Title 53, MUNICIPALITIES GENERALLY

(a) Absorption of certain firefighters.--Notwithstanding the provisions of the act of May 23, 1907 (P.L.206, No.167), entitled "An act to regulate and improve the civil service of the cities of the second class in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; making violations of its provisi…

This subchapter applies to all municipal corporations.

The governing body of any municipal corporation or group of two or more municipal corporations may by ordinance establish an environmental advisory council to advise other local governmental agencies, including, but not limited to, the planning commission, park and recreation boa…

(a) Composition.--An environmental advisory council shall be composed of no less than three nor more than seven residents of the municipal corporation establishing the council, who shall be appointed and all vacancies filled by the governing body. Where two or more municipal corp…

(a) General rule.--An environmental advisory council shall have the power to: (1) 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…

An environmental advisory council shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall make an annual report which shall be printed in the annual report of the municipal corporation or, if none, otherwise made known and available.

The governing body of any municipal corporation establishing an environmental advisory council may appropriate funds for the expenses incurred by the council. Appropriations may be expended for those administrative, clerical, printing and legal services as may be required and as …

This subchapter shall not be construed to require a municipal corporation to abolish an existing commission with a related responsibility or to prevent its establishment.

The State Conservation Commission shall establish a program of assistance to environmental advisory councils that may include educational services, exchange of information, assignment of technical personnel for natural resources planning assistance and the coordination of State a…

The Department of Community and Economic Development shall establish a program of assistance to environmental advisory councils in planning for the management, use and development of open space and recreation areas. (May 5, 1998, P.L.301, No.50, eff. 60 days)

(a) Short title of subchapter.--This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the Regional Planning Law. (b) Scope of subchapter.--This subchapter applies to all municipalities, but it shall not operate as a reenactment of any provisions repealed by section 1202 of the act o…

The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Commission." A regional planning commission created in accordance with the terms of this subchapter. "Governing body…

For the purpose of promoting health, safety, morals and the general welfare of the regions in this Commonwealth through effective development, the powers set forth in this subchapter for the establishment of regional planning commissions are granted.

(a) General rule.--The governing body of two or more municipalities may, by ordinance or resolution, authorize the establishment or membership in and support of a regional planning commission. The number and qualifications of the members of any commission and their terms and meth…

(a) General rule.--The governing bodies of municipalities may appropriate funds for the purpose of contributing to the operation of the commission. The commission may, with the consent of all the governing bodies, also receive grants from the Federal or State governments or from …

The commission shall prepare a master plan, and the surveys and studies essential thereto, for the guidance of the physical development of the region.

The commission shall encourage the cooperation of the municipalities within the region in matters which concern the integrity of the master plan or maps prepared by the commission, and, as an aid toward coordination, all municipalities and public officials shall, upon request, fu…

Whenever a regional planning commission has been or is being established to serve the Pennsylvania portion of an area which, for planning purposes, constitutes a logical region as approved by the State Planning Board and which extends beyond the boundaries of this Commonwealth, t…

(a) Short title of chapter.--This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Environmental Improvement Compact Act. (b) Scope of chapter.--This chapter applies to all municipalities.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Board." The Environmental Improvement Compact Board elected under this chapter. "Election officials." The county boards…

A referendum on the question of the creation of an environmental improvement compact may be initiated by electors of two or more municipalities as provided in this chapter.

(a) Filing.--A petition containing a proposal for referendum on the question of adopting an environmental improvement compact on one or more municipal functions, signed by electors comprising 2% of the number of electors voting for the office of Governor in the last gubernatorial…

The election officials shall, within ten days after filing, review the initiative petition as to the number and qualifications of signers. If the petition appears to be defective, the election officials shall immediately notify the person filing the petition of the defect.

The initiative petition as submitted to the election officials along with the list of signatories shall be open to public inspection in the office of the election officials.

When the election officials find that the petition as submitted is in proper order, they shall send copies of the initiative petition without signatures thereon to the governing body of the municipalities involved and to the Department of Community and Economic Development. (May …

The governing bodies of two or more municipalities may, by ordinance in each municipality, provide for a referendum on the question of adopting an environmental improvement compact. The ordinance shall designate a five, seven or nine member board.

(a) Election officials.--The referendum ordinance shall be filed with the election officials at least 90 days prior to the next primary or general election. (b) Department of Community and Economic Development.--When the ordinances are filed with the election officials, copies of…

The election officials shall notify the governing bodies of the municipalities involved of the date set for the referendum election on the proposal at least 30 days before the election.

(a) Authorization.--A referendum on the question of the adoption of an environmental improvement compact shall be held when initiated by electors of the municipalities in accordance with Subchapter B (relating to initiative) or after authorization by ordinance of the governing bo…

When the election officials find the ordinances authorized by the governing bodies of the municipalities or the initiative petition as submitted by the electors meets the requirements of this chapter, they shall place the proposal on the ballot in a manner fairly representing the…

The election officials shall certify the date for the referendum and shall so notify the governing bodies of the municipalities at least 30 days prior to that date.

At least 30 days' notice of the referendum shall be given by proclamation of the mayors of the cities, boroughs or incorporated towns, by the chairmen of the boards of county commissioners, by the presidents of the boards of township commissioners or by the chairmen of the boards…

Approval of a referendum for the adoption of an environmental improvement compact shall be by a majority vote of those voting in each municipality involved.

The election officials shall certify the results of the referendum to the governing bodies and the Department of Community and Economic Development. (May 5, 1998, P.L.301, No.50, eff. 60 days)

(a) Petition for election.--If a referendum for the adoption of an environmental improvement compact is approved by a majority of voters in each municipality involved, the governing bodies shall, within 30 days of the certification of the results of the referendum election, submi…

Candidates for membership on the board shall be electors of the municipalities involved. Each shall be nominated by nomination papers signed by a number of electors in their municipality or residence which is affected by the compact equal to at least 2% of the largest vote cast f…

The result of the votes cast for members of the board at the municipal election shall be returned by the election officials to the governing bodies of municipalities involved and to the Department of Community and Economic Development. (May 5, 1998, P.L.301, No.50, eff. 60 days)…

The board shall be composed of five, seven or nine members as provided in Subchapter E (relating to election of board).

A majority of all the members of the governing bodies of the municipalities involved shall set the annual compensation for the members of the board.

On the first Monday of January following the municipal election, members of the board shall assemble at a designated meeting place and shall organize by electing one of their own members as chairman. This member shall preside at all meetings and perform other duties as the board …

(a) Secretary.--The board shall appoint a secretary who shall keep the records and minutes of the board proceedings, maintain a record of other official activities and perform other functions as required by law. (b) Treasurer.--The board shall appoint a treasurer. The treasurer s…

(a) Status and purposes.--Every board created under this chapter shall be a body corporate and politic and shall be for the purpose of acquiring, holding, constructing, improving, maintaining and operating, owning or leasing, either in the capacity of lessor or lessee, for any go…

(a) Short title of subpart.--This subpart shall be known and may be cited as the Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law. (b) Scope of subpart.--This subpart applies to all municipalities except cities of the first class and counties of the first class.

Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent provisions of this subpart which are applicable to specific provisions of this subpart, the following words and phrases when used in this subpart shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context cle…

(a) General rule.--Whenever authorized by ordinance of the governing body or upon petition of the electors to the county board of electors of the county wherein the municipality is located, an election shall be held upon one of the following questions: Shall a government study co…

(a) General rule.--A governmental study commission of seven, nine or eleven members, as designated in the question, shall be elected by the qualified voters at the same election the question is submitted to the electors. (b) Nomination of candidates.--Each candidate for the offic…