[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
West Goshen as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Police cooperative agreements — See Ch. 14, Arts. II, III and IV.
[Adopted 2-25-1998 by Ord. No. 2-98]
This governmental unit shall join with other local governmental units
in accordance with the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act[1] and other similar acts by becoming a settlor of the Pennsylvania
Local Government Investment Trust (the "trust") and entering into the Declaration
of Trust, which is adopted by reference with the same effect as if it had
been set out verbatim in this section and a copy of which shall be filed with
the minutes of the meeting at which this article was adopted.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 481 et seq.
This governmental unit is authorized to purchase shares in the trust from time to time with available funds, and to redeem some or all of those shares from time to time as funds are needed for other purposes, subject to the terms and restrictions of the Declaration of Trust referred to in § 4-1. These actions are to be taken by the officers designated for this purpose, pursuant to general or specific instructions by the governing body of this governmental unit.
The trustees of the trust are designated as having official custody
of this governmental unit's funds which are invested by the purchase
of shares in the trust.
As required by the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act the following matters
are specifically found and determined:
B.
This governmental unit's participation in the trust shall be terminable at any time by ordinance, subject to the terms and restrictions of the Declaration of Trust referred to in § 4-1.
C.
The Declaration of Trust and the purchase of its shares are for the purpose of investing this governmental unit's funds in obligations which are otherwise legal investments, as part of a pooled arrangement with other local governmental units, thereby achieving economic and other advantages of pooled investments; and the powers and scope of authority delegated are set forth in the Declaration of Trust referred to in § 4-1.
D.
It is not necessary to finance the agreement authorized
herein from funds of this governmental unit except through the purchase of
shares in the trust.
E.
The trust shall be managed by a Board of Trustees as
set forth in the Declaration of Trust and the bylaws provided for therein.
F.
Shares may be repurchased and redeemed from time to time as this governmental unit may determine to be necessary or appropriate to meet its cash investment requirements in accordance with the terms and restrictions of the Declaration of Trust referred to in § 4-1.
G.
The trust shall be empowered to enter into contracts
for policies of group insurance and employee benefits, including social security,
for its employees.
[Adopted 3-12-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003]
The Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of West Goshen Township (the
"Township") is hereby authorized to enter into an intergovernmental cooperation
agreement with the Borough of West Chester, East Bradford Township, Thornbury
Township, Westtown Township and East Goshen Township to form the West Chester
Area Council of Governments (WCAGOG), in accordance with the terms and conditions
authorized by this article and set forth in the agreement, a copy of which
is attached hereto as Exhibit A and is incorporated herein by reference.[1] Furthermore, the appropriate officers of the Township are hereby
authorized to do whatever is necessary and appropriate to carry out the provisions
of the agreement and this article, and to comply with the purposes and intent
of the agreement and this article.
[1]
Editor's Note: Exhibit A is on file in the Township offices.
The agreement is conditioned upon each member's governing body
enacting an ordinance which authorizes such member to participate in the WCACOG
and to execute the agreement.
The WCACOG shall be created for, and the agreement shall have, an initial
term of five years, which term shall commence on the effective date of the
agreement (as defined in paragraph 17 of the agreement). At the expiration
of the initial five-year term, the agreement and the WCACOG shall automatically
renew for successive one-year terms unless a majority of the members, acting
through their delegates, vote to terminate the agreement.
The purposes and objectives of the WCACOG include, but are not limited
to the following:
A.
To provide a forum for the discussion of regional issues
that affect the members and their residents;
B.
To discuss and study local issues of mutual interest
and concern to each member and its residents and to formulate solutions for
common regional problems;
C.
To allow for regional planning and coordination on local
government issues such as, but not limited to zoning, transportation, emergency
services, geographical information systems (GIS), cable communications, technological
electronic communication and any other issues which affect the West Chester
region;
D.
To train municipal officials and employees in various
municipal topics and laws that affect municipalities;
E.
To undertake, coordinate and administer programs of regional
interest that benefit some or all of the members;
F.
To create an alliance for obtaining more competitive
rates on the purchase of goods and services for the members; and
G.
To perform such other activities as the members may mutually
agree may be undertaken through the WCACOG which are related to the objectives
identified above.
A.
At the organizational meeting of the Board of Delegates,
the Board shall adopt an annual budget or authorize the prompt creation of
an annual budget for the WCACOG. Thereafter, the Board of Delegates shall
present the proposed annual budget to the members, and the governing body
of each member shall vote to approve or reject the budget prior to the end
of the calendar year. In the event that the proposed annual budget is not
approved by the majority of the members' governing bodies, the Board
of Delegates shall revise said budget in accordance with the reasons provided
by the governing bodies in support of the rejection. Following the initial
year of the agreement, the process for preparing, presenting and adopting
an annual budget shall be completed by the Board of Delegates and the members'
governing bodies before the end of each calendar year. Until the new budget
is approved by the majority of the members' governing bodies, the prior
years' budget shall remain in effect.
B.
Within 60 days following the effective date of the agreement,
each member shall be responsible to make an initial contribution to the WCACOG
of $500, which contribution shall be deposited into an account established
for the WCACOG by its Secretary/Treasurer. Thereafter, each member shall contribute
an equal share to the expenses of the WCACOG, as determined by the annual
budget. Each member shall contribute its proportional share of the WCACOG's
operational expenses in quarterly intervals or as otherwise determined by
the Board. A member which does not promptly pay its annual contribution may
have its membership in the WOACOG terminated by a majority vote of the Board
of Delegates. In the event of such termination, the terminated member's
delegate and alternate delegate shall be precluded from voting on any matter
or issue voted upon by the Board of Delegates.
C.
In the event that the WCACOG undertakes a specific program
or activity that does not involve all of the members, only the members which
participate in such program or activity shall be liable for the expenses related
to such program or activity.
A.
The WCACOG shall be governed by a Board of Delegates
which shall consist of one delegate and an alternate delegate from each member.
The delegates and alternate delegates shall be appointed by the governing
body of each member to serve in such capacity for a two-year term. Each delegate
and alternate delegate shall be an elected official of the member.
B.
Within 60 days after the effective date of the agreement,
the Board of Delegates shall conduct an organizational meeting. At the organizational
meeting the Board shall elect the officers of President, Vice President, and
Secretary/Treasurer and adopt bylaws, or authorize the prompt preparation
of bylaws for future adoption, which shall govern the day-to-day affairs of
the WCACOG.
C.
Each member shall be entitled to one-vote in the WCACOG,
which vote shall be cast by the delegate in attendance at the Board of Directors'
meetings.
The WCACOG is not authorized by the agreement to purchase real property.
If the WCACOG purchases personal property, it shall take title to such personal
property in the name of WCACOG, unless otherwise agreed to by the Board of
Delegates. Upon termination of the agreement, any personal property owned
by the WCACOG shall be distributed to the members, or sold and the proceeds
distributed to the members, as determined by the Board of Delegates. All other
matters pertaining to the acquisition, management, licensing or disposal of
personal property by the WCACOG shall be decided by a majority vote of the
Board of Delegates.
The WCACOG is empowered to enter into contracts for policies of group
insurance and employee benefits including social security for any employees
of the WCACOG. No such employees are anticipated by the members and a majority
of the Board of Delegates must first vote to hire any such employees and approve
any such contracts.
