[Amended 8-13-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-04]
The Commission shall consist of three Commissioners who shall be qualified electors of the Township and shall be appointed by the Council of the Township of Bristol initially to serve for the terms of two, four and six years, and as the terms thereafter expire shall be appointed for six years. Up to three alternate members may be appointed by the Council of the Township of Bristol to serve when the appointed Commissioner(s) is/are absent. The Civil Service Commission of the Township of Bristol on the first Monday of February of each even-numbered year shall elect one of its member as the Chairperson, one as Vice Chairperson and one as Secretary. If the first Monday is a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held the first day following. In the event that a vacancy occurs on the Commission, the Council of the Township of Bristol will fill the vacancy within 30 days after such vacancy occurs. No Commissioner shall at the same time hold an elective or appointed office under the United States government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or any political subdivision of the commonwealth, except that one member of the Commission may be a member of the Council of the Township of Bristol.
The Chairperson, or in his absence, the Vice Chairperson, shall preside at all meetings and hearings of the Commission, decide all points of order or procedure and perform any duties required by law or these rules.
The Secretary shall carry on at the direction of the Commission all official correspondence of the Commission, send out all notices required by law and these rules of procedure, keep a record of each examination or other official actions of the Commission, and perform all other duties required by law, by these rules and by the Commission.
Except for the biennial organization meeting, all meetings shall be held either at the call of the Chairperson or at the call of two members of the Commission. At least 24 hours' written notice of each meeting shall be given each member. The requirement of at least 24 hours' written notice of each meeting may be waived in certain situations or emergencies with the concurrence of all members of the Commission. The Commission shall have the discretion to determine whether meetings shall be open to the public.
[Amended 12-18-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-12]
Three members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. If, by reason of absence or disqualification of a member, a quorum is not reached, the Chairman shall designate as many alternate members of the Commission to sit on the Commission as may be needed to provide a quorum. Any alternate member of the Commission shall continue to serve on the Commission in all proceedings involving the matter or case for which the alternate was initially designated until the Commission has made a final determination of the matter or case. Designation of an alternate pursuant to this section shall be made on a case-by-case basis in rotation according to declining seniority among all alternates. No action of the Commission shall be valid unless it shall have the concurrence of at least two members.
The order of business of all meetings of the Commission shall include, if applicable, the following:
A. 
Roll call.
B. 
Call to order.
C. 
Approval of minutes of previous meeting.
D. 
Unfinished business.
E. 
Hearing of cases.
F. 
New business.
G. 
Communications and reports.
A. 
The Commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings and records of examinations and other official action. All records of the Commission shall be preserved and disposed of according to the Retention and Disposition Schedule for Records of Pennsylvania Municipalities issued by the local government Records Committee under the authority of the Municipal Records Act, 53 P.S. § 9001.[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Repealed December 19, 1996, by P.L. 1158, No. 177. See now 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 1381 et seq.
B. 
Any and all records related to any disciplinary action filed with the Commission shall be opened to public inspection subject to reasonable regulation. The Secretary shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each question. If the member is absent or fails to vote, the Secretary shall indicate that fact in the minutes.
The Commission shall have the power to prescribe, enforce, and amend rules and regulations governing the conduct of its activities. Such rules and regulations must be approved by the governing body at a public hearing, and may not be amended without approval of the governing body at a public hearing.
The Commission shall have the power to make investigations concerning all matters relating to the administration and enforcement of these rules and regulations. The Chairperson of the Commission authorized to administer oaths and affirmations in connection with said investigations.
A. 
The Commission shall have the power to issue subpoenas over the signature of the Chairperson or designee, to acquire the attendance of witnesses and the production of records and papers pertaining to any investigation or inquiry. The fees of such witnesses for attendance and travel shall be the same as witnesses appearing in the courts and shall be paid from appropriations for the incidental expense of the Commission.
B. 
All officers in public service and employees of the Township shall attend and testify when required to do so by the Commission.
C. 
If any person shall refuse or neglect to obey any subpoena issued by the Commission, upon conviction of such refusal or neglect in a summary proceeding, that person shall be sentenced to pay a fine not to exceed $100, and in default of the payment of such fine and cost shall be imprisoned not to succeed 30 days.
D. 
If any person shall refuse or neglect to obey any subpoena, the Commission may apply by petition to the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County for subpoena, requiring the attendance of such persons before the Commission or the court to testify to produce any records and papers necessary, and a default thereof shall be held in contempt of court.
[Amended 8-13-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-04]
The Commission shall make an annual report to the Council of the Township of Bristol containing a brief summary of its work during the year and a full accounting for any expenditures of public monies, and the report shall be available for public inspection.