General Information About Hatfield Borough Council And Council Committees

Hatfield Borough Council

Borough Council Boroughs are governed by an elected Council. In Hatfield Borough, this Council consists of five members serving four (4) year terms. Council's major duties include the enactment of legislation, the raising and spending of public money, land use regulation, and the provision of public services. By law, Council must meet at least once a month to conduct its business. Pennsylvania's "Sunshine Act" requires that Council take all official actions in public at such a meeting and that the public be notified and provided an opportunity to comment at these meetings.

Hatfield Borough Council works through six major subcommittees:

• Budget, Finance & Labor
• Property & Equipment
• Planning, Building & Zoning
• Public Safety
• Public Works
• Utilities

Budget, Finance & Labor

This committee addresses financial and budget issues as well as all labor issues.

Members:

• John H. Weierman, Chair
• Michael J. DeFinis

Property & Equipment

This committee addresses issues relating to Borough properties, buildings, equipment and facilities.

Members:

• Lawrence G. Stevens, Chair 
• John H. Weierman

Planning, Building & Zoning

This committee addresses planning, zoning, conditional use, building, code enforcement, and economic development issues.

Members:

• Kenneth V. Farrall, Chair 
• Lawrence G. Stevens

Public Safety

This committee addresses police and fire related issues as well as other public safety issues.

Members:

• Bryan A. Moyer, Chair 
• Lawrence G. Stevens

Public Works

This committee addresses streets, curbs, sidewalks, bridges, solid waste & recycling, and storm water and drainage issues, as well as issues related to traffic management and transportation planning.

Members:

• Kenneth V. Farrall, Chair
• Bryan A. Moyer

Utilities

This committee addresses sanitary sewer and electric utility issues.

Members:

• Michael J. DeFinis, Chair
• Kenneth V. Farrall

Hatfield Borough's Boards And Commissions

Planning Commission

The Hatfield Borough Planning Commission was created by Borough Council to act as an advisor to Council on matters of community growth and development. At the direction of Council, the Planning Commission may be required to prepare a Comprehensive Plan for the Borough, to prepare and make recommendations on an official map and/or to prepare Land Use Control Ordinances including Zoning Ordinances and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinances. Planning Commissions can also serve as a way for citizens to make their views known on growth, planning and the direction the Borough is taking. The Planning Commission meets the Monday prior to the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM at the Borough Office, 401 S. Main St.

• D. Glenn Snyder, Chair
• Joseph Gadaleta
• Lawrence G. Stevens

Zoning Hearing Board

As required by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), any community enacting a Zoning Ordinance must also create a Zoning Hearing Board. The primary purpose of such a board is to help assure fair and equitable application and administration of the Zoning Ordinance by hearing appeals on the Zoning Officer's determinations and by granting relief from the literal enforcement of the ordinance in certain hardship situations. Since the board has no legislative power, it can neither make nor modify zoning policy. Neither does the Zoning Hearing Board have enforcement powers. It is a quasi-judicial body; that is, its powers are to some extent judicial in nature. The board schedules hearings on applications and appeals that come before it, takes evidence, and issues written decisions with findings of fact and conclusions of law. It must limit its scope of activities to those permitted by the MPC and by the local Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning Hearing Board meets as needed.

• James Rudolph, Chair
• Christen Pionzio, Solicitor
• Nancy DeFinis, Secretary
• John Pedrazzani, Member
• Daniel Ruch, Alternate

Park and Recreation Board

Hatfield Borough and Hatfield Township jointly own the Hatfield Community Pool & Park located on Chestnut Street in the Township. Seven Borough residents serve on this Board which oversees the operation and maintain of the pool and park.

Hatfield Economic Revitalization Committee, Inc.

The Hatfield Economic Revitalization Committee (HERC) was created by Borough Council to act as an advisor to Council on matters of economic revitalization and development. HERC is in the process of implementing the recommendations on the Revitalization Plan, namely developing a streetscape design for the downtown and developing a facade improvement program to assist property and business owners to rehabilitate the fronts of their buildings. HERC meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 8:00 AM at the Borough Office, 401 S. Main St.

• Larry Stevens, Chair, Hatfield Chamber of Commerce