[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Bethlehem 3-21-2022 by Ord. No. 01-22. Amendments noted where applicable.]
An advisory council to be known as the "Bethlehem 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:
A. 
Nine residents of Bethlehem Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania (the "Council Members") comprising:
(1) 
Seven Council Members with voting power (the "Voting Council Members");
(2) 
One nonvoting Council Member enrolled as a high school student (the "Junior Council Member"); and
(3) 
One nonvoting Council Member enrolled in a college or university (the "Associate Council Member").
B. 
One nonvoting, adult representative residing in a neighboring Northampton County municipality (the "Neighboring Representative").
Council Members shall be appointed in accordance with the following procedures:
A. 
All Council Members and the Neighboring Representative shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners of Bethlehem Township.
B. 
Voting Council Members' terms of office shall expire on the first Monday in January following the last year of their term of office.
C. 
Duly appointed Voting 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.
D. 
Whenever possible, one Voting Council Member shall also be a member of the Bethlehem Township Planning Commission, and one Voting Council Member shall also be a member of the Board of Commissioners of Bethlehem Township.
E. 
The Junior Council Member, Associate Council Member and Neighboring Representative shall serve a term of one year concluding on the First Monday in January following their year in office.
Council Members and Neighboring Representative shall receive no compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for the expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
The Environmental Advisory Council is to be advisory to and shall coordinate its activities with the Board of Commissioners of Bethlehem Township, Bethlehem Township staff, Bethlehem Township Planning Commission, and other local governmental agencies.
The Board of Commissioners of Bethlehem Township shall designate the Chairperson from the Voting Council Members of the Environmental Advisory Council.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall have the power to:
A. 
Identify environmental problems and 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 Bethlehem Township.
B. 
Make recommendations as to the possible use of open land areas within Bethlehem Township.
C. 
Promote a community environmental program.
D. 
Keep an index of all open 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.
E. 
Advise the Bethlehem Township Planning Commission, Recreation Board, Board of Commissioners or other relevant appointed bodies within Bethlehem Township in the acquisition of both real and personal property by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, easement, devise or lease, in matters dealing with agricultural preservation, open space, and recreation.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report, which shall be printed in an annual municipal report or otherwise made publicly available. Minutes of each meeting shall be promptly forwarded to the Board of Commissioners of Bethlehem Township.
The Board of Commissioners of Bethlehem Township may, from time to time, appropriate funds for the expenses incurred by the Environmental Advisory Council. Appropriations may be expended for those administrative, professional, clerical, printing, engineering and legal services as may be required. The whole or any part of any funds so appropriated in any year may be placed in a conservation fund and allowed to accumulate from year to year or may be expended in any year.