[Ord. 2007-06, 7/16/2007, § I]
This Part 4D shall be known as and may be cited as the "Open
Space Committee Ordinance."
[Ord. 2007-06, 7/16/2007, § II]
There is hereby created an Open Space Committee, to be known
as the "Lower Mount Bethel Township Open Space Committee" (the "Committee").
[Ord. 2007-06, 7/16/2007, § III]
The Committee shall advise the Board on matters relating to
the protection, conservation, management, promotion, acquisition and
use of open space resources in the Township. Specifically, the Committee
is tasked with developing an Open Space Plan ("Plan") for the Township
as directed by the Board. The Committee shall outline conservation
options in the plan, research land acquisition methods and sources
of funding, establish a system to track ownership patterns, and assess
conservation priorities. The plan shall include procedures for reviewing
open space property interests considered for acquisition by the Township,
for rating the relative desirability of interests in particular parcels
of real estate, and for establishing the price the Township will pay.
The Committee shall also review properties located in the Township
and designate suitable properties for open space uses within the plan.
Once the plan is implemented by the Board, the Committee shall evaluate
the success of the plan and recommend changes as necessary to the
Board.
[Ord. 2007-06, 7/16/2007, § IV]
1.
The Committee shall be composed of not fewer than five and not more
than nine residents of the Township who shall be appointed by the
Board. The chairperson of the Committee may recommend potential members
to the Board. However, if the composition of the Committee at any
time shall be fewer than five members, it shall be allowable for it
to continue to operate while the Board seeks to increase the number
of members on the Committee.
2.
Members shall be from as many different regions of the Township as
reasonably practicable.
[Ord. 2007-06, 7/16/2007, § V]
1.
Members of the Committee shall serve for a term of three years, except
that the Board shall stagger the terms of the initial members so the
terms of approximately one-third of the members will expire each year.
2.
Any member may resign from the Committee at any time with written
notice to the Board.
3.
Any member may be removed from the Committee by the Board for malfeasance
or neglect in the performance of his or her duties or for any other
reason as determined by the Board in its discretion.
4.
The Board shall endeavor to appoint a successor to any member who
resigns or is removed from the Committee to serve for the balance
of that member's term.
[Ord. 2007-06, 7/16/2007, § VI]
1.
The first organizational meeting of the Committee shall be held within
90 days of the date this Part 4D is enacted at which time the Committee
shall elect a chairperson and such other officers as may be appropriate
from the membership of the Committee in its discretion. Thereafter,
at the first meeting of each year the Committee shall elect from its
membership a chairperson and such other officers as may be appropriate
for the orderly conduct of its business. The Committee may adopt by-laws,
rules and regulations governing its procedures, provided that they
are consistent with the relevant provisions of the Second Class Township
Code, 53 P.S. § 65101 et seq., State law, regulations adopted
pursuant thereto, and other Township ordinances.
2.
The Committee shall hold regular and special meetings at such times
and places as it shall designate.
3.
The Committee shall maintain minutes of all meetings and provide
those minutes to the Board of Supervisors promptly following each
such meeting.
[Ord. 2007-06, 7/16/2007, § VII]
1.
The Board may appropriate funds for expenses incurred by the Committee
in accordance with an annual, approved Committee budget. Appropriations
may be expended for such administrative, clerical, printing and legal
services as may from time to time be required and approved by the
Board, and shall be within the limits of the annual budget.
2.
The Board will be the final approving authority for any open space
acquisitions.
3.
The fiscal year of the Committee shall conform to that of the Township.
[Ord. 2007-06, 7/16/2007, § VIII]
The Committee shall submit an annual report of its activities
to the Board not later than July 1, of each year covering activities
during the prior one-year period, and shall submit such other written
and verbal reports as may be requested by the Board.
