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[Amended 2-11-2013 by Ord. No. 7-2013 ]
The Diversity Board shall meet quarterly on a day and time approved by majority vote of the Board. The meetings of the Board shall be publicized and open to the public in accordance with the Sunshine Act.
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Copies of meeting minutes will be provided to the City Clerk's Office.
15. Editor's Note: See 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 701 et seq.
Part 11
Environmental Advisory Council
Environmental Advisory Council
[Adopted 3-24-2008 by Ord. No. 27-2008 (Ch. 1, Part 5N, of the 2001 Code of Ordinances)]
The Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) duly organized under these bylaws shall have the power to study environmental and sustainability issues at the request of City Council and make recommendations to Council on those issues. The EAC will work with City Council in an advisory capacity in an effort to help Council analyze environmental and sustainability issues and, when appropriate, issue recommendations on courses of action necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Berks County.
A. The EAC is composed of seven voting members, chosen to serve three-year staggered terms and appointed by City Council. These members shall reflect the geographic, demographic, technical, and nontechnical backgrounds of the citizens of Reading.
B. Removal of members. Any member may be removed for misconduct or neglect of duty or for other just cause by a majority vote of Council taken after the member has received 15 days' advance notice of the intent to take such vote. Failure of a member to attend three consecutive regular meetings of the EAC will constitute grounds for immediate removal from the EAC by City Council. Failure of a member to attend at least 50% of the regular meetings of the EAC in a calendar year will constitute grounds for immediate removal from the EAC by City Council. The Chairperson of the EAC shall inform the City Clerk in writing when a member has failed to comply with this attendance policy. Following such notification, City Council may vote to remove the member and seek applicants to fill the vacant position. [Amended 9-13-2010 by Ord. No. 67-2010; 8-26-2013 by Ord. No. 35-2013]
A. Monthly meetings. Regular meetings of the EAC will be determined by the membership of the EAC. Notices of an EAC meetings will be posted on the City of Reading website, the municipal access channel and, if necessary, a newspaper of general record.
B. Special meetings. Special meetings may be requested by the Chair, or by a majority of the EAC members. Such special meetings shall be held at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such a meeting.
C. Written or phone notice of such a special meeting shall be given by the Chair to the Advisory Council members at least five days and not more than 21 days prior to the meeting. City Council and the public shall be notified for such meetings in appropriate manner; i.e., posting the date, time and location on the City website, posting on the municipal access channel, sending a letter to City Council, etc.
D. Quorum. In the event a quorum is not present at any meeting, the members may reschedule the meeting for a later date with the required notice. A quorum shall consist of more than 2/3 of the current voting members. The act of the majority of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Council.
E. Voting. Each member is entitled to one vote, with the voting governed by parliamentary procedure according to Robert's Rules of Order.
F. Notes. Notes from meetings will be kept and copies of the meeting's notes will be sent to the City Clerk's Office and each member of the EAC.
G. All meetings or portions of meetings at which action is taken shall be open to the public.
However, the EAC may meet in closed session for discussion purposes, pursuant to the "Sunshine Act of 1987."16
16. Editor's Note: See 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 701 et seq.
A. Officers. The EAC shall elect from among their members a Chair and a Vice Chair at the first meeting of each calendar year. Officers shall serve for one year or until their successors are elected.
B. Chair. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Council and shall have the duties and powers normally invested in the Office of Chair. He/she shall enforce the bylaws and regulations of the EAC. He/she shall be the official spokesperson for the EAC.
C. Vice Chair. The Vice Chair shall carry out the Chair's duties in case of absence, incapacity, or resignation.
D. Secretary. The Secretary will be responsible for keeping the official minutes of the EAC and preparing all correspondence on behalf of the EAC.
E. Compensation. No EAC member shall receive any salary or payment for his/her services.
Financial support of the EAC can be provided by City Council through the authorization of an appropriation to the General Fund budget.
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17. Editor's Note: Amended during codification (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Part 2).
A. To coordinate at the request of Council ongoing, and to propose and promote new environmental protection and sustainability initiatives among residents, businesses, governmental and nongovernmental agencies, and educational organizations through education and outreach programs.
B. To advise and make recommendations to City Council, City Administration, and City boards, authorities and commissions on policies and programs that infuse the work of City government with an operating philosophy based on environmental protection and sustainability.
C. To recommend plans and programs to the appropriate agencies for promotion and conservation of natural resources and for the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment within the City of Reading and surrounding areas.
D. Make recommendations as to the possible use of open land areas within the City of Reading.
E. To promote community environmental awareness programs.
F. Keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including but not limited to, flood-prone areas, wetlands and other unique natural areas.
G. To prepare an annual report to City Council on its activities, goals and accomplishments.
H. For each issue that the EAC reviews, it will generate a report to City Council that sets forth its findings and dissenting opinions, if any.
I. To consult and cooperate with other agencies, departments, boards, authorities and commissions of the City of Reading on environmental matters.
A. The Environmental Advisory Council Bylaws will be drafted and adopted by City Council.
B. If at any time the established bylaws are determined to be at conflict with EAC activities or impose too great a set of constraints, the EAC may request City Council amend the bylaws. The request, along with specific recommendations, must be submitted to City Council in writing. Upon receiving a request for amendment, City Council will meet with representatives of the EAC to discuss the request. Amendments to the EAC bylaws must be approved by City Council through resolution.
C. City Council reserves the right to amend the bylaws of the EAC through the adoption of subsequent resolutions.
A. In addition to those required by law, the EAC may hold public hearings when the EAC and City Council decide that such hearings will be in the public interest.
B. Except as required by law, notice of the time and place of such hearings, when on matters of widespread interest, shall be published in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the territorial jurisdiction of the hearing, not earlier than two weeks prior to the hearing. For matters of limited territorial interest, notice shall be given in such manner as is deemed appropriate by the EAC.
C. The matter before the EAC shall be presented in summary by some person designated by the Chair, and parties in interest shall have privilege of the floor.
D. No record or statement shall be recorded or sworn to by the EAC as evidence for any court of law without notice to the parties mentioned in the record or statement.
E. A record shall be kept of those speaking before the EAC at such hearings.
F. Copies of all testimony and other evidence provided at a public hearing must be forwarded to the City Clerk's Office at the conclusion of the hearing.
A. No part of this Part 11 shall prohibit the Reading Environmental Advisory Council from cooperating with similar organizations in other jurisdictions.
B. In the interest of efficiency, the Reading Environmental Advisory Council may wish to form a joint board with other jurisdictions. Any merger shall be treated as an amendment of this Part 11 requiring the approval of City Council.
Part 12
Downtown Revitalization Public Private Partnership 18
Downtown Revitalization Public Private Partnership 18
[Adopted 7-23-2018 by Ord. No. 41-2018]
18. Former Chapter 23, Part 12, Main Street Program Board, repealed by Ord. No. 40-2018, adopted 7-23-2018.
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