An advisory council to be known as the "Abington Township Environmental
Advisory Council" is hereby created and shall continue to function until this
chapter is revoked.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall be composed of seven residents
of Abington Township.
Council members shall be appointed in accordance with the following
procedure:
A. All Council members shall be appointed by the Board of
Commissioners.
B. Council members' terms of office shall expire on
the first Monday in January following the last year of their term of office.
C. Duly appointed Council members shall serve a term of
three years, except that initial appointments shall be so staggered that the
terms of approximately 1/3 of the membership shall expire each year.
D. Whenever possible, one member shall also be a member
of the Abington Township Planning Commission.
Council members shall receive no compensation for their services but
may be reimbursed for the expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them
in the performance of their duties.
The appointing authority shall designate the Chairperson of the Council.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall have the following powers:
A. Identify environmental problems.
B. Recommend plans and programs to the appropriate agencies
for the promotion and conservation of the natural resources and for the protection
and improvement of the quality of the environment within the area of this
municipality.
C. Make recommendations as to the possible use of open land
areas of this municipality.
D. Promote a community environmental program.
E. Keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately
owned, including but not limited to flood-prone areas, swamps and other unique
natural areas.
F. Advise the appropriate local governmental agencies in
the acquisition of property, both real and personal.
G. Undertake such environmental tasks as requested by the
governing body of this municipality.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall keep records of its meetings
and activities and shall make an annual report, which shall be printed in
the annual municipal report or otherwise made known and available.
The Board of Commissioners may from time to time appropriate funds for
the expenses incurred by the Council.