[Ord. 681, 8/28/2008, § 1]
The Warminster Township Environmental Advisory Council is hereby
created, having the powers and operating procedures set forth in this
Part 2E, and shall continue in existence until this Part 2E is revoked.
[Ord. 681, 8/28/2008, § 2; as amended by Ord. No. 761, 3/5/2020]
The Environmental Advisory Council shall be advisory to, and
shall coordinate its activities with, the Board of Supervisors, Planning
Commission, Historical Preservation Board, and any other Township
agencies, committees or boards.
[Ord. 681, 8/28/2008, § 3]
The Environmental Advisory Council shall have the following
powers:
A.
To identify environmental problems and recommend plans and programs
to the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, and other committees
and boards of the Township for the promotion and conservation of the
natural resources and for the protection and improvement of the quality
of the environment within the Township.
B.
To make recommendations as to the possible use of open land areas
of the Township.
C.
To promote a community environmental program, with particular emphasis
on reducing carbon emissions and nonrecycled waste.
D.
To keep an index of all open space areas, publicly or privately owned,
including, but not limited to, flood-prone areas, wetlands and other
unique natural areas, for the purpose of obtaining information on
the proper use of such areas.
E.
To advise local governmental agencies, including, but not limited
to, the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and Park, Recreation
and Conservation Board, on matters dealing with the protection, conservation,
management, promotion, acquisition and use of natural resources, including
air, land, water and open space resources located within or affecting
Warminster Township.
[Ord. 681, 8/28/2008, § 4]
1.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall be composed of at least
five, but no more than seven, residents of the Township who shall
be appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Any vacancies in the membership
of the Council shall be filled by the Board of Supervisors.
2.
Duly appointed Council members shall serve for a term of three years,
except that the initial appointments to the Council shall be so staggered
that the terms of approximately 1/3 of the membership shall expire
each year, the terms of their successors to be three years each. Council
members' terms of office shall expire on the first Monday in January
following the last of their terms of office.
3.
The Board of Supervisors shall designate the Chairperson of the Council.
The Council may elect such other officers having specific responsibilities
as the Council determines necessary to effectively carry out the Council's
powers.
4.
Whenever possible, one member of the Council shall also be a member
of the Warminster Township Planning Commission.
5.
Members may be removed by the Board of Supervisors, with or without
the recommendation of a majority of the other Council members, for
malfeasance or neglect in the performance of their duties. Failure
to attend either three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings or
four regularly scheduled meetings during a twelve-month period shall
constitute neglect. The Board of Supervisors shall appoint successors
to members who resign or are removed to serve for the remaining term
of the member or members.
[Ord. 681, 8/28/2008, § 5]
Members of the Council 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, provided that
the expenses have the prior approval of the Board of Supervisors and/or
the Township Manager.
[Ord. 681, 8/28/2008, § 6]
The Council shall keep records of its meetings and activities
and shall make an annual report, which shall be made available in
a manner consistent with the availability of annual reports by councils
and committees of Warminster Township, including the Board of Supervisors.
[Ord. 681, 8/28/2008, § 7]
1.
The Board of Supervisors may appropriate funds for the expenses incurred
by the Council. Appropriations may be expended for such administrative,
clerical, printing and legal services as may from time to time be
required and as shall be within the limit of funds appropriated to
the Council. The whole or part of any funds so appropriated in any
year may be placed in a conservation fund allowed to accumulate from
year to year or be expended in any year.
2.
The Council may seek funding for specific programs and projects pursued
by the Council on behalf of the Township with the approval of the
Board of Supervisors. Sources of funding include grants and other
forms of financial assistance from county and state agencies.
