[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Lower Providence 4-2-2020 by Ord. No. 665[1]. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance was adopted as Ch. 38 but was renumbered in order to retain the alphabetical organization of the Code.
The Environmental Advisory Council is hereby created and established in accordance with the provisions of 53 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2321 through 2329 relating to Environmental Advisory Councils as set forth herein.
[Amended 1-3-2023 by Ord. No. 675]
The Environmental Advisory Council shall be composed of seven residents of Lower Providence Township. Council members shall be appointed according to the following procedures:
A. 
All Council members shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors of Lower Providence Township.
B. 
Council members' terms of office shall expire on the first Monday in January following the last year of their term of office.
C. 
Council members shall serve a term of three years, except that appointments shall be staggered so that no more than three members' terms expire each year.
D. 
Whenever possible, one member shall also be a member of the local planning commission.
Members of the Environmental Advisory Council shall receive no compensation for their services, but may be reimbursed for the expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in performance of their duties, provided that such expenses have been preapproved by the Board of Supervisors. The Council may not contract separately for professional or vendor services but shall have access to Township professional services.
The Environmental Advisory Council is to be advisory to and shall coordinate its activities with the Board of Supervisors.
[Amended 1-3-2023 by Ord. No. 675]
The Environmental Advisory Council will have a Chairperson who shall be elected by Council membership annually during the first meeting of each calendar year. All other officers shall likewise be elected by Council membership.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall have the following powers:
A. 
Identify environmental issues and recommend plans and programs to the Board of Supervisors for the promotion and conservation of the natural resources and for the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment within Lower Providence Township.
B. 
Promote community programs that build environmental literacy among Township residents, community organizations and businesses.
C. 
Upon request of the Board of Supervisors, to keep an index of all open space areas, publicly or privately owned, including flood-prone areas, swamps and other unique natural areas, for the purpose of obtaining information on the proper use of those areas.
D. 
Upon request of the Board of Supervisors, to make recommendations regarding the acquisition of both real and personal property by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, easement, devise, or lease, in matters pertaining to the protection, conservation, management, promotion and use of the natural resources of the Township.
E. 
To undertake such environmental tasks as requested by the Board of Supervisors of Lower Providence Township.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report which shall be printed and made available to the public. Minutes of each meeting shall be forwarded to the governing body.
The Lower Providence Township Board of Supervisors may, from time to time, appropriate funds for the expenses incurred by the Environmental Advisory Council.