(a)
Composition. There shall be a board of supervisors of five members
elected at large by the qualified voters of the township.
(b)
Eligibility. Only qualified voters of the township shall be eligible
to hold the office of supervisor.
(c)
Election and Terms. The regular election of supervisors shall be
held on the general municipal election day as established from time
to time by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, commencing
in the year 1975. At the first election under this charter (1975),
three supervisors shall be elected; the two candidates receiving the
greatest number of votes shall serve for terms of four years, and
the one candidate receiving the next greatest number of votes shall
serve for a term of two years. At the next regular election, two supervisors
shall be elected, for terms of four years. Commencing at the next
regular election and at all subsequent regular elections, either two
or three supervisors shall be elected to serve terms of four years
as required to replace supervisors whose terms are expiring and in
order to maintain the number of supervisors at five.
The board of supervisors may determine the annual salary of
supervisors by ordinance, but no ordinance increasing such salary
shall become effective until the date of commencement of the terms
of supervisors elected at the next regular election, provided that
such election follows the adoption of such ordinance by at least six
months. Supervisors shall receive reimbursement for their actual and
necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties of
office.
The board of supervisors shall elect from among its members
officers of the township who shall have the titles of chairman and
vice chairman, each of whom shall serve at the pleasure of the board
of supervisors. The chairman shall preside at meetings of the board
of supervisors, shall be recognized as head of the township government
for all ceremonial purposes and by the governor for purposes of military
law, but shall have no administrative duties. The vice chairman shall
act as chairman during the absence or disability of the chairman.
All powers of the township shall be vested in the board of supervisors,
except as otherwise provided by law or this charter, and the board
of supervisors shall provide for the exercise thereof and for the
performance of all duties and obligations imposed on the township
by law.
(a)
Holding Other Office. Except where authorized by State or Federal
law, no supervisor shall hold any other municipal office or employment
during the term for which he was elected to the board of supervisors,
and no former supervisor shall hold any compensated appointive township
office or employment until one year after the expiration of the term
for which he was elected to the board of supervisors.
(b)
Appointments and Removals. Neither the board of supervisors nor any
of its members shall in any manner dictate the appointment or removal
of any township administrative officers or employees whom the township
manager or any of his subordinates are empowered to appoint, but the
board of supervisors may express its views and fully and freely discuss
with the manager anything pertaining to appointment and removal of
such officers and employees.
(c)
Interference with Administration. Except for the purpose of inquiries
and investigations under section 309, the board of supervisors or
its members shall deal with the township officers and employees who
are subject to the direction and supervision of the manager solely
through the manager, and neither the board of supervisors nor its
members shall give orders to any such officer or employee, either
publicly or privately.
(a)
Vacancies. The office of a supervisor shall become vacant upon his
death, resignation, removal from office in any manner authorized by
law, or forfeiture of his office.
(b)
Forfeiture of Office. A supervisors shall forfeit his office if he
(1) lacks at any time during his term of office any qualification
for the office prescribed by this charter or by law; (2) violates
any express prohibition of this charter; (3) is convicted of a crime
involving moral turpitude; or (4) fails to attend three consecutive
regular meetings of the board of supervisors without being excused
by the board of supervisors.
(c)
Filling of Vacancies. If a vacancy shall occur in the office of the
board of supervisors for any reason set forth in this charter, the
remaining members of the board of supervisors shall fill such vacancy
by appointing a person qualified under this charter to hold such office
for the unexpired term thereof. If the board of supervisors shall
refuse, fail or neglect, or be unable for any reason whatsoever, to
fill such vacancy within forty-five (45) days after the vacancy occurs,
then the Court of Common Pleas shall, upon petition of the board of
supervisors or of any five (5) citizens of the township, fill the
vacancy in such office by the appointment of a qualified resident
of the township for the unexpired term of the office. Notwithstanding
the requirement in section 310 that a quorum of the board of supervisors
consists of three (3) members, if at any time the membership of the
board of supervisors is reduced to less than three (3), the remaining
members may by majority action appoint additional members to raise
the membership to three (3).
The board of supervisors shall be the judge of the election
and qualifications of its members and of the grounds for forfeiture
of their office and for that purpose shall have power to subpoena
witnesses, administer oaths and require the production of evidence.
A member charged with conduct constituting grounds for forfeiture
of his office shall be entitled to a public hearing on demand, and
notice of such hearing shall be published in one or more newspapers
of general circulation in the township at least two (2) weeks in advance
of the hearing. Decisions made by the board of supervisors under this
section shall be subject to review by the courts.
The board of supervisors may appoint an officer of the township
who shall have the title of township clerk. The township clerk shall
give notice of board of supervisors' meetings to its members
and the public, keep the journal of its proceedings and perform such
other duties as are assigned to him by this charter or by the board
of supervisors.
The board of supervisors may make investigations into the affairs
of the township and the conduct of any township department, office
or agency and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer
oaths, take testimony and require the production of evidence. Any
person who fails or refuses to obey a lawful order issued in the exercise
of these powers by the board of supervisors shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
and punishable by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars ($300.00),
or by imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days, or both.
(a)
Meetings. The board of supervisors shall meet regularly at least
once in every month at such times and places as the board of supervisors
may prescribe by rule. Special meetings may be held on the call of
the chairman or of three (3) or of more members and upon no less than
twenty-four (24) hours notice to each member. All meetings shall be
public; however, the board of supervisors may recess for the purpose
of discussing in a closed or executive session limited to its own
membership any matter which would tend to defame or prejudice the
character or reputation of any person, provided that the general subject
matter for consideration is expressed in the motion calling for such
session and that final action thereon shall not be taken by the board
of supervisors except in public meeting.
(b)
Rules and Journal. The board of supervisors shall determine its own
rules and order of business and shall provide for keeping a journal
of its proceedings. This journal shall be a public record.
(c)
Voting. Voting, except on procedural motions, shall be by roll call
and the ayes and nays shall be recorded in the journal. Three (3)
members of the board of supervisors shall constitute a quorum, but
a smaller number may adjourn from time to time and may compel the
attendance of absent members in the manner and subject to the penalties
prescribed by the rules of the board of supervisors. No action of
the board of supervisors, except as otherwise provided in the preceding
sentence and in section 306, shall be valid or binding unless adopted
by the affirmative vote of three (3) or more members of the board
of supervisors.
