[Ord. 2-2009, 9/9/2009]
In order to recognize the significance of locating, naming and
preserving historical resources within the boundaries of Lower Oxford
Township, for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of the people,
including future generations, this Part creates an Historical Commission.
[Ord. 2-2009, 9/9/2009]
Lower Oxford Township, by and through its Board of Supervisors,
hereby establishes the Lower Oxford Township Historical Commission,
which shall be governed by the regulations and duties hereinafter
set forth. The Historical Commission shall fully cooperate with the
Board of Supervisors and the Township officials in all matters.
[Ord. 2-2009, 9/9/2009]
The Historical Commission shall serve as an advisory and information-gathering body for the purpose of identifying, collecting and preserving the historical resources in the Township. The specific duties and limitation of duties of the Commission are listed below and in § 1-506, Financial Operations. The Commission shall:
1.
Identify significant architectural and natural sites which reflect
the history of the Township. Research the history of the Township
from the native Americans to the present day, including all cultural,
agricultural, business, educational and religious endeavors.
2.
Notify owners, in writing, of identified significant sites and request
permission to gather historical information about the site, after
giving written notice to the Board of Supervisors.
3.
Collect significant data, including, but not limited to, maps, pictures,
and written records, of identified sites. Prepare written documentation
recording the history of the Township.
4.
Preserve and file all collected data for current and future research
use by the Township residents.
5.
Create and maintain an awareness of the Township history for Township
residents. Propose for approval by the Board of Supervisors a system
to mark historic sites, including purchase, installation and care
of markers as well as associated costs thereof.
6.
Act as an advisory resource for owners of historic sites who are
involved in the preservation and/or restoration of their sites. This
includes the following items:
A.
Advise owners regarding availability and application for technical
and financial assistance from all appropriate local, county, state,
federal and other agencies for the purpose of preservation and/or
restoration.
B.
Advise owners regarding nomination to the National Register of Historic
Places in accordance with the provisions of the Federal National Historical
Preservation Act of 1996, as amended.
7.
Cooperate with and enlist assistance from the National Park Service,
the National Historic Trust for Historic Preservation, the Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum Commission and other local, county, state and
national historical societies, conservancies and other agencies, public
and private, concerned with historical and/or architectural preservation.
8.
Advise the Board of Supervisors of contemplated activities and actions
through reports, meeting minutes, and other documentation which may
be requested by the Board of Supervisors.
9.
At the request of the Board of Supervisors, prepare reports or presentations
which address matters of interest to the Township.
[Ord. 2-2009, 9/9/2009]
The Historical Commission does not have the authority to act
in any matter on behalf of the Township or any property owner unless
specifically authorized in writing by the Board of Supervisors and,
when applicable, the property owner.
1.
The Historical Commission shall not undertake any review or activities
with respect to any property unless the owner of the site gives permission
in writing. If the property changes owners, the new owner must give
written permission before the Historical Commission's activities
related to the property may continue.
2.
An owner of an identified historic site shall determine what, how
and when to preserve, restore or adaptively reuse the property or
building(s). If, upon seeking advice from the Historical Commission,
the owner of the site decides that the historic review process shall
not continue, then the Historical Commission shall stop all activities
related to that property. The owner shall send written notice of this
decision to both the Historical Commission and the Board of Supervisors.
[Ord. 2-2009, 9/9/2009]
The Historical Commission shall consist of five members, all
of whom shall be residents of the Township.
1.
The members shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors and shall
serve at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors, unless removed
by the Board of Supervisors.
2.
Each member shall serve a term of office for three years, except
for the initial term which shall be as follows: two members appointed
for one year, two members appointed for two years, and one member
appointed for three years.
A.
The Commission shall elect annually a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson,
Secretary, and Treasurer. One person may fill the Secretary and Treasurer
positions.
3.
Each member shall serve without compensation, but members may be reimbursed for expenses in accordance with the procedures contained in § 1-506, Financial Operations, below.
4.
A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled by a Township resident
appointed by the Board of Supervisors for the unexpired term. The
Commission may make nonbinding recommendations for appointees to the
Board of Supervisors for vacancies, as well as unfulfilled or full
terms.
5.
The Historical Commission shall have the right to establish non-Commission
committees as necessary to carry out their responsibilities. Members
of committees may be nonresidents of the Township or residents of
the Township who are not Historical Commission members. Committee
members may be chosen for their expertise in a specific field. A member
of the Historical Commission shall chair each committee. Said committee
appointments must be submitted for approval to the Board of Supervisors
prior to establishment.
6.
The Historical Commission shall hold publicly advertised meetings
on a monthly or other recurrent basis, as approved by the Board of
Supervisors. The purpose of the meetings is to conduct the business
of the Commission. The Historical Commission shall adopt rules and
regulations for the conduct of its business, which shall be submitted
to the Board of Supervisors.
7.
The Historical Commission, may, with the consent of the Board of
Supervisors, utilize any personnel or other assistance made available
from the county, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the federal government,
or any of their agencies, or from any other private or public sources.
The Board of Supervisors may enter into agreements or contracts regarding
the acceptance or utilization of such personnel or other assistance
as may be available but is not required to do so.
[Ord. 2-2009, 9/9/2009]
Funding for Historical Commission activities may come from the
Township or other outside sources.
1.
The Historical Commission shall annually submit a plan of activities
and a proposed budget to the Board of Supervisors during the regular
Township budget process.
A.
Funds for the expenses to be incurred by the Historical Commission
shall, at the sole discretion of the Board of Supervisors, be appropriated
by the Board of Supervisors. Due to the advisory nature of the Historical
Commission, the Township has no obligation to provide any substantial
financial funds to it.
B.
The Historical Commission may expend monies for such administrative, clerical, printing and legal services as may from time to time be required, but its expenditure shall be limited to the amount of funds appropriated to it by the Board of Supervisors or otherwise obtained from other sources as provided in this § 1-506, Financial Operations. All expenditures of the Historical Commission shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Supervisors prior to being expended, including any amount budgeted by the Board of Supervisors for the Commission.
(1)
Any fees for legal or other professional services, which shall
be proposed or actually incurred and which directly benefit a specific
owner or owners of historical site(s), shall be paid with non-Township
funds or by reimbursement from the owner(s). Prior to incurring the
expense, the Historical Commission shall procure a written estimate
of proposed fees; make this estimate available to the historical site
owner(s); shall advise the owner(s) of the current-year reimbursement
percentage figure available from non-Township funds; and shall request
and receive the owner's written agreement to pay the unreimbursed
costs and the owner's written permission to proceed with the
service(s).
(2)
The Historical Commission shall advise the Board of Supervisors,
as part of the annual budget process, of the percentage of professional
fees which directly benefit a specific owner or owners of historical
site(s) which shall be reimbursed by non-Township funds for the upcoming
fiscal year. This reimbursement percentage figure, used to calculate
the reimbursement amount from non-Township funds, shall be used for
each such historical site project investigated during the fiscal year.
This reimbursement percentage figure shall not change during the fiscal
year, unless authorized by the Board of Supervisors.
(3)
A list of proposed expenses, including individual member expenses,
shall be included as part of the annual budget process. The expense
list shall include, but is not limited to, automobile mileage, other
transportation expense, postage, copying and reproduction, office
supplies, equipment and furniture, membership fees, subscriptions,
legal and professional fees. As part of the budget approval process,
the Board of Supervisors shall designate what, if any, portions of
the proposed Historical Commission budget the Township will fund.
C.
Members may be reimbursed for expenses actually and necessarily incurred
by them in the performance of their duties and in the conduct of Historical
Commission business. No reimbursement shall occur unless the specific
itemized expense was approved by the Board of Supervisors prior to
its being incurred. Reimbursement shall only occur when authorized
by the Chairman of the Historical Commission and approved by the Board
of Supervisors.
2.
The Historical Commission may, with the consent of the Board of Supervisors,
utilize any funds made available from the county, the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania or the federal government, or any of their agencies,
or from any other private or public sources.
3.
Accounting for the receipt of any funds and for the expenditure thereof
shall be pursuant to such regulations as the Board of Supervisors
may adopt.
4.
Unless specifically authorized by the Board of Supervisors, the Historical
Commission shall not establish any separate bank or other account
for the deposit or accumulation of funds.
5.
The Board of Supervisors may enter into agreements or contracts regarding
the acceptance or utilization of such funds as may be available.
[Ord. 2-2009, 9/9/2009]
This Part shall become effective 10 days from enactment and
upon appointment of at least three members to the Historical Commission
by the Board of Supervisors.
