[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
Pine 3-20-1992 by Ord. No. 191. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
In accordance with the authority granted by Act No. 148 of 1973 of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (53 P.S. § 11501 et seq.[1]), there is hereby established an Environmental Advisory Council
for the Township of Pine to advise the Township of Pine, its Board of Supervisors,
its Planning Commission and all other Pine Township elected or appointed boards
and officials on matters concerning the protection, conservation, management,
promotion and use of natural resources, including air, land and water resources,
located within Pine Township.
[1]
Editor's Note: See now 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 2322 et seq.
[Amended 2-22-2005 by Ord. No. 325]
The Environmental Advisory Council (the "Council") shall be composed of seven residents of the Township who shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Pine. Any vacancies on the Council shall be filled by appointments made by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Pine, and such appointments shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term of the previously vacant position. The initial appointments to the two additional positions on the Council created by the provisions of Ordinance No. 325 shall be for terms ending December 31, 2006, and December 31, 2007, respectively, so as to continue the overall staggering of terms established and otherwise required by Chapter 15 (§ 15-3) of the Code of the Township of Pine.
A.
Such appointed Council members shall serve for terms
of three years, except that initial appointments shall be so staggered so
that the terms of two persons shall expire in three years, the terms of two
persons shall expire in two years and the term of one person shall expire
in one year.
B.
The Supervisors of Pine Township shall designate the
Chairman of the Council annually as of each January 1 for the ensuing calendar
year.
Members of said Environmental Advisory Council shall receive no compensation
for their services but shall be reimbursed for such expenses actually and
necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties. The Board
of Supervisors of Pine Township shall have sole discretion and authority to
determine the appropriateness of expenses for which reimbursement is requested.
A.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall have the power
to:
(1)
Identify environmental problems and recommend plans and
programs for the promotion and conservation of the natural resources and for
the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment within the
Township of Pine.
(2)
Make recommendations as to the possible use of open land
areas of the Township of Pine.
(3)
Promote a community environmental program.
(4)
Keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately
owned, including but not limited to flood-prone areas, swamps and other unique
natural areas for the purpose of obtaining information on the proper use of
such areas.
(5)
Advise the appropriate local governmental agencies and
the Board of Supervisors in the acquisition of property, both real and personal,
by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, easement, devise or lease, in matters dealing
with the purposes of this chapter and Act 148 of 1973 (53 P.S. § 11501
et seq.[1]).
[1]
Editor's Note: See now 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 2322 et seq.
B.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall also have the
power, upon formal request from the Pine Township Board of Supervisors or
Planning Commission, to review any proposed municipal or park development
or any private development in excess of five acres, for purposes of rendering
an advisory opinion as to the effect such development will have upon the environment.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall not exercise any powers or
perform any duties which are conferred or imposed by law upon a state agency;
nor shall the Environmental Advisory Council exercise any powers or perform
any duties which are conferred upon the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Pine or which have been delegated or conferred by said Board of Supervisors
upon other local governmental agencies, officials or boards. All action and
work of the Environmental Advisory Council is strictly advisory only and shall
not in any way be binding on the Board of Supervisors of Pine Township or
any of the Township's other local governmental agencies, officials, boards
or persons.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall keep records of its meetings
and activities and shall make an annual report, which shall be printed in
the Annual Township Report and which shall otherwise be available for public
inspection.
The Board of Supervisors of the Township of Pine may appropriate funds
for the expenses incurred by the Environmental Advisory Council. Appropriations
may be expended for such administrative, clerical, printing and legal services
as may from time to time be required. The Board of Supervisors of Pine Township
shall have the sole authority and discretion to determine the appropriateness
of such expenses and may require that proposed expenditures by the Council
be submitted for advance approval by the Board of Supervisors. The whole or
any part of any funds so appropriated by the Township in any year may be placed
in a conservation fund and allowed to accumulate from year to year and/or
be expended in any year.
