A.
Composition; terms; elections; and vacancies. The composition of the Board of Supervisors, the Supervisors' powers and duties, qualifications, election, term of office, forfeiture of office and filling of vacancies shall be as provided in Article II of the Charter.
B.
Compensation for expenses. Provisions as to compensation
shall be as provided in § 209 of the Charter. Board members
shall receive no other compensation direct or indirect, for the performance
of their duties. Members of the Board shall be entitled to reimbursement
for actual expenses incurred provided that the expenditure:
C.
Indemnification and personal liability insurance.
The Township Supervisors shall be protected from personal liability
in the performance of their duties. The Township shall indemnify and
purchase personal liability insurance in amounts and limits as determined
in the approved Township insurance contracts.
D.
Membership in associations. Membership in and active
participation in county, state and national associations and applicable
professional societies shall be encouraged for Board members.
A.
The organization of the Board shall take place in
accordance with § 211 of the Home Rule Charter:
(1)
The initial yearly organization meeting shall be presided
over by the immediate past Chairman or, in his absence, the Vice Chairman,
provided that they continue in office. If neither of these persons
are on the Board, the Township Secretary shall act as Chairman Pro
Tem.
(2)
The first item of business shall be the election of
the Chairman for the current calendar year. Upon completion of the
selection, the meeting shall be presided over by the new Chairman.
The Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be chosen by a vote of a majority
of the Board and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.
(3)
If within five ballots to be taken within seven days
of said organization meeting members shall be unable to elect either
a Chairman or Vice Chairman, the candidates for either position shall
be reduced to the two receiving the most votes from the members in
the last ballot and all members shall be required to vote for one
or the other.
(4)
In the event of illness or incapacitation of the Chairman,
the Board may, by majority vote, elect to declare the position open,
and the Vice Chairman shall be declared Chairman and a new Vice Chairman
shall be elected as specified.
B.
Vacancy Board. At the Board's organization meeting,
the Board shall appoint a Vacancy Board consisting of five members
having the same qualifications as Supervisors. The Vacancy Board shall
be appointed to serve a one-year term.
C.
Meeting calendar. Further, at the Board's organization
meeting, the Board shall adopt by resolution the calendar of its regular
meetings for the remainder of the year. The meeting calendar and the
location of the meetings may be changed from time to time by majority
action of the Board. Such changes shall be advertised in newspapers
of general circulation seven days prior to the meeting and notice
of such change shall be posted at the Township Building.
D.
Appointment of Zoning Officer. In accordance with the provision of the Whitemarsh Township Zoning Code (Chapter 116), the Board shall appoint a Zoning Officer.
E.
Appointment of depositories. At the organization meeting,
the Board shall appoint depositories for Township accounts and funds.
A.
The Chairman of the Board shall have the power and
duty to:
(1)
Preside at all special and regular meetings of the
Board.
(2)
Sign all ordinances passed by the Board.
(3)
Sign those contracts requiring Board action as defined
in § 604 of the Charter.
(4)
Administer oaths as required by this chapter or the
Charter.
(5)
Appoint Board members to legislative subcommittees
or as liaison to Township departments, boards and commissions as established
under § 202 of the Charter.
B.
It shall be the Chairman's obligation to represent
the Township at official functions or appoint another member of the
Board to serve as official representative.
C.
In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman
shall serve in his stead.
A.
Meetings of the Board of Supervisors shall be held
in accordance with § 213 of the Charter. In the absence
of any other established rules of procedure, Robert's Rules of Order
shall prevail.
B.
Order of business; agenda. The Township Manager, who
also serves as Secretary of the Board of Supervisors, shall prepare
the agenda for all meetings of the Board of Supervisors and distribute
copies of such agenda, with pertinent materials, to the Board. A copy
of the agenda shall be posted in the municipal building in advance
of any public meeting. At regular meetings the order of business shall
consist of:
(1)
Call to order.
(2)
Roll call.
(3)
Approval of minutes of previous meetings.
(4)
Departmental reports.
(5)
Reports of municipal boards and commissions, as needed.
(6)
Public business before the Board of Supervisors, including
the introduction of ordinances or resolutions.
(7)
Public comment.
(8)
Adjournment.
C.
The title of any ordinance or resolution to be considered
shall be published as part of the agenda.
D.
The published agenda may be amended at the meeting
by a majority of the total membership of the Board.
E.
Special meetings. In accordance with § 213
of the Charter, special meetings may be called by the presiding officer
of the Board.
F.
Emergency meetings. The Board may hold and take action
at an emergency meeting at any time. Such emergency meetings may be
called by the Township Manager or by any member of the Board, provided
that a majority of the membership of the Board determines that the
holding of such meeting and the taking of emergency action at that
time is necessary to protect or promote the public health, safety
and welfare of the citizens of the Township.
G.
Executive sessions. The Board may hold executive sessions
in accordance with law.
The Board shall establish by resolution a policy
for public participation at meetings.
All official actions of the Board shall be taken
by ordinance, resolution or motion as provided in the Charter. All
actions of the Board shall be recorded in an official Minute Book.
A.
The minutes of regular and special meetings of the
Board shall contain at the minimum the date, time and place of convening,
a list of Board members present and absent, an identification of all
matters brought before the Board for discussion or action, the resulting
vote of all members present on all motions, resolutions or ordinances,
and a roll call record of the votes cast "aye" or "nay" on all ordinances
upon which action is taken.
B.
By motion of the Board, tape recordings or other verbatim
transcriptions of the proceedings of any meeting may be taken and
shall be available and preserved in the same manner as prescribed
for minutes.
C.
Copies of the minutes of each meeting shall be provided
to each Board member or read aloud at the next regular or special
meeting, and following any corrections by the Board, actions toward
approval shall be considered.
D.
Copies of all past minutes of Board meetings shall
be open to public inspection throughout normal working hours. Individuals
may make arrangements to obtain copies of pages of the minutes and
the Township shall charge an appropriate fee to be established by
the Board.
E.
Minutes and other written records of proceedings of
the Board shall be preserved by the Township Manager in a designated
Minute Book which shall be kept securely in the Township Building.
Removal of the Minute Book from the Township Building shall be only
as a result of Board action or court order. Tape recordings, transcriptions,
exhibits or other attachments or material otherwise related to a regular
or special meeting shall be suitably identified by the Manager and
stored in the same manner as the Minute Book.
The enactment of ordinances shall be as specified in Article IV of the Charter. Every ordinance shall contain the date of its enactment, and its enactment shall be verified by the signature of the presiding officer of the meeting where the official action thereon was taken. The Official Seal of the Township shall be affixed to the original copy of each ordinance. However, failure on the part of the Chairman to sign an ordinance or affix the Official Seal shall not in any way invalidate an otherwise valid ordinance.
The Board shall provide for an independent post
audit in accordance with § 607 of the Charter. The independent
audit shall be available for public inspection.
Standing and ad hoc committees of the Board
of Supervisors may be established by the Chairman on the majority
affirmative vote of the Board of Supervisors.
