[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Narberth 8-15-2018 by Ord. No. 1007. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to the powers granted by 53 Pa.C.S.A § 2322 et seq., an Environmental Advisory Council is hereby established by the Borough of Narberth to be designated as the "Narberth Environmental Advisory Council" and shall continue to be in existence until this chapter is revoked.
A. 
The Borough Council shall appoint all members of the Environmental Advisory Council. The Environmental Advisory Council shall consist of seven members. The term of each of member of the Environmental Advisory Council shall be for three years or until a successor is appointed. The terms of the initial appointments shall be staggered so that at least one member's term expires each year, with the term of such member's successor or reappointment being for three years. The Chairperson of the Environmental Advisory Council shall promptly notify Borough Council of any vacancies on the Environmental Advisory Council, and such vacancy shall be filled by the Borough Council for the unexpired term.
[Amended 7-17-2019 by Ord. No. 1017; 7-15-2020 by Ord. No. 1025]
B. 
All members of the Environmental Advisory Council shall be residents of the Borough of Narberth. Members may be permitted to hold positions on other Borough citizen committees, boards, or councils.
C. 
The members of Environmental Advisory Council shall serve without compensation, but they may be reimbursed for expenses necessary to carry out the objectives of the Environmental Advisory Council when those expenses are deemed necessary and appropriate and have been approved by the Borough Council and appropriated in the annual budget.
D. 
A member of the Environmental Advisory Council may be removed from office by a majority vote of Borough Council. Any appointment to fill a vacancy created by a removal shall be only for the unexpired term.
A. 
Borough Council shall designate the Chairperson of the Environmental Advisory Council. Upon approval by Borough Council, the Environmental Advisory Council shall create and fill other offices as it deems proper and alter its rules of procedure consistent with the ordinances of the Borough and laws of the commonwealth.
B. 
The Environmental Advisory Council shall keep records of its resolutions, transactions, findings, and determinations, and such records shall be public records, subject to the exceptions of the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq., and when in executive session pursuant to the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 708.
C. 
A majority of the Environmental Advisory Council shall constitute a quorum, and action taken at any meeting shall require the affirmative vote of that majority.
A. 
The Environmental Advisory Council shall serve as an advisory body to Borough Council, the Narberth Borough Planning Commission, and other similar Borough agencies, and shall refer their conclusions, recommendations and opinions to Borough Council for appropriate action. The Environmental Advisory Council shall coordinate its activities, actions, and programs with all appropriate Borough agencies.
B. 
The duties of the Environmental Advisory Council shall be:
(1) 
To identify threats to the environment and the ecosystems that support healthy lives, whether human, animal, plant, or other. Relevant threats may originate in Narberth, affect Narberth, or both.
(2) 
To recommend plans and programs for the conservation and enhancement of Narberth Borough's natural resources and for the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment within and around Narberth Borough.
(3) 
To make recommendations as to the possible use of open land areas, or potential open land areas, within Narberth Borough.
(4) 
To promote a community environmental program.
(5) 
To keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including, but not limited to, flood-prone areas, swamps, and other important natural areas within Narberth Borough for the purpose of obtaining information on the proper use of such areas.
(6) 
To advise the appropriate agencies, boards, commissions and elected officials of the Borough in the acquisition of property, both real and personal, by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, easement, devise or lease, that may have environmental implications.
(7) 
To undertake such environmental tasks as may be requested by the Borough Council. These tasks may include, but are not limited to:
(a) 
Providing technical expertise on environmental aspects of subdivisions and land developments generally and providing environmental advice on specific projects or properties upon request of Borough Council.
(b) 
Recommending plans and programs for the conservation and enhancement of the natural resources of the Borough and for the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment within the Borough.
(c) 
Exploring sources of funding, including, but not limited to, gifts and grants. The Environmental Advisory Council shall consult with the Borough Solicitor regarding the legal implications connected with receiving funding from sources other than the Borough.
C. 
The Environmental Advisory Council shall not exercise any powers or perform any duties which by law are conferred or imposed upon a commonwealth agency or Borough Council.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall keep a full record of its business and shall no less than annually make a written report of its activities to the Borough Council. Interim reports may be made as often as may be necessary or as requested by the Borough Council.
Borough Council may appropriate funds, as may be necessary and available, for the expenses expected to be incurred by the Environmental Advisory Council in the year the appropriation is made. Such appropriations may be expended for administrative, clerical, printing and legal services as may be required and as shall be within the funding limits appropriated to the Environmental Advisory Council.