its final report to the Chief Executive, County Council and voters of the County within one year of the initial appointment to the Review Commission.
B. 
The final report shall be posted on the Internet at an appropriate County Web site. Copies of the final report shall be made available for public inspection in the County Manager's Office during normal business hours.
C. 
Within 30 days following issuance of the report, the Review Commission shall file a statement sworn to by members of the Review Commission listing in detail the funds, goods, materials and services, both public and private used by the Review Commission in the performance of its work and the preparation and filing of the report. The sworn statement shall be attached to the report of the Review Commission.
D. 
Following the issuance of the final report and the filing of the sworn statement required in Subsection C, the Review Commission shall be discharged.