[Adopted 3-8-2007 by Ord. No. 1946]
The Abington Economic Development Committee
has been established to develop and maintain revitalization programs
in designated commercial corridors or specified sites and to promote
and sustain special programs which enhance development within the
Township. As such, the EDC is advisory to the Board of Commissioners.
[Amended 9-14-2017 by Ord. No. 2141]
The Abington Township Economic Development Committee shall not
exceed 16 individual members, each of whom shall be a resident of
the Township, and/or the owner of a business located in the Township,
and/or a representative of such business. At least 50% of the Committee
membership shall at all times be comprised of business owners or business
representatives. Five membership sEats shall be reserved for one representative
from each of the following major institutions in the Township: Abington
Memorial Hospital, Abington Penn State, the Abington School District,
the Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, and the Abington
Art Center. All appointed members shall be voting members of the Committee.
In addition, a Board of Commissioners liaison, who may be a voting
member, and a Committee Secretary, who shall be a nonvoting member,
shall be appointed. The number of Committee members and/or the composition
of the Committee may hereafter be altered by the Board of Commissioners
of Abington Township.
Individual membership shall occur by appointment
to the Committee as approved by the Board of Commissioners of Abington
Township, except that the major institutions shall reserve the right
to recommend the individuals representing their organization.
The regular term of appointment shall be for
a period of three years commencing from the first appointment by the
Board of Commissioners, except that terms shall be initially designated
so than not more than 1/3 of the full committee is due for appointment
at any one time. The Board of Commissioners may, at its discretion,
appoint an individual for a one-year trial term when special conditions
or temporary needs may warrant. Members in good standing may serve
one or more terms consecutively. The Board Liaison shall be appointed
for a two-year period, and the Committee shall serve recursive terms.
The Board of Commissioners may remove an individual
member at any time for a stated reason. The Executive Committee of
the EDC may suggest individual removal at any time to the Board of
Commissioners. If an individual member shall miss more than three
unexcused meetings in any one calendar year, removal from the Committee
shall be automatic, unless specifically preempted for a stated cause
by the Executive Committee.
There shall be a Committee Chairperson to be
appointed every two years by majority vote of the Committee. There
shall be a Committee Secretary from the Township staff designated
to assist Committee efforts. The Chairperson and Secretary shall act
as an official representative of the Committee, shall prepare the
Committee agendas, set Committee meeting dates, and shall act respectively
to break any ties which may develop over policies and motions. There
shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the Chairperson, the
Board of Commissioners Liaison, and three individuals appointed by
the Chairperson which serve to guide the overall policy and direction
of Committee initiatives, attend special functions as determined by
the Chair, and form special subcommittees to accomplish specific tasks.
There shall also be a Committee Liaison from the Board of Commissioners
to provide interface with the governing body of the Township. All
other individuals comprising the Committee shall be termed "regular
members," who shall discuss, contribute and vote on matters before
the Committee.
The Committee shall take official action in
the form of recommendations to the Township Board of Commissioners
by official meeting vote. A quorum shall be determined to be one more
than half of the active Committee membership. Any emergency recommendations
or action needed between established meeting dates may be forwarded
to the Board of Commissioners by a majority poll of the Executive
Committee.