1. The party in whose favor the lower administrative body’s decision was rendered;

2. Any Borough agency;

3. Any person who would be aggrieved if the decision of the lower administrative body were reversed.

1. The notice of appeal must be filed with the Borough Clerk on a form prescribed by the Borough Clerk and must contain detailed and specific allegations of error.

2. The appellant shall pay a nonrefundable appeal fee of $75.00. In addition, the appellant shall file a cost bond of $200.00. Following completion of the record, the appellant shall pay the actual cost of the record. However, should the decision of the lower body be reversed in whole or in part, the cost bond shall be refunded in full.

3. An untimely notice of appeal or a notice of appeal which does not conform with the requirements of this subsection shall be denied. No further proceedings shall be made on a defective notice of appeal unless the defect is corrected within the period provided for an appeal.

1. Upon timely perfection of an appeal, the Borough Clerk shall prepare an appeal record. The record shall contain:

2. The appellant shall arrange for the preparation of the transcript by a court reporter and shall pay the cost of such preparation. The appellant shall file this transcript with the Borough Clerk. If the appellant fails to file the transcript within 30 days of the filing of the notice of appeal, the appeal shall be automatically denied.

3. Upon completion of the record, the Clerk shall notify the appellant by certified mail of the cost of its preparation. If the appellant fails to pay the costs within seven days of receiving the notice, the appeal shall be automatically denied. Upon timely payment of costs, the Clerk shall, by certified mail, serve a copy of the record on the appellant. The Clerk shall also notify by certified mail the appellees who have filed a notice of intent to file a brief that the record is available for pickup and the date the record was mailed to the appellant. Upon request, the Clerk shall provide a copy of the record to an appellee or the public.

1. Brief of the Appellant. The appellant may file a written brief of points and authorities in support of those allegations of error specified in the notice of appeal with the Clerk’s office no later than 15 days after mailing of the appeal record. The Clerk shall deliver a copy of the appellant’s brief to the Borough staff assigned responsibility for the appeal. The Clerk shall also notify by certified mail those appellees who have filed a notice of intent to file a brief that the appellant’s brief is available for pickup. Upon request, the Clerk shall provide a copy of the appellant’s brief to appellees.

2. Brief of Appellee. Borough staff shall prepare and submit to the Clerk a written reply to the notice of appeal and any brief in support thereof no later than 30 days after mailing of the appeal record. An appellee who has filed a notice of intent to file brief may also file with the Clerk’s office a written reply to the notice of points on appeal and any brief in support thereof no later than 30 days after the mailing of the appeal record. The Clerk shall notify the appellant by certified mail that appellee briefs have been filed.

3. Reply Brief. An appellant may file a written reply brief to the appellee briefs no later than 10 days after mailing of notice that the appellee briefs have been filed.

4. Form of Briefs. All briefs shall be type- written on eight and one-half by 11-inch pages. The text of the brief shall be double-spaced other than quotations from the record, case law, or other applicable law or exhibits which cannot be retyped on eight and one-half by 11-inch pages. The brief of the appellant is limited to 25 pages exclusive of exhibits. The brief of appellee is limited to 25 pages exclusive of exhibits. The reply brief is limited to 10 pages exclusive of exhibits. The Clerk shall not accept a brief unless it is in the form prescribed by this subsection.

5. Untimely Briefs. If a brief is not filed within the time prescribed by this section, the Clerk shall notify the Board of Adjustment or Hearing Officer that the brief was filed late. The board or Hearing Officer shall determine whether to accept a late brief and whether to allow additional time for any qualified opposing party to file its brief.

1. An appeal shall be heard solely on the basis of the record established before the lower administrative body, the notice of appeal, appellant’s argument and the reply thereto.

2. The Board of Adjustment or Hearing Officer may exercise its independent judgment on legal issues raised by the appellant. Legal issues as used in this subsection are those matters that relate to the interpretation or construction of ordinances or other provisions of law.

3. The Board of Adjustment or Hearing Officer shall, unless it substitutes its independent judgment pursuant to subsection (I)(4) of this section, defer to the judgment of the lower administrative body regarding disputed issues or findings of fact. Findings of fact adopted expressly or by necessary implication by the lower administrative body may be considered as true if they are supported in the record by substantial evidence. Substantial evidence for the purpose of this subsection means such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. If the record affords a substantial basis of fact from which the fact in issue may be reasonably inferred, it shall be considered that the fact is supported by substantial evidence.

4. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (I)(3) of this section, the Board of Adjustment, by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the fully constituted board, or the Hearing Officer, may substitute its independent judgment for that of the lower administrative body on any disputed issues or findings of fact. The judgment must be supported on the record by substantial evidence. For the purpose of this subsection, the fully constituted Board of Adjustment shall not include those members who do not participate in the appeal.

1. The Board of Adjustment or Hearing Officer may affirm or reverse the decision of the lower administrative body in whole or in part. It shall decide an appeal on the basis of the record on appeal and the briefs of the parties to the appeal, in accordance with the standards of subsection (K) of this section. A majority vote of the fully constituted board is required to reverse or modify the decision appealed from. For the purpose of this subsection, the fully constituted board shall not include those members who do not participate in the appeal. Where an appeal has been referred to a Hearing Officer, the Hearing Officer alone shall decide the appeal. A decision reversing or modifying the decision appealed from shall be in a form which finally disposes of the case on appeal except where the case is remanded in accordance with subsection (K) of this section.

2. Every decision to affirm or reverse the decision of the lower administrative body shall be based upon findings and conclusions adopted by the board or Hearing Officer. Such findings must be reasonably specific so as to provide the community, and where appropriate, reviewing authorities, a clear and precise understanding of the reason for the decision. The board may seek the assistance of the Borough Attorney in the preparation of findings.

1. Where the Board of Adjustment or Hearing Officer reverses or modifies a decision of the lower administrative body in whole or in part, its decision shall finally dispose of the matter on appeal, except that the case shall be remanded to the lower body where it determines either:

2. A decision remanding a case shall describe any issue upon which further evidence should be taken, and shall set forth any further directions the board or Hearing Officer deems appropriate for the guidance of the lower administrative body.

3. The lower administrative body shall act on the case upon remand in accordance with the decision of the Board of Adjustment or Hearing Officer in the minimum time allowed by the circumstances.

1. Ex Parte Contacts Prohibited. Board members and the Hearing Officer shall be impartial in all appeal matters, both in fact and in appearance. No board member or Hearing Officer shall receive or otherwise engage in ex parte contacts with the appellant, other parties adversely affected by the appeal, or members of the public concerning the appeal or issues specifically presented in the notice of appeal either before the appeal hearing or during any period of time the matter is subject to reconsideration.

2. Decisions of the Board of Adjustment or Hearing Officer may be brought up for reconsideration or rehearing only if: