How Often Does Our Board of Supervisors Meet?
Updated: Oct 4
- Administration - October 3, 2023
In accordance with the rules and regulations set forth in the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code, and The Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 701-716, our Board of Supervisors holds the following meetings:
Organization Meeting - in accordance with Section 602 (a) Organization Meeting; Appointment of Secretary and Treasurer (a) of the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code - "The board of supervisors shall meet at a convenient time and place on the first Monday in January of each year. If the first Monday is a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held the following day."
This meeting is our annual Re-Organization Meeting held on the first Monday in January (or the following day if first Monday is a legal holiday).
Monthly Board of Supervisors Meeting - in accordance with Section 603 - Monthly Meetings; Quorum; and Voting of the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code -- "The board of supervisors shall meet for the transaction of business at least once each month at a time and place determined by the board of supervisors."
This meeting is our meeting scheduled for every third Monday of each month (if a legal holiday, the meeting is held the following day) to transact the business of the Township.
Monthly Workshop (if needed) - in accordance with Section 604 - Special Meetings of the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code -- "Upon call of the chairman or by agreement of a majority of its members, the board of supervisors may schedule special meetings of the board of supervisors after notice required under the act of July 3, 1986 (P.L.388, No.84), known as the "Sunshine Act." Notice of a special meeting shall state the nature of the business to be conducted at the meeting."
Our Monthly Workshop Meetings are held only "if needed"/"as needed".
The topics for a Workshop are discussed/proposed in the Monthly Board Meeting (held on the third Monday of each month).
Items/topics selected for a Workshop Meeting are items/topics the Board of Supervisors would like to address, educate, share, and/or obtain resident participation and/or engagement.
Workshop meetings do not involve motions or voting on any items. Public comments and questions are permitted.
Executive Sessions - as per Section 708 of the Sunshine Act, there are "...seven reasons an agency may hold an Executive Session:
Discussing personnel matters;
Holding an information, strategy and negotiation session related to the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement;
Considering the purchase or lease of real property;
Consulting with an attorney about active or pending litigation;
Discussing agency business which, if conducted in public, would violate a lawful privilege or lead to the disclosure of information or confidentiality protected by law;
Discussing certain academic matters (this reason is specifically limited to certain institutions of higher education); and
Discussing certain public safety issues if disclosure of the information discussed would be reasonably likely to jeopardize or threaten public safety or preparedness or public protection.
The specific reason for an Executive Session must be announced in the public meeting either before or directly after the Executive Session. See Reading Eagle Co. v. Council of City of Reading, 627 A.2d 305 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1993), ("[T]he reasons stated by the public agency must be specific, indicating a real, discrete matter"). Closed gatherings may also beheld "solely for the purpose of collecting information or educating agency members about an issue." See Smith v. Township of Richmond, 623 Pa. 209, 223 (Pa. 2013) ("[T]he Supervisors' four closed-door gatherings did not violate the [Sunshine] Act because they were held for informational purposes only and did not involve deliberations")."
Executive Sessions are closed meetings of the Board of Supervisors (and Township Manager, if requested by the BOS to attend) to discuss only personnel, real estate, legal matters, and/or other matters permitted in Section 708 of the Sunshine Act.
No voting takes place in an Executive Sessions.
In the next Board of Supervisors Meeting after the Executive Session, the Board discloses the date and the reason (i.e., personnel, real estate, legal matter, etc. as permitted by Section 708 of the Sunshine Act) of the Executive Session.
All monthly Board of Supervisors Meetings, Board of Supervisors Workshop Meetings (when needed), Board of Supervisors special meetings, and monthly advisory committee meetings are open to the public.
Please refer to the township website calendar for each meeting and related agenda.
Agendas for all public meetings are posted no later than 24 hours before the meeting, in accordance with The Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 701-716.