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Second Class Township Code

 

Article XXX

Board Of Health

 

Section 3001. Establishment of Board of Health.

 

The board of supervisors may appoint a township board of health and township health officer to administer and enforce the health and sanitation laws of the township. If a board of health is appointed, the board of health may appoint a health officer or inspector whose duties shall be to implement and enforce the health and sanitation laws of the township and actions of the board of health. The health officer or inspector, whether appointed by the board of supervisors or by the board of health, shall not assume the performance of the duties of office until certified as a qualified health officer or inspector by the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health.

 

Section 3002. Members of Board of Health.

 

A board of health appointed under this article shall be composed of five members, at least one of whom shall be a licensed physician with not less than two years' experience in the practice of his profession The members of the board of health shall be appointed by the board of supervisors. Upon the creation of a board of health, one member shall be appointed to serve for one year, one for two years, one for three years, one for four years and one for five years, and after that one member shall be appointed each year to serve for five years. Upon the creation of a board of health in a township which has an existing sanitary board, the board of supervisors may continue the incumbent members of the sanitary board as members of the board of health. The members of the board of health shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

 

Section 3003. Organization, Secretary, Health Officer and Inspectors.

 

The members of the board of health shall annually organize by electing a chairman from among the members of the board of health, a secretary who may be a member of the board of health and a health officer and inspectors who shall not be members of the board of health. The secretary, health officer and inspectors shall each receive a salary as determined by the board of supervisors and shall serve for a period of one year or until their successors may be appointed and qualified.

 

Section 3004. Duties of Secretary.

 

The secretary of the board of health shall keep the minutes of the proceedings of the board of health, keep accurate accounts of the expenses of the board of health, draw all requisitions for the payment of moneys on account of the board of health from appropriations made by the board of supervisors to the board of health and present them to the board of health for approval, render statements of the expenses to the board of health at each stated meeting or as frequently as the board of health may require, prepare under the direction of the board of health the annual report to the board of supervisors, together with the estimate of appropriation needed for the ensuing year, and make other reports and perform other duties as the board of health may require.

 

Section 3005. Powers and Duties of Health Officer and Inspectors.

 

The health officer and inspectors shall attend all stated and special meetings of the board of health and at all times be ready and available for the prompt performance of their official duties. They shall make inspections and execute the orders of the board of health.

 

Section 3006. Powers of Board of Health.

 

(a) The board of health shall enforce the health and sanitation laws of this Commonwealth and any regulations adopted under those laws and the health and sanitation laws and regulations of the township.

 

(b) Regulations, when authorized by ordinance of the township, shall have the force of ordinances of the township. All penalties prescribed for violation of the regulations, as well as the expenses actually and necessarily incurred in enforcing ordinances and regulations, are recoverable in enforcement proceedings and shall be paid into the general township fund. Townships may establish and revise fees for licenses or permits issued by the township as necessary.

 

Section 3007. Entering Premises.

 

The board of health, health officer or inspectors may enter at anytime any premises within the township where there is reasonably suspected to exist any health hazard or violation of health or sanitation laws or regulations or which are of a type that may give rise to a health hazard.

 

Section 3008. Written Order for Violation.

 

When the board of health, health officer or inspectors determine that a health or sanitation hazard or violation exists, a written order shall be directed to the owner or occupant of the premises involved, ordering an abatement of the hazard or violation and the taking of corrective action as the board of health, health officer or inspectors may deem necessary under the circumstances. The order shall set forth a specific time in which the abatement and corrective action shall be accomplished. If the order is not complied with within the time provided, the board of health, health officer or inspectors may enter the premises and issue orders for the immediate termination of activities creating the violation, the potential violation and all acts of commerce conducted in, on or at the premises in question. In addition, the board of health, health officer or inspectors may proceed to enforce the law or regulation being violated the same as ordinances of the township.

 

Section 3009. Appropriations and Annual Report.

 

The board of supervisors shall make an annual appropriation to the board of health as the board of supervisors determines. The board of health or health officer shall before the preparation of the annual budget of the township submit to the board of supervisors the estimated expenses of the board of health or health officer for the ensuing year. The board of health or health officer shall by the first day of February of each year prepare and submit to the board of supervisors and the regional office of the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health an annual report in writing, setting forth the activities and expenditures of the board of health or health officer during the prior calendar year.

 

Section 3010. Cooperation With Other Municipal Corporations.

 

(a) Any township may cooperate and contract with any other municipal corporation in the administration and enforcement of health and sanitation laws.

 

(b) If the board of supervisors abolishes the board of health or positions of health officers or inspectors and discontinues services under this article, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health shall be notified. An official copy of the action of the board of supervisors shall be transmitted to the regional office of the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and the regional office of the Department of Health.

 

(c) The board of supervisors, the board of health or the health officer may request assistance from the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture or the Department of Health if the assistance is deemed necessary for the health and safety of township citizens.