An advisory council to be known as the "Westtown Township Environmental
Advisory Council" is hereby created and shall continue to function
until this chapter is revoked.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall be composed of seven
residents of this Township.
Council members shall be appointed in accordance with the following
procedures:
A. All
council members shall be appointed by the Township Board of Supervisors.
B. Council
members' terms of office shall expire on the first Monday in
January following the last year of their term of office. Members shall
be eligible for reappointment at the end of their respective terms.
C. Duly
appointed Council members shall serve a term of three years, except
that initial appointments shall be so staggered that the terms of
approximately 1/3 of the membership shall expire each year, pursuant
to a resolution which will i) establish the initial number of Council
members, ii) appoint the initial members, and iii) designate the various
terms for each initial member.
D. Whenever
possible, one member shall also be a member of the Township Planning
Commission.
E. The
Board of Supervisors shall designate the Chairman of the Council.
Council members shall receive no compensation for their services,
but may be reimbursed for authorized expenses actually and necessarily
incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
The Environmental Advisory Council is to be advisory to the
Board of Supervisors and shall coordinate its activities with the
Township Manager or his/her designee.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall have the following
powers:
A. Identify
environmental problems, issues, or matters of concern.
B. Recommend
plans and programs to the appropriate agencies for the promotion and
conservation of the natural resources and for the protection and improvement
of the quality of the environment within the area of the Township.
C. Make
recommendations as to the possible use of open land areas of the Township.
D. Promote
a community environmental program.
E. Keep
an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including,
but not limited to, flood-prone areas, wetlands, swamps, and other
unique natural areas, including but not limited to areas of steep
slope and wooded areas.
F. Advise
the appropriate agencies of the Township in the acquisition of property,
both real and personal.
G. Undertake
such environmental tasks as requested by the Township Board of Supervisors.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall keep records of its
meetings and activities and shall prepare an annual report of its
activities.
The Township Board of Supervisors may, from time to time, appropriate
funds for the expenses incurred by the Council.