[Adopted 4-8-1968 by Ord. No. 84; amended in its entirety 2-15-2023 by Ord. No. 1073]
The Board of Commissioners of South Whitehall Township hereby confirm the establishment of the "Park and Recreation Board."
A. 
The jurisdiction of the Park and Recreation Board shall be limited to making recommendations to the Commissioners, since the operation and administration of the park and recreation facilities and programs shall be under the exclusive control of the Township Manager pursuant to Chapter 50, Article I, as amended.
B. 
In its advisory capacity, the powers and duties of the Park and Recreation Board shall be as follows:
(1) 
Advise the Board of Commissioners and Township Manager on public policy matters relating to the acquisition, development, organization, scheduling, maintenance, and operation of all park and recreational areas and associated facilities within South Whitehall Township.
(2) 
Conduct periodic reviews of the existing recreational program of South Whitehall Township in relation to the needs and desires of the citizens of South Whitehall Township.
(3) 
Study and report to the Board of Commissioners and Township Manager on the feasibility of proposed recreational programs to be conducted by the Township or jointly by the Township and the school district or other municipalities.
(4) 
The Park and Recreation Board shall make full and complete analyses, studies, and reports to the Board of Commissioners and/or the Township Manager at such times as may be designated or requested by the Board of Commissioners and/or the Township Manager, which in the judgment of the Board of Commissioners and/or the Township Manager, will aid in effectuating the general purposes of the recreational program.
(5) 
No later than November 1 of each calendar/fiscal year, the Park and Recreation Manager shall prepare a summary annual report of all activities and milestone accomplishments of the recreational program of South Whitehall Township. In accordance with the requirements of § 58011 of the First Class Township Code, the annual report shall include an analysis of the community recreation areas, facilities and leadership, with particular reference to the extent and adequacy of the program and its effectiveness in view of the public expenditure involved and the public needs to be met. This report shall then be reviewed and approved by the Park and Recreation Board prior to being forwarded to the Board of Commissioners and Township Manager in its final format no later than December 1 of each calendar/fiscal year.
The Park and Recreation Board shall consist of seven residents of South Whitehall Township, all appointed by the South Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners. The members of said Park and Recreation Board shall serve without compensation for terms of five years or until their successors are appointed. The terms of such members shall be staggered so that no more than two members are appointed in any year. Initial term appointments may be a length of either two, three, four or five years as determined to be necessary to ensure that requirement of staggered terms is completed; however, all appointments after the initial appointments have cycled through shall be for a term of five years. Each term shall commence on January 1 and terminate on December 31. Vacancies in the Park and Recreation Board occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be for the unexpired term and shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments.
The members of the Park and Recreation Board shall elect their own Chairperson and Secretary and select all other necessary officers to serve for a period of one year. The Park and Recreation Board shall have power to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of all business before the Park and Recreation Board, unless otherwise provided in the article as it may be amended from time to time. The Park and Recreation Board shall hold regular meetings at such times and places as it shall designate. The Park and Recreation Board shall reorganize on an annual basis at the first regular meeting scheduled to be held during each calendar year.
Wherever possible, the Park and Recreation Board shall encourage the county, other Townships and school districts, or any of them, to develop a cooperative plan of recreation service in order to fulfill the purpose of providing needed recreation facilities for all of the citizens of the cooperating governmental units and school districts.