Township of Towamencin, PA Chapter 17 Manager, Township

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Towamencin 2-7-1983 by Ord. No. 83-3. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 17-1 Creation of office.

The office of Township Manager is hereby created by the Board of Supervisors, subject to the right to abolish said office at any time by ordinance.

§ 17-2 Appointment and removal.

[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 03-08]

A. The Manager may be appointed for an indefinite term by a majority of all the members of the Board of Supervisors. The Manager shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be removed at any time by a majority vote of the Board.

B. The Manager shall receive not less than 30 days' written notice of termination unless termination is based upon cause, in which event termination may be immediate.

C. The Manager's compensation shall be set from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors in accordance with the Second Class Township Code.

§ 17-3 Qualifications.

[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 03-08]

A. The Manager shall be chosen solely on the basis of executive and administrative abilities with special reference to training and experience in municipal management and to the duties of the office as set forth in this chapter without regard to race, color, creed, sex or political affiliation.

B. The Manager shall possess a Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, or related field approved by the Board, from an accredited institution.

§ 17-4 Bond of Manager.

[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 03-08]

Before entering upon the duties of the office, the Manager shall give a bond to the Township with bonding company as surety, to be approved by the Board of Supervisors, for the faithful performance of the duties of the office. The Township shall pay the premium for said bond. The amount of the bond shall equal the highest amount of Township funds estimated by the Board of Supervisors to be available to the Manager at any time during the current year.

§ 17-5 Powers and duties.

[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 03-08]

A. The Manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the Township and shall be responsible to the Board of Supervisors as a whole for the proper and efficient administration of the affairs of the Township. The powers and duties of administration of all Township business shall be vested in the Manager, unless expressly imposed or conferred by statute upon other Township officers.

B. Subject to recall or revision by ordinance of the Board of Supervisors, the powers and duties of the Township Manager shall include the following:

(1) The Manager shall supervise and be responsible for the activities of all municipal departments and all Township employees.

(2) The Manager shall hire and, when necessary for the good of the service, shall discipline, suspend or discharge any employee under his supervision based upon merit system principles and the evaluation and recommendation of the department head, provided further that, with respect to other Township employees, the hiring and firing thereof shall be subject to the terms, if any, set forth in any personnel manual promulgated by the Supervisors. The Manager shall report at each meeting of the Board of Supervisors any action taken pursuant to the authority of this subsection.

(3) The Manager shall participate in all personnel actions affecting department heads, shall periodically perform employee evaluations and make recommendations to the Board regarding salaries of personnel under the Manager's supervision.

(4) The Manager shall prepare and submit to the Board before the close of each fiscal year a detailed, balanced budget for the next fiscal year and an explanatory budget message when requested. Such budget shall be submitted in sufficient time to allow for its study and adoption within the time limitations of the Second Class Township Code. In preparing the recommended budget, the Township Manager shall obtain from the head of each department, agency, board or office estimates of revenues and expenditures and such other supporting data as is deemed necessary. The Township Manager shall review such estimates and may revise same prior to submission of the recommended budget to the Board.

(5) The Manager shall be responsible for the administration of the budget after its adoption by the Board of Supervisors and shall prepare monthly financial statements of all revenues and expenditures with appropriate recommendations to the Board.

(6) The Manager shall, in conjunction with the preparation of the yearly budget, develop long-range fiscal plans for the municipality, such plans to be presented annually to the Board of Supervisors for its review and adoption.

(7) The Manager shall submit to the Board, as soon as possible after the close of the fiscal year, a complete report on the financial and administrative activities of the Township for the preceding year.

(8) The Manager shall periodically prepare and submit to the Board of Supervisors reports as to the conduct of Township affairs and such other reports as requested by the Board.

(9) The Manager shall prepare the agenda for each meeting of the Board and supply facts pertinent thereto.

(10) The Manager shall attend all regular and special meetings of the Board of Supervisors, unless excused by the Board of Supervisors. The Manager may participate in the general discussions of the Board but shall not have the right to vote.

(11) The Manager may hold such other municipal offices or head one or more of the municipal departments as the Board may from time to time direct.

(12) The Manager shall conduct the general affairs of the Township, including but not limited to purchasing, collections, administration and enforcement of contracts, leases and franchises, in accordance with applicable laws and ordinances and the directives and policies of the Board of Supervisors.

(13) The Manager may employ, with the approval of the Board of Supervisors, experts or consultants to perform work and to provide advice to the Township in connection with any of the functions of the Township.

(14) The Manager shall attend to the letting of contracts in due form of law and shall supervise the performance and faithful execution of same except insofar as such duties are expressly imposed upon other Township officers by law.

(15) The Manager shall see that all money owed to the Township is promptly paid and that proper proceedings are taken for the security and collection of all Township claims.

(16) All questions and complaints regarding Township services, actions and personnel shall be referred to the Township Manager. The Manager shall investigate, evaluate, respond to and dispose of such questions and complaints in accordance with Township policies and regulations and shall report thereon to the Board of Supervisors.

(17) The Manager shall serve as the liaison between the Board of Supervisors and the public and shall make all appropriate Township information available to the public.

(18) The Manager shall research and investigate the administration and governmental functions of other municipalities and other governmental agencies in order to make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding appropriate ordinances affecting the health, safety, welfare and administration of the Township.

(19) The Manager shall see to the publication of all notices, ordinances, or other documents required by law to be published and to prepare or cause to be prepared all reports which the Township or any of the officials thereof are required by law to prepare.

(20) The Manager shall be responsible for maintaining in good order all municipal records required by law to be kept by the Township.

(21) The Manager shall perform all lawful duties designated by the Board of Supervisors.

§ 17-6 Absence or disability of Manager.

Should the Manager become ill or disabled or otherwise need to be absent from the Township, the Assistant Manager or other person designated by the Board of Supervisors shall perform the duties of the Manager. The Assistant Manager or other designated person shall not perform these duties for a period in excess of two weeks without approval of the Board of Supervisors.

§ 17-7 Limitations.

A. It is the express intention of this chapter that individual members of the Board of Supervisors shall not interfere with, dictate, influence or attempt to interfere with, dictate or influence the day-to-day administrative operations of the Township. However, nothing herein shall prevent the Board from establishing a committee of its own members to review the operations and legislative needs of the Township departments or from assigning its members to liaison relationships with boards, commissioners, and authorities.

[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 03-08]

B. Limitations upon Manager.

(1) The Manager shall have no authority to fill any position or take any action reserved to the Board of Supervisors by the Second Class Township Code.

(2) The Manager shall not hire or fire any department head without approval of the Board.

(3) Other than making recommendations and presenting alternatives to the Board, the Manager shall refrain from any attempt to influence decisions of a legislative or quasi-judicial nature, including but not limited to zoning changes, consideration of subdivision or development plans and purchase of open space or park lands.

[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 03-08]

(4) The Manager shall refrain from actively engaging in federal, state, county or municipal politics.