[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Thornbury 12-2-1997 by Ord. No. 1997-8. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Planning Commission — See Ch. 46.
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 115.
Zoning — See Ch. 155.
The name of the body hereby established shall be the "Thornbury Township Historical Preservation Commission."
The Thornbury Township Historical Preservation Commission (hereinafter referred to as "Commission") shall be empowered to do the following:
A. 
Conduct a survey of historic resources for the purpose of determining those of historic and/or architectural significance and the pertinent facts about such resources; to act in collaboration with the Planning Commission of Thornbury Township, Chester County and other appropriate groups with respect to such survey; to maintain and periodically revise a detailed inventory and map or maps of such historically and/or architecturally significant resources and the data collected concerning the said resources, appropriately classified.
B. 
Research and record the history of Thornbury Township, Chester County.
C. 
Research significant historic objects, sites, structures, buildings and districts and to recommend to the Board of Supervisors the nomination of the same to the National Register of Historic Places.
D. 
Encourage preservation of the historical character of the Township landscape and, in particular, the relationship of historic resources to their natural setting, and the preservation of the Township's natural flora and plantings, such as trees and hedgerows.
E. 
Propose from time to time to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors the establishment of historic districts in accordance with the then-applicable statutes and rules and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
F. 
Formulate regulations for the establishment of an appropriate system of markers for selected historic and/or architectural resources, including proposals for the installation and care of such historic markers and to recommend adoption of the same to the Board of Supervisors.
G. 
Prepare and publish books, maps, brochures and descriptive materials about the Township's history and historic and/or architectural resources.
H. 
Cooperate with and advise the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission of Thornbury Township, Chester County and other Township agencies in matters involving historically and/or architecturally significant resources, including the review of zoning and/or subdivision and land development proposals and building/demolition permit applications to determine the extent to which the same have the likelihood of impacting upon historic and/or architectural resources.
I. 
Cooperate with and enlist assistance from the National Park Service, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and other local, state and national historical societies, conservancies and other agencies, public and private, concerned with historic and/or architectural preservation.
J. 
To advise owners of historic and/or architectural buildings and resources on problems in connection therewith and methods of preservation thereof.
K. 
To keep abreast of technical literature reports and documents relevant to historic and/or architectural preservation in Thornbury Township, Chester County.
L. 
To promote public interest in the work of the Commission, by carrying on a public relations program and by other appropriate means.
M. 
To advise the Board of Supervisors on the acquisition, whether by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, easement, devise, lease or otherwise, and/or the restoration of historic and/or architecturally significant properties and other resources, historical records and other data and material within the purview of the Commission.
N. 
To make plans for the establishment of a permanent archive of Township records and documents and to make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning the same.
O. 
To perform such other duties and undertake such other responsibilities as may be delegated to the Commission from time to time by the Board of Supervisors.
[Amended 3-20-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-1; 7-17-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-2]
The Commission shall be composed of seven persons, each of whom shall be a resident of Thornbury Township, Chester County, and each of whom shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Duly appointed Commission members shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors but, unless otherwise removed by the Board of Supervisors, shall serve for terms of five years each, or until their successors are appointed. All persons appointed shall serve their full terms unless voluntarily resigned or removed by the Board of Supervisors, at the pleasure of the Board. Vacancies on this Commission occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be for the unexpired term and shall be filled by appointment by the Board of Supervisors.
Members of the Commission 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 and in the conduct of Commission business, when such reimbursement is authorized by the Chairman of the Commission and approved by the Board of Supervisors.
The person appointed for the initial five-year term shall serve as the first Chairperson of the Commission and shall serve for a period of one year. The members of the Commission shall annually elect their own Secretary and such other officers as they shall deem appropriate and, after the initial term of the initial Chairperson, shall elect their own Chairperson, and all officers shall serve for a period of one year. Vacancies in any office created by resignation or otherwise, including a vacancy in the office of Chairperson, even if occurring during the first year, shall be filled for the unexpired term by election by the members of the Commission. The Commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of all business within its jurisdiction.
Regular public meetings shall be held to conduct the business of the Commission. The Commission shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report and such other periodic reports to the Board of Supervisors as the Board may require or the Commission may deem appropriate.
The Commission may, with the consent of the Board of Supervisors, utilize any funds, personnel or other assistance made available by Chester County, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the federal government or any of its or their agencies, or from any other private or public sources. Accounting for the receipt of such funds and for the expenditure thereof shall be pursuant to such regulations as the Board of Supervisors may adopt. Unless specifically authorized by the Board of Supervisors, the Commission shall not establish any separate bank or other account for the deposit or accumulation of funds. The Board of Supervisors may enter into agreements or contracts regarding the acceptance or utilization of such funds or other assistance as may be available. The Commission shall submit a plan of activities and a proposed budget to the Board of Supervisors during the regular Township budget process. Funds for the expenses to be incurred by the Commission shall, at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors, be appropriated by the Board of Supervisors. The Commission may expend moneys for such administrative, clerical, printing and legal services as may from time to time be required, but its expenditures shall be limited to the amount of funds appropriated to it by the Board of Supervisors or otherwise obtained from other sources as set forth above and, at all times, expenditures of the Commission shall be subject to the approval of the regulation by the Board of Supervisors.