[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of Whitpain 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 397. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The purpose of the Environmental Advisory Council is to advise
the Township Board of Supervisors on matters dealing with protection,
conservation, management and use of natural resources, including air,
tree, land and water resources located within the limits of Whitpain
Township, to assist in the ongoing efforts of the Board of Supervisors
to preserve open space within the Township, and to help educate residents
of Whitpain Township about the importance of environmental protection.
Pursuant to the authority set forth under 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 2321
et seq., there is hereby established an Environmental Advisory Council
for the Township of Whitpain, which shall be known as the "Whitpain
Township Environmental Advisory Council."
A.
All Environmental Advisory Council members shall be residents of
Whitpain Township appointed by the Board of Supervisors of Whitpain
Township.
B.
Whenever possible, one member shall also be a member of the Whitpain
Township Planning Commission.
C.
Environmental Advisory Council members' terms of office shall
expire on the first Monday in January following the last year of their
term of office.
D.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall consist of five members
serving overlapping three-year terms. Initial appointments shall be
staggered so that the terms of approximately 1/3 of the Environmental
Advisory Council shall expire each year, as follows:
E.
Should a vacancy occur, the Board of Supervisors shall appoint a
member to fill the vacancy only for the unexpired portion of the term.
F.
One member of the Board of Supervisors may serve as a liaison to
the Environmental Advisory Council, but shall not be considered an
official member of the Environmental Advisory Council.
G.
Members of the Environmental Advisory Council should, but are not
required to, have experience in the areas of planning, environmental
science, public policy, development, conservation, or related fields,
where feasible.
H.
The Environmental Advisory Council may establish committees comprised
of volunteers to assist in the execution of the Environmental Advisory
Council's powers and duties, as defined herein. Committee members
shall not serve as members of the Environmental Advisory Council but
may act as a resource for Environmental Advisory Council members.
Committees shall be administered and supervised by at least one Environmental
Advisory Council member.
A.
The Environmental Advisory Council members first appointed shall
organize within 20 days of their appointment.
B.
The Board of Supervisors shall designate the Chair of the Environmental
Advisory Council. The term of the Chair shall expire on the first
meeting of the Environmental Advisory Council in an even-numbered
year.
C.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall elect one member as Vice
Chair of the Environmental Advisory Council and one member as Secretary.
D.
The Environmental Advisory Council may appoint other officers and
may designate a person to act on behalf of the designated Chair in
their absence, and it may make and alter bylaws and rules and regulations
to cover its procedures consistent with the ordinances of Whitpain
Township and the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
E.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall reorganize at its first
meeting in even-numbered years.
F.
A majority of the sitting members shall constitute a quorum, and
all business shall be transacted by a majority of the quorum present.
A.
The Environmental Advisory Council is to be advisory to the Board
of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors confers no independent authority
on the Environmental Advisory Council. The Environmental Advisory
Council shall not exercise any powers or perform any duties which
by law are conferred or imposed upon the municipality or other commonwealth
agency.
B.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall coordinate its activities
regarding preexisting environmental programs with elected officials,
the Whitpain Township Planning Commission, Park and Open Space Board,
Shade Tree Commission, Sustainability Coordinator, Wissahickon Trails,
Friends of Wissahickon, other nearby Environmental Advisory Councils,
and any other similar organization or entity sharing a common mission
or purpose.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall have the following
advisory powers and duties:
A.
Identify environmental problems.
B.
Recommend plans and programs to the appropriate body or agency for
the promotion and conservation of natural resources and for the protection
and improvement of the quality of the environment within the territorial
limits of the Township.
C.
Make recommendations as to the possible selection, acquisition, and
use of open space in the Township.
D.
Promote community environmental programs and education.
E.
Develop and maintain an index of all open areas, publicly or privately
owned, including, but not limited to, flood-prone areas, swamps, and
other unique natural areas, for the purpose of obtaining information
on the proper use of such areas.
F.
Advise the appropriate Township body in the acquisition of property,
both real and personal, by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, easement,
devise, or lease in matters consistent with the purpose for which
the Council is created.
G.
Advise the Board of Supervisors upon issues of energy conservation.
H.
Administer such environmental tasks as requested by the Board of
Supervisors of Whitpain Township.
Nothing herein shall be construed as abolishing or limiting
any existing Township agency, board, authority or commission, even
though such agency, board, authority or commission may have a responsibility
to the responsibilities delegated to the Environmental Advisory Council
herein; provided, however, that should there occur any overlap in
jurisdiction between or amongst any existing Township agency, board,
authority or commission and the Environmental Advisory Council with
respect to any matter or question, then such matter or question shall
be referred to the Board of Supervisors for delegation to the appropriate
entity.
A.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall meet as necessary, or as
otherwise directed by the Board of Supervisors, at a time determined
by its members.
B.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall keep records of its meetings
and activities, which shall be made publicly available.
C.
Minutes of each meeting of the Environmental Advisory Council shall
be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors.
D.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall make an annual report to
the Board of Supervisors, which shall be publicly available.
A.
The Board of Supervisors may appropriate funds for the expenses incurred
by the Environmental Advisory Council for such administrative, clerical,
printing, and legal services as may be required in the exercise of
the aforesaid advisory powers and duties.
B.
The Environmental Advisory Council may not contract separately for
professional or vendor services but shall have access to Township
professional services with the approval of the Township Manager.
C.
The Environmental Advisory Council must obtain the approval of the
Township Manager prior to the expenditure of any funds.
Members of Environmental Advisory Council shall receive no compensation
for their services, but they may be reimbursed for expenses actually
and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties,
provided that the expenses have the prior approval of the Board of
Supervisors.
