[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Middletown 3-31-1981 by Ord. No. 81-5 (Ch. 1, Part 5C, of the
1992 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
An Environmental Advisory Council is hereby created pursuant
to the Act of December 21, 1973, P.L. 425, No. 148, as amended, and
shall have such powers as hereinafter set forth.
A.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall consist of seven members
appointed by the Board of Supervisors, one of whom may also be a member
of the Township Planning Commission, and all of whom shall be residents
of the Township of Middletown.
B.
The term of office of each duly appointed Council member shall be
three years or until appointment and qualification of his successor,
except that the initial members shall be appointed for the following
terms:
C.
The Board of Supervisors may remove any member of the Council for
cause, on written charges served upon the member and after a hearing
thereon at which the member shall be entitled to be heard in person
or by counsel. A vacancy on the Council occurring other than by expiration
of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner
as an original appointment.
D.
Members of the Council shall receive no compensation for their services
but shall be reimbursed for expenses actually and necessarily incurred
by them in the performance of their duties.
A.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall have the following powers:
(1)
To identify environmental problems and recommend plans and programs
to the appropriate governmental agencies, including, but not limited
to, the Township Planning Commission, Park and Recreation Board, and
the Board of Supervisors, 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.
(2)
To make recommendations as to the possible use of open land
areas of the Township.
(3)
To promote a community environmental program.
(4)
To compile and keep an index of all open areas, publicly or
privately owned, including but not limited to marshland, swamps, other
wetlands, and other unique natural areas, for the purpose of obtaining
information on the proper use of such areas.
(5)
To advise the appropriate local governmental agencies, including,
but not limited to, the Township Planning Commission, the Park and
Recreation Board, and the Board of Supervisors, in the acquisition
of property, both real and personal, by gift, purchase, grant, bequest,
easement, devise or lease in matters dealing with the purposes of
this chapter.
B.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall not exercise its powers
or perform any duties which by law are conferred or imposed upon a
state agency.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall keep records of its
meetings and activities and shall make an annual report on or before
the first day of December of each year and submit said report to the
Board of Supervisors, who shall make said report available to the
public.
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 powers.
