[Ord. 1966, 6/9/2003, § 1]
Pursuant to the authority granted to the Borough of Pottstown
as a municipal corporation to establish an Environmental Advisory
Council (53 Pa.C.S.A. § 2322, et seq.), the Borough of Pottstown
enacts the following ordinance.
[Ord. 1966, 6/9/2003, § 2]
Consistent with the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
(53 Pa.C.S.A. § 2322 et seq.), Borough Council hereby establishes
an Environmental Advisory Council ("Council") to advise other local
governmental agencies including, but not limited to, the Planning
Commission, the Parks and Recreation Board and elected officials,
on matters dealing with protection, conservation, management, promotion
and use of natural resources, including air, land and water resources,
located within the corporate limits of the Borough of Pottstown.
[Ord. 1966, 6/9/2003, § 3]
1.
Composition. The Council shall be composed of no less than five residents
of the Borough of Pottstown, who shall be appointed and all vacancies
filled by Borough Council. Whenever possible, one member of the Council
shall also be a member of the Pottstown Planning Commission.
2.
Term of Office. Council members shall serve for three years except
that initial appointments shall be so staggered that the terms of
approximately one-third of the membership shall expire each year,
the terms of their successors to be of three years each.
3.
Compensation and Expenses. Council members shall receive no compensation
for their services, but shall be reimbursed for the expenses actually
and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
4.
Chairman. Borough Council shall designate the Chairman of the Council.
5.
Should any member of the EAC fail to attend three scheduled meetings
in any calendar year, Borough Council, upon recommendation of the
EAC, may remove said member and thereafter appoint another qualified
person to fill the vacancy.
[Added by Ord. No. 2175, 5/14/2018]
[Ord. 1966, 6/9/2003, § 4]
1.
General Rule. The Council shall have the power to:
A.
Identify environmental problems and recommend plans and programs
to the appropriate agencies for the promotion and conservation of
the natural resources and for the protection and improvement of the
quality of the environment within the corporate limits of the Borough
of Pottstown.
B.
Make recommendations as to the possible use of open land areas of
the Borough of Pottstown within its corporate limits.
C.
Promote a community environmental program.
D.
Keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including
floodprone areas, swamps and other unique natural areas, for the purpose
of obtaining information on the proper use of those areas.
E.
Advise the appropriate local government agencies, including the Planning
Commission, Parks and Recreation Board and Borough Council, in the
acquisition of both real and personal property by gift, purchase,
grant, bequest, easement, devise or lease, in matters dealing with
the purposes of this Part.
2.
Limitation. The Council shall not exercise any powers or perform
any duties which by law are conferred or imposed upon a Commonwealth
agency.
[Ord. 1966, 6/9/2003, § 5]
The Council shall keep records of its meetings and activities
and shall make an annual report which shall be printed in the annual
report of the Borough of Pottstown, or, if none is produced, shall
be otherwise made known and available.
[Ord. 1966, 6/9/2003, § 6]
The Borough Council of Pottstown may appropriate funds for the
expenses incurred by the Council. Expenses may be expanded for those
administrative, clerical, printing and legal services as may be required
and as shall be within the limit of funds appropriated to the Council.
The whole or any part of any funds so appropriated in any year may
be placed in a conservation fund and allowed to accumulate from year
to year or may be expended in any year.
[Ord. 1966, 6/9/2003, § 7]
The Council shall look to the State Conservation Commission
for assistance which may include educational services, exchange of
information, assignment of technical personnel for natural resources
planning assistance, and the coordination of State and local conservation
activities. The Council shall look to the Department of Community
and Economic Development for assistance in planning for the management,
use and development of open space and recreation areas.
