ARTICLE XV CORPORATE POWERS

Section 1501. Suits.-Any township may sue and be sued.

Section 1502. Property; Penalty for Violation.--(a) The board of supervisors may purchase, acquire by gift or otherwise, hold, lease, let and convey, by sale or lease, any real and personal property it judges to be to the best interest of the township.
(b) Any supervisor who votes in favor of or knowingly participates in the sale or lease of township real or personal property in violation of this article is subject to surcharge to the extent of any loss or injury to the township as a result of the sale or lease.

Section 1503. Real Property. – (a) No real estate owned by the township having a value in excess of fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) may be sold except to the highest bidder after due notice by advertisement for bids or advertisement of a public auction in one newspaper of general circulation in the township.  The advertisement shall be published once not less than ten days before the date set for the opening of bids or public auction, and the date for opening bids or public auction shall be announced in the advertisement.  The award of contracts shall be made only by public announcement at a regular or special meeting of the board of supervisors or at the public auction.  All bids shall be accepted on the condition that the payment of the purchase price in full shall be made within sixty days of the acceptance of bids.
(b) The board of supervisors may reject all bids if the bids are deemed to be less than the fair market value of the property.  In the case of a public auction, the board of supervisors may establish a minimum bid based on the fair market value of the real property.
(c) The requirements of this section do not apply to conveyances or leases of real property by a township to any of the following:
A municipal corporation.
The Federal Government.
The Commonwealth.
An institution district.
A school district.
A municipal authority.
A county.
A public utility.
A volunteer fire company.
A nonprofit corporation engaged in community industrial, commercial or affordable housing development.
A volunteer ambulance service or volunteer rescue squad located within the township.
A nonprofit corporation organized as a public library.
A nonprofit medical service corporation.
A nonprofit housing corporation.
A nonprofit organization providing community service or development activities.
A nonprofit corporation established for the preservation of historical, architectural or aesthetic sites or artifacts.
A nonprofit association or nonprofit corporation organized to acquire and maintain real property for the preservation, conservation and stewardship of open space.
Such conveyances or leases shall be at the sole discretion of the township.
((c) amended May 18, 2004, P.L.219, No.29 and May 18, 2004, P.L.226, No.33)
(d) When real property is sold to a nonprofit corporation organized as a public library or to a nonprofit medical service corporation, nonprofit housing corporation, volunteer fire company, volunteer ambulance service or volunteer rescue squad, the board of supervisors may elect to accept any nominal consideration for the property as it believes appropriate.  Real property sold under this subsection is subject to the condition that when the property is not used for the purposes of the corporation or volunteer fire company, the property reverts to the township.
(e) No real estate may be purchased by a township unless the board of supervisors obtains at least one appraisal on the real property in question by a person authorized to perform an appraisal on the subject property under the act of July 10, 1990 (P.L.404, No.98), known as the “Real Estate Appraisers Certification Act,” and the township supervisors may require that an environmental impact statement be prepared, indicating the potential liability of the township for any environmental problems associated with the real estate to be purchased.  The person making the appraisal shall not be interested directly or indirectly in any aspect of the sale of the real estate.  The price paid by the board of supervisors for the purchase of the real estate shall not exceed the price established by the appraisal:  Provided, however, That if more than one appraisal is obtained, the price paid by the board of supervisors shall not exceed the average of the appraisals.
(f) When real property has been dedicated, deeded or devised to a township to be used for a designated purpose and the real property is accepted and used for that purpose, or the real property is not used for the purpose designated for a period of ten years or more, and the township supervisors determine that it is not possible or not desirable for the best interest of the township to use the real property for the purpose designated, the township supervisors, with the prior approval of the court of common pleas, may by ordinance reconvey to the original owners or their successors, heirs or assigns, or otherwise dispose of, the real property free and clear of any public right.
(1503 amended May 18, 2004, P.L.226, No.33)

Section 1504. Personal Property. –(a) No personal property of the township shall be sold or disposed of without the approval of the board of supervisors.  No personal property owned by the township, the estimated fair market value of which is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, shall be sold except to the highest bidder after due notice by advertisement for bids or for public auction in one newspaper of general circulation in the township.  The advertisement shall be published once not less than ten days before the date set for the opening of bids or public auction, and the date for opening bids or public auction shall be announced in the advertisement.  The advertisement for electronic auction sales authorized in subsection (d) shall include the Internet address or means of accessing the electronic auction and the date, time and duration of the electronic auction.  If after attempting twice to receive bids or if at a public auction no bid was received, the board of supervisors may by resolution adopt a procedure by which the personal property may be sold without further action of the board of supervisors.  A procedure adopted pursuant to this authorization shall be subject to and shall conform with the requirements of any law governing the sale of property by municipal corporations generally when no bids have been received.  The awarded of contracts shall be made only by public announcement at a regular or special meeting of the board of supervisors or at the public auction.  Except as provided in subsection (d), all bids shall be accepted on the condition that payment of the purchase price in full is made immediately upon acceptance of the successful bid.  The board of supervisors may reject any bids received if the bids are believed to be less than the fair market value of the property.
(b) With respect to personal property, either individual items or lots of items, the fair market value of which is estimated to be less than one thousand dollars ($1,000), the board of supervisors shall by resolution adopt a procedure by which the property may be sold without further action by the board of supervisors.  The board of supervisors may arrange for the sale of the item or items at public auction.
(c) The bidding and advertising requirements of this section do not apply to the following transactions:
(1) If personal property of the township is being traded in or exchanged for other personal property.
(2) The sale or lease of personal property to any municipal corporation, the Federal Government, the Commonwealth or any institution district, school district, municipality authority, county, public utility, volunteer fire company, nonprofit corporation engaged in community industrial development, volunteer ambulance service or volunteer rescue squad located within the township, nonprofit corporation organized as a public library, nonprofit medical service corporation, nonprofit housing corporation, nonprofit organizations providing community service or development activities or nonprofit corporation established for the preservation of historical, architectural or aesthetical sites or artifacts.
(d) A “public auction” shall include an online or electronic auction sale. During an electronic auction sale, bids shall be accepted electronically at the time and in the manner designated in the advertisement.  During the electronic auction, each bidder shall have the capability to view the bidder’s bid rank or the high bid price.  Bidders may increase their bid prices during the electronic auction.  The record of the electronic auction shall be accessible for public inspection.  The purchase price shall be paid by the high bidder immediately or at a reasonable time after the conclusion of the electronic auction as determined by the township.  In the event that shipping costs are incurred, they shall be paid by the high bidder.
(e) A township that has complied with the advertising requirements of subsection (a) may provide additional public notice of the sale by bids or public auction in any manner deemed appropriate by the township.
(1504 amended by Act 49 of 2006)

Section 1505. Boards of Supervisors to Exercise Powers.-The corporate powers of townships shall be exercised by the board of supervisors. If no specific authority is given for the payment of costs incurred in the exercise of any power contained in this act, the expenses may be paid from the general township fund.

Section 1506. General ]Powers.-The board of supervisors may make and adopt any ordinances, bylaws, rules and regulations not inconsistent with or restrained by the Constitution and laws of this Commonwealth necessary for the proper management, care and control of the township and its finances and the maintenance of peace, good government, health and welfare of the township and its citizens, trade, commerce and manufacturers.

Section 1507. Intergovernmental Cooperation.--The board of supervisors may by ordinance make agreements with other municipal corporations in performing governmental powers, duties and functions and in carrying into effect provisions of the act of July 12, 1972 (P.L. 762, No. 180), referred to as the Intergovernmental Cooperation Law.

Section 1508. Capital Reserve Fund.-(a) The board of supervisors may create and maintain a separate capital reserve fund for any anticipated capital expenses, which fund shall be designated for a specific purpose or purposes when created. The moneys in the fund shall be used for no other purpose unless the board of supervisors declares that conditions in the township make other expenses more urgent than those for which the fund was created.
(b) The board of supervisors may appropriate moneys from the general township funds to be paid into the capital reserve fund or place in the fund any moneys received from the sale, lease or other disposition of any township property or from any other source.

Section 1508.1. Operating Reserve Fund.-(a) The board of supervisors shall have the power to create and maintain a separate operating reserve fund in order to minimize future revenue shortfalls and deficits, provide greater continuity and predictability in the funding of vital government services, minimize the need to increase taxes to balance the budget in times of fiscal distress, provide the capacity to undertake long-range financial planning and develop fiscal resources to meet long-term needs.
(b) The board of supervisors may annually make appropriations from the general township fund to the operating reserve fund, but no appropriation shall be made to the operating reserve fund if the effect of the appropriation would cause the fund to exceed five per centum of the estimated revenues of the township's general fund in the current fiscal year.
(c) The board of supervisors may at any time by resolution make appropriations from the operating reserve fund for the following purposes only:
(1) to meet emergencies involving the health, safety or welfare of the residents of the township;
(2) to counterbalance potential budget deficits resulting from shortfalls in anticipated revenues or program receipts from whatever source; or
(3) to provide for anticipated operating expenditures related either to the planned growth of existing projects or programs or to the establishment of new projects or programs if for each such project or program appropriations have been made and allocated to a separate restricted account established within the operating reserve fund.
(d) The operating reserve fund shall be invested, reinvested and administered in a manner consistent with the provisions of section 3204 relating to the investment of township funds generally.

Section 1509. Indebtedness.-The board of supervisors may incur indebtedness and issues notes, bonds or other evidence of indebtedness under the act of July 12, 1972 (P.L. 78 1, No. 185), known as the "Local Government Unit Debt Act," to provide sufficient moneys for any expense of the township.

Section 1510. Display of Flags.--The board of supervisors may display the flag of the United States or the Commonwealth, the official POW/MIA flag or the flag of any county or municipal corporation on any public building or grounds of the township.

Section 1511. Township Seal.--The board of supervisors may adopt a seal which contains the name of the township and the word "seal" and which shall be in the custody of the township secretary or manager. The official acts of the board of supervisors may be authenticated by use of the seal. The seal has the same effect as the seal of a notary public.

Section 1512. Insurance.--(a) The board of supervisors shall secure workers' compensation insurance for its employes, including volunteer firemen and volunteer ambulance and rescue personnel of companies duly recognized by the township by resolution, killed or injured in the course of their appointed functions or while performing any other duties expressly authorized by the board of supervisors.
(b) The board of supervisors may contract with any insurance company to insure property owned by the township.
(c) The board of supervisors may contract with any insurance company to insure any public liability of the township, including insurance on every township officer, official and employe for liability arising from errors and emissions in the performance of their duties in the course of their employment, except that liability of elected or appointed officials or officers for surcharge under law shall not be affected hereby.
(d) The board of supervisors may contract with any insurance company, nonprofit hospitalization corporation or nonprofit medical service corporation to insure its supervisors under section 606, employes and their dependents under a policy or policies of group insurance covering life, health, hospitalization, medical service or accident insurance. This provision is subject to the following qualifications:
(1) Elected officials, except supervisors under section 606, and appointed officials who are not employes of the township are not eligible for participation in any life, health, hospitalization, medical service or accident insurance coverage contract paid in whole or in part by the township.
(2) Any insurance coverage contract made by a township between January 1, 1959, and March 31, 1985, that includes or provides coverage for elected officials, except under section 606, or appointed township officials who are not employes of the township are not void or unlawful solely because the inclusion of those officials was subsequently found to be without lawful authority. No penalty, assessment, surcharge, forfeiture or disciplinary action of any kind may occur as a result of participation by those officials. Insurance benefits payable to insureds or their beneficiaries arising out of or on account of deaths, injuries, accidents or illnesses occurring before March 30, 1988, remain the property of the insureds or their beneficiaries.
(e) The board of supervisors may contract with any insurance company for the pensioning of employes and may pay part or all of the premiums or charges for group pension or annuity plans. This provision is subject to the following qualifications:
(1) The benefit coverage may be provided to supervisor-employes under section 606.
(2) The board of supervisors may deduct from the employe's pay, salary or compensation the part of the premium or charge that is payable by the employe.
(3) Elected officials, except township supervisors under section 606, and appointed township officials who are not employes of the township are not eligible for participation in any pension or annuity contract paid in whole or in part by the township. No elected official, except under section 606, or appointed township official who is not an employe of the township included in a township-paid pension or annuity plan made by a township between January 1, 1959, and March 31, 1985, is subject to any penalty, assessment, surcharge, forfeiture or disciplinary action of any kind as a result of that participation. Any residual interest, value, refund of premium or benefits payable on or after March 31, 1985, arising out of the township-paid interest of the elected or appointed township officials is the exclusive property of the township.
(4) If an elected official, except supervisors under section 606, or an appointed official who is not an employe of the township personally contributed toward a township-sponsored pension plan or annuity, he shall receive a refund of his total contributions thereto plus any interest accumulated thereon. In lieu of a refund of contributions plus accumulated interest, a township official who personally contributed toward a pension or annuity plan in which he participated may elect to purchase that portion of his pension or annuity funded by the township. A qualified actuary, who shall report his determination under the act of December 18, 1984 (P.L. 1005, No. 205), known as the "Municipal Pension Plan Funding Standard and Recovery Act," shall determine the amount the official shall pay to the township to purchase the township-funded portion of the annuity or pension.

Section 1513. Widening and Deepening Watercourses.-After permits have been secured from the Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the board of supervisors or its agents or employes may widen and deepen watercourses running through the township and erect dikes, retaining walls and embankments along the watercourses as are necessary to prevent water from overflowing the banks. For these purposes, townships may enter and condemn property as may be necessary. Townships may enter land lying near the watercourses and secure materials as may be necessary in connection with the work. Damages for property taken, injured or destroyed as the result of the work shall be determined under this act.

Section 1514. Airports.-(a) The board of supervisors may acquire by grant, lease, purchase or, where appropriate, eminent domain any property located inside or outside the boundaries of the township which in the judgment of the board of supervisors may be necessary to establish and maintain municipal airport facilities. Any township having acquired land for those purposes may establish, equip, condition, operate and maintain the property as a municipal airport, may lease all or part of the property to any individual or corporation desiring to use the property for aviation purposes and may contract in the form of a lease of all or part of the property by the Federal Government for aviation purposes upon nominal rental or without consideration.
(b) The board of supervisors may acquire by lease or purchase land for aviation purposes jointly with any county or municipal corporation of this Commonwealth and operate and maintain the municipal airport jointly with any county or municipal corporation of this Commonwealth upon terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the proper authorities of the county or municipal corporation.

Section 1515. Urban Common Carrier Mass Transportation.-The board of supervisors may appropriate funds for urban common carrier mass transportation purposes, make contributions to county departments of transportation or urban common carrier mass transportation authorities to assist the departments or the authorities to meet costs of planning, operation, maintenance, capital improvements and debt service and make long-term agreements providing for the payment of contributions.

Section 1516. Land Use Regulations.-The board of supervisors may plan for the development of the township through zoning, subdivision and land development regulations under the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L. 805, No. 247), known as the "Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code."

Section 1517. Building and Housing Regulations.-The board of supervisors may enact and enforce ordinances to govern and regulate the construction, alteration, repair, occupation, maintenance, sanitation, lighting, ventilation, water supply, toilet facilities, drainage, use and inspection of all buildings and housing constructed, erected, altered, designed or used for any use or occupancy and the sanitation and inspection of land. If any building and housing or structure is constructed, reconstructed, altered, repaired, converted or maintained or any building, housing or land is used in violation of any ordinance enacted under this section, the board of supervisors, in addition to penalties provided by the ordinances, may institute appropriate actions or proceedings at law or in equity to prevent and restrain the unlawful construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance or use, to restrain, correct or abate the violation and to prevent the use or occupancy of the building, housing or structure.

Section 1518. Building and Housing Inspectors.-The board of supervisors may appoint one or more building and housing inspectors to enforce the building and housing regulations of the township and for the inspection of the construction, alteration, repair and sanitation facilities of buildings and housing in the township.

Section 1519. Building Lines.-The board of supervisors may by ordinance establish and maintain uniform building lines upon any or all public streets or highways of the township.

Section 1520. Numbering of Buildings.-The board of supervisors may by ordinance require and regulate the numbering of buildings.

Section 1521. Insect, Pest and Vector Programs.-The board of supervisors may appropriate moneys toward insect, pest and vector programs.

Section 1522. Sewage Treatment Facilities Regulations.-The board of supervisors may by ordinance make regulations respecting the installation of individual or community sewage treatment facilities under the act of January 24, 1966 (1965 P.L. 1535, No. 537), known as the "Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act."

Section 1523. Surplus Foods.-The board of supervisors may appropriate moneys for the handling, storage and distribution of surplus foods obtained through a Federal, State or local agency.

Section 1524. Community Nursing Services.-The board of supervisors may appropriate moneys to nonprofit associations or corporations which provide community nursing services.

Section 1525. Mental Health Centers.-The board of supervisors may appropriate moneys toward any nonprofit association or corporation which operates or conducts a mental health center.

Section 1526. Hospitals.-The board of supervisors may appropriate not exceeding one dollar ($1) for each township resident each year toward the erection, maintenance or support of any medical center or hospital building facilities. If the total cost of the purchase or erection exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), approval by the appropriate health planning agency is required. The number of residents is determined from the latest official census.

Section 1527. Public Safety.-The board of supervisors may adopt ordinances to secure the safety of persons or property within the township and to define disturbing the peace within the limits of the township.

Section 1528. Ambulances and Rescue and Life Saving Services.-The board of supervisors may acquire, operate and maintain motor vehicles for the purposes of conveying persons to and from hospitals, and it may appropriate moneys toward ambulance and rescue and life saving services and make contracts relating thereto.

Section 1529. Nuisances.-The board of supervisors may by ordinance prohibit nuisances, including, but not limited to, the storage of abandoned or junked automobiles, on private and public property and the carrying on of any offensive manufacture or business.

Section 1530. Regulation of Dogs,-The board of supervisors may by ordinance prohibit and regulate the running at large of dogs.

Section 1531. Animal Shelters.-The board of supervisors may appropriate moneys to foster, encourage or assist the operation of humane societies, animal shelters or animal control centers or programs.

Section 1532. Regulation of Business.-(a) The board of supervisors may license and regulate by ordinance the following business activities within the township:
(1) Transient merchants conducting business within the township, except farmers selling their own produce, or to any sale of goods, wares or merchandise donated by the owners thereof, the proceeds of which are to be applied to any charitable or philanthropic purpose or the imposition or collection of any license fee upon insurance companies or their agents or insurance brokers authorized to transact business under the insurance laws of this Commonwealth.
(2) Cable television companies operating within the township to the extent allowed by Federal and State law and regulation.
(3) Restaurants operating within the township. This power includes the power to inspect these establishments.
(4) Junk dealers and the establishment and maintenance of junk yards and scrap yards, including, but not limited to, automobile junk yards or automobile grave yards.
(b) The board of supervisors may establish license fees for regulated businesses enumerated in subsection (a). These fees shall bear a reasonable relationship to the cost of administering the ordinance and regulating, inspecting and supervising each business. Licenses may be issued on an annual or monthly basis and any fee charged to transient merchants shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300) per year or twenty-five dollars ($25) each month or part of a month. ((b) amended Dec. 18, 1996, P.L.1142, No. 172)

Section 1533. Dangerous Structures.-The board of supervisors may by ordinance require the owner to remove any nuisance or dangerous structure on public or private grounds after notice to the owner to do so. In the owner's default, the board of supervisors may remove the nuisance or structure and collect the cost of the removal, together with the penalty imposed by the ordinance, from the owner by summary proceedings or under law for the collection of municipal liens.

Section 1534. Fireworks and Inflammable Articles.-The board of supervisors may:
(1) By ordinance regulate and prohibit the manufacture of fireworks or inflammable or dangerous articles.
(2) Grant permits for supervised public displays of fireworks and adopt rules and regulations governing the displays.
(3) By ordinance adopt rules and regulations not inconsistent with State regulations relating to the storage of inflammable articles.
(4) By ordinance impose other safeguards concerning inflammable articles as may be necessary.

Section 1535. Human Services.-The board of supervisors may, under the provisions of the act of December 10, 1974 (P.L. 865, No. 292), entitled "An act authorizing municipalities to expend Federal general revenue sharing or general funds for social service programs for the poor, the disabled and the aging, and to jointly cooperate in the sponsorship, establishment, administration, maintenance and operation of such programs," by ordinance or resolution appropriate moneys for social service programs for the poor, the disabled and the aging.

Section 1536. Cemeteries.-(a) The board of supervisors may by ordinance make rules and regulations regarding the location, operation and maintenance of cemeteries in the township.
(b) When any cemetery or burial ground is abandoned or is being neglected, the board of supervisors may give notice to the owner directing the removal of weeds, refuse and debris from the cemetery within thirty days. If the removal is not completed within thirty days after the notice, the board of supervisors shall provide for the removal to be done by employes of the township or persons hired for that purpose at the expense of the township. All costs of removal shall be assessed against the owner of the cemetery, if known, and collected under section 3302(b).
(c) The cemetery shall remain open to the public under the regulation and control of the board of supervisors.

Section 1537. Burial Plots of Service Persons.-The board of supervisors may purchase plots of ground in any cemetery or burial ground for the interment of deceased or former service men and women who at the time of their death maintained legal residence within the township.

Section 1538. Care of Memorials.-The board of supervisors may maintain and repair any soldiers' monument or memorial existing or erected within the township and may receive funds from persons or organizations for those purposes.

Section 1539. Libraries.-The board of supervisors may, in accordance with the act of June 14, 1961 (P.L. 324, No. 188), known as "The Library Code," appropriate moneys toward any nonprofit association or corporation which operates or conducts a library or contract with or make grants to counties or municipal corporations for the furnishing of library service to the township.

Section 1540. Observances and Celebrations.-The board of supervisors may appropriate moneys for the observance of holidays, centennials or other anniversaries or for township celebrations or civic projects or programs.

Section 1541. Historical Property.-The board of supervisors may acquire by purchase or by gift, repair, supervise, operate and maintain ancient landmarks and other property of historical or antiquarian interest and make appropriations to nonprofit associations or corporations organized to acquire and maintain historical properties.

Section 1542. Community Development.-The board of supervisors may undertake community development programs, including, but not limited to, urban renewal, public housing, model cities programs and neighborhood development projects.

Section 1543. Industrial Promotion.-The board of supervisors may make appropriations to an industrial development agency.

Section 1544. Tourist Promotion Agencies.-The board of supervisors may appropriate moneys not in excess of ten cents (10¢) for each resident of the township, as determined by the latest official census, to any tourist promotion agency, as defined in the act of April 28, 1961 (P.L. l11, No. 50), known as the "Tourist Promotion Law," to assist the agencies in carrying out tourist promotional activities.

Section 1545. Nonprofit Art Corporations.-The board of supervisors may appropriate moneys, not exceeding an amount equal to one mill of the real estate tax, to any nonprofit art corporation for the conduct of its artistic and cultural activities. For the purposes of this section, the term "nonprofit art corporation" means a local arts council, commission or coordinating agency or any other nonprofit corporation engaged in the production or display of works of art, including the visual, written or performing arts and the term "artistic and cultural activities" includes the display or production of theater, music, dance, painting, architecture, sculpture, arts and crafts, photography, film, graphic arts and design and creative writing.

Section 1546. Neighborhood Crime Watch Programs.-The board of supervisors may appropriate moneys toward a neighborhood crime watch program. No township or township official is subject to contractual, tort or other liability as a result of making an appropriation under this section.

Section 1547. Public Rewards.-The board of supervisors may offer rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons who commit capital or other crimes within the township or for the violation of any township ordinance.

Section 1548. Municipality Authorities.-The board of supervisors may by ordinance or resolution individually or in cooperation with other municipal corporations form municipality authorities as authorized by the act of May 2, 1945 (P.L. 382, No. 164), known as the "Municipality Authorities Act of 1945," specify the project or projects to be undertaken by the authorities, appoint members and establish their compensation.

Section 1549. Racetracks.-(a) In addition to the powers and duties imposed upon the township supervisors by this act or any other provision of law, the township supervisors shall have the power and duty to secure the health, safety and welfare of persons and property by adopting an ordinance prohibiting the conducting of live horse race meets by a licensed corporation at a racetrack located within the area of fifty air miles from the center of an existing, currently licensed racetrack, notwithstanding the provisions of the act of December 17, 1981 (P.L. 435, No. 135), known as the "Race Horse Industry Reform Act," provided that a majority of electors of the township approve a referendum pursuant to subsection (h) prohibiting the conducting of such horse race meets within the township.
(b) The township supervisors may, or upon the petition of a number of electors of the township equal to at least twenty-five percent of the highest number of votes for a public office of the township at the last preceding municipal election shall, adopt a resolution directing the county board of elections to place a referendum question on the ballot for the primary or general election, with respect to the conducting of live horse race meets by licensed corporations within the township. The question shall be in the following form:
Shall live horse race meets conducted by licensed corporations be prohibited within the area of fifty air miles from the center of an existing, currently licensed racetrack?
(c) The definitions provided for in the "Race Horse Industry Reform Act" shall apply to this section.

Section 1550. Conservation District.-The board of supervisors may make appropriations to a conservation district as defined in the act of May 15, 1945 (P.L.547, No.217), known as the "Conservation District Law."
(1550 added June 22, 2000, P.L.400, No.55)

Section 1551. Watershed Associations. –The board of supervisors may make appropriations to nonprofit watershed associations for watersheds serving the township.  Such appropriations may not be used to undertake litigation against any municipal corporation or to seek redress against any individual landowner.
(1551 added by Act 11 of 2005)

Section 1552. Counties. –The board of supervisors may make appropriations to the county in which the township is situated for land acquisition related to community and economic development projects located within the township.
(1552 added by Act 106 of 2006)

Section 1553. Emergency Services- (a) The township shall be responsible for ensuring that fire and emergency medical services are provided within the township by the means and to the extent determined by the township, including the appropriate financial and administrative assistance for these services.
(b) The township shall consult with fire and emergency medical service providers to discuss the emergency services needs of the township.
(c) The township shall require any emergency services organizations receiving township funds to provide to the township an annual itemized listing of all expenditures of these funds before the township may consider budgeting additional funding to the organization. (1553 added by Act 7 of 2008)