Pennsylvania Statutes Title 53 P.S. Municipal and Quasi-Municipal Corporations § 172. Notice to chief executive; councils to approve or disapprove; public notice; hearing; election

The petition shall be filed, and thereupon the court shall direct notice to be given to the chief executive officer of the city to which the annexation is proposed to be made; and it shall be the duty of the councils of such city, within three months from the date of said notice, to, by ordinance, consent to or disapprove the proposed annexation. If the councils disapprove, then there shall be no further proceedings under that petition; but if the councils approved, then the court shall direct such notice to be given the people of the territory proposed to be annexed as the court shall consider to be proper and reasonable, and the said notice shall state a reasonable date thereafter at which the petition will be considered and all parties heard: Provided, however, That in case a part of a township is proposed to be annexed, the court shall direct that the notice above prescribed be given to the people of the entire township of which a part is proposed to be annexed.

Upon the date fixed for the hearing, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the court shall hear the case; and, if the requirements of this act have been complied with, then shall order an election to be held in the petitioning city, borough, or township, referred to in the petition, upon the question of annexation; and, in the case of a petition for annexation of a part of a township, the court shall order an election to be held upon the question of annexation in the entire township of which a part is proposed to be annexed. If such order be made within three months and more than thirty days before the date of any general election, such election shall be held at such general election; otherwise, it shall be held at such date as the court shall fix, but in no case within thirty days from the making of such order.