[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Nockamixon 8-24-1977 by Ord.
No. 26. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A Commission to be known as the "Nockamixon Township Planning
Commission" is hereby created and established, subject to the right
of the Board of Supervisors at any time by ordinance to abolish such
Commission. Any previously established Township Planning Commission
is hereby abolished.
The Commission shall consist of seven members. All members of
the Commission shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed
by the Board of Supervisors for necessary and reasonable expenses.
However, appointed officers or employees of the Township shall not,
by reason of membership on the Commission, forfeit the right to exercise
the powers, perform the duties or receive the compensations of the
Township offices held by them during membership on the Commission.
All members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Board
of Supervisors. The term of each of the members of the Commission
shall be for four years or until his successor is appointed and qualified.
Members of the existing Commission shall be reappointed to continue
to serve as members of the Commission created by this chapter until
the end of the term for which they were appointed to the existing
Commission. The terms of the successor members and the terms of the
members to fill the vacancies created by this chapter shall be so
fixed so that no more than two members shall be reappointed or replaced
during any future calendar year. Annually thereafter, members of said
Commission will be appointed for a term of four years. The Chairman
of the Commission shall promptly notify the Board of Supervisors concerning
the vacancies in the Commission, and such vacancies shall be filled
for the unexpired term.
All members of the Commission shall be residents of the Township.
At least five of the members shall be "citizen members"; that is,
"citizen members" shall not be officers or employees of the Township
during their term of office on the Commission.
Any member of the Commission once qualified and appointed may
be removed from office for malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance
in office or for other just cause by a majority vote of the Board
of Supervisors, taken after the member has received 15 days'
advance notice of the intent to take such a vote. A hearing shall
be held in connection with the vote if the member shall request it
in writing. Any appointment to fill a vacancy created by removal shall
be only for the unexpired term.
The Commission shall elect its own Chairman and Vice Chairman
and create any other offices as it may determine. Officers shall serve
annual terms and may succeed themselves. The Commission may make and
alter bylaws and rules and regulations to govern its procedures consistent
with the ordinances of the Township and the laws of the commonwealth.
The Commission shall keep a full record of its business and shall
annually make a written report by March 1 of each year of its activities
to the Board of Supervisors. Interim reports may be made as often
as may be necessary, or as requested by the Board of Supervisors.
A.
The Commission shall at the request of the Board of Supervisors have
the power and shall be required to:
B.
The Commission at the request of the governing body shall:
(1)
Review and maintain an up-to-date Official Map of the Township, including
existing and proposed public streets, water courses, public grounds,
etc., and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on proposed
changes in such map.
(2)
Prepare, review and recommend to the Board of Supervisors an up-to-date
zoning ordinance and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors
on proposed amendments.
(3)
Prepare, recommend, review and administer subdivision and land development
and planned residential development regulations and make recommendations
to the Board of Supervisors on proposed amendments.
(4)
Prepare, recommend and review an up-to-date Building Code and/or
Housing Code for the Township and make recommendations to the Board
of Supervisors on proposed amendments.
(6)
Prepare and present to the Board of Supervisors an environmental
study.
(7)
Submit to the Board of Supervisors a recommended capital improvements
program.
(8)
Promote public interest in, and understanding of, the Comprehensive
Plan and the purpose of municipal planning generally.
(9)
Make recommendations to governmental, civic and private agencies
and individuals as to the effectiveness of the proposals of such agencies
and individuals.
(10)
Hold public hearings and meetings.
(11)
Require from other departments and agencies of the Township such
available information as relates to the work of the Commission.
(12)
In the performance of its functions, enter upon any land to make
examinations and surveys with the consent of the owner.
(13)
Such other duties and functions as may be authorized by the provisions
of the Municipalities Planning Code, Act of June 1, 1972, P.L. 333,
as now amended, and as hereinafter amended, 53 P.S. § 10101
et seq.
The Commission may, after obtaining prior approval of the Board
of Supervisors, accept and utilize any funds, personnel or other assistance
made available by the county, the commonwealth or the federal government
or any of their agencies, or from private sources. The Board of Supervisors
may employ administrative and/or technical consultants to assist the
Commission in carrying out its responsibilities herein. In the performance
of its powers and duties, any act or recommendation of the Commission
which involves engineering consideration shall be subject to review
and comments of the engineer duly appointed by the Board of Supervisors,
which shall be incorporated and separately set forth in any report,
written act or recommendation of the Commission.
