NOTICE: Township of Collier Meetings

Following are the 2026 meeting dates for:

The COLLIER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

The Board met on Monday, January 5th at 5:30 p.m. to reorganize. The Workshop meeting is held the second Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. and the Regular meeting is held the fourth Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. Additional meetings as needed may be held every Monday.

All meetings will be held at the Collier Township Municipal Building, 2418 Hilltop Road.

The COLLIER TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

Meetings for 2026 will be held on the second Tuesday of each month as needed and the workshop meeting will be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month as needed. Both meetings shall be held at the Collier Township Municipal Building, 2418 Hilltop Road, Presto, PA 15142 at 5:00 PM unless advertised prior to meeting date.

The Planning Commission in Collier, a Pennsylvania First Class Township, is an appointed, advisory body of 5 members, responsible for guiding growth through land use, zoning, and subdivision regulations, governed by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC). Members serve 4-year terms to review development plans and recommend actions to the Board of Commissioners.

Key aspects of a Planning Commission in a First-Class Township include:

  • Role & Authority: Acts as an advisory body to the Board of Commissioners, conducting public business regarding community growth, land use, and development, often recommending, but not approving, ordinances.
  • Powers & Duties: Reviews subdivision and land development plans, makes recommendations on zoning and develops the Comprehensive Plan.
  • Composition & Terms: Typically consists of five members (though larger commissions exist) serving four-year staggered terms.
  • Meetings & Transparency: Meetings are open to the public, usually monthly, with agendas and minutes made available to residents.
  • Governance: Governed by Article Il of the MPC, which allows for the creation of planning departments or commissions.

The COLLIER TOWNSHIP ZONING HEARING BOARD

Meetings for 2026 will be held (if necessary) at the Collier Township Municipal Building, 2418 Hilltop Road, at 7:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month.

The Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) in Collier, a Pennsylvania First Class Township, is a quasi-judicial, five-member board appointed by township officials to hear zoning appeals, variance requests, and special exceptions based on the PA Municipalities Planning Code (MPC). They interpret zoning ordinances and acts on land use disputes.

Key Aspects of a ZHB in a First Class Township:

  • Composition: Typically consists of five residents appointed by the Board of Commissioners for five year terms.
  • Functions: The board hears appeals from the Zoning Officer’s decisions, handles variance requests (for relief from unnecessary hardship), and reviews special exception applications, as outlined in the PA Municipalities Planning Code.

Proceedings: The ZHB functions independently. Hearings are public, and decisions must be made in a public forum, with written notice delivered or mailed to the applicant.

  • Time Constraints: The ZHB must commence hearings within 60 days of a request and render a decision within 45 days after the final hearing.
  • Appeals: Decisions made by the ZHB can be appealed to the local County Court of Common Pleas.

The COLLIER TOWNSHIP CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

Meetings for 2026 will be held (if necessary) at the Collier Township Municipal Building, 2418 Hilltop Road, at 5:00 p.m. on the third Monday of each month or on an agreed date and time. Additional meetings shall be held as required with dates subject to change.

In Collier, a Pennsylvania First Class Township, the Civil Service Commission is a mandatory, 3-member board appointed by the Board of Commissioners to oversee the hiring, promotion, and suspension of police officers. Members serve six-year terms and must be qualified electors of the township. They ensure a merit-based system, creating eligibility lists, conducting examinations, and handling disciplinary hearings.

Key details regarding Civil Service Commissions in Pennsylvania First Class Townships:

Composition: Consists of 3 commissioners (qualified electors), and up to 3 alternate members can be appointed.

  • Term & Appointment: Commissioners are appointed by the township Board of Commissioners to 6-year terms.

Purpose: The primary role is to regulate the employment, promotion, and discipline of police officers, and in some cases, paid fire apparatus operators.

  • Process: The commission creates, removes, and acts on eligibility lists for positions, except for the Chief of Police in many cases.
  • Authority: The commission has the power to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and conduct hearings for suspensions or removals.
  • Compensation: Civil service commissioners in PA municipalities typically receive no compensation.

Many townships use “consortium” or “pooled” testing for written exams to reduce costs, where multiple municipalities use the same testing results

The COLLIER TOWNSHIP VACANCY BOARD

In Collier, a Pennsylvania First Class Township, the Vacancy Board consists of the Board of Commissioners and one registered elector of the township, appointed annually to act as chairperson. If the Commissioners fail to fill a vacancy within 30 days, the Vacancy Board has 15 days to appoint a successor.

Key Aspects of the Vacancy Board (First Class Township):

  • Composition: The sitting Board of Commissioners plus one registered elector of the township, who acts as chairperson.
  • Purpose: To fill vacancies in elected offices (such as Commissioner) when the remaining Board of Commissioners cannot agree on an appointment within 30
  • Process:
  • The Board of Commissioners appoints the citizen member annually at their first meeting.
  • If a vacancy occurs, the board has 30 days to act.
  • If they do not, the Vacancy Board has 15 days to fill the vacancy.
  • If the Vacancy Board fails, they must petition the Court of Common Pleas.
  • Appointee Qualifications: The person appointed to fill a vacancy must be a registered elector and have resided in the township for at least one year.