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Columbia HARB discusses attendance; staff cites borough ordinance giving council removal authority
Summary
Board members discussed attendance expectations and were told borough council—the council—retains authority to remove members for nonattendance after a hearing, according to a staff reading of the borough ordinance.
Columbia Borough Historical Architectural Review Board members on Aug. 13 discussed attendance expectations and learned that removals for nonattendance are handled by borough council, not by the HARB itself.
The question arose after members expressed concern about repeated absences and whether the HARB could replace nonattending members. A board member asked how prolonged nonattendance would be handled and whether the board could appoint replacements.
A staff member read the borough ordinance to the board, saying the ordinance permits removal of a HARB member “for misconduct or failure to perform his responsibilities pursuant to this chapter or for just cause by a majority vote of the borough council,” and that removal would not be taken until the member had been given an opportunity for a hearing before council. The staff member clarified that enforcement is a council decision, not an administrative action the board can take on its own.
Board members discussed encouraging RSVPs and greater communication when members cannot attend; one member suggested making RSVP a standing part of meeting notices so members confirm whether they will attend. No formal action to change membership or to request removals was taken at the meeting.
The board then moved to adjourn.
