Township of Dickinson, PA Chapter 23 Manager

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Dickinson 2-20-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-1. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 23-1 Creation of office.

The office of Township Manager is hereby created by the Township of Dickinson pursuant to the authority of Section 1301 of the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 66301.

§ 23-2 Appointment and removal.

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

§ 23-3 Qualifications.

[Amended 2-2-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-3; 11-15-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-06]

The Manager shall be chosen solely on the basis of executive and administrative abilities, with special reference to actual experience and knowledge of accepted practices in respect to the duties of the office, as herein outlined. The Manager need not be a resident of the State of Pennsylvania at the time of appointment but during the tenure of office shall move into the State of Pennsylvania within a reasonable period of time. The Manager shall be able to respond to the Township Building within a sixty-minute commute.

§ 23-4 Bond.

Before entering upon the duties of the office, the Township Manager shall give a bond with a corporate surety, to be approved by the Board of Supervisors, in the sum of $100,000, conditioned for the faithful performance of duties, the premium for the said bond to be paid by the Township.

§ 23-5 Salary.

[Amended 2-2-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-3]

The Township Manager shall receive a salary as set annually by the Board of Supervisors.

§ 23-6 Powers and duties.

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 placed in the Manager's charge. The Manager's powers and duties shall relate to the general management of Township business not expressly imposed or conferred upon other Township officers by statute, ordinance or regulation.

B. Subject to recall by ordinance, the powers and duties of the Manager shall include the following:

(1) To supervise and be responsible for the activities of all municipal departments and employees.

(2) To hire and, when necessary for the good of the Township, to discipline, suspend or discharge any employee, provided that the Manager shall report to the Board of Supervisors any such action within 24 hours of taking action as authorized by this subsection.

[Amended 2-2-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-3]

(3) To give recommendation to the Board of Supervisors as to the wages and salaries of all personnel.

(4) To prepare and submit to the Board of Supervisors before the first day of November of each year, or on such alternate date as the Board of Supervisors shall determine, a budget for the next fiscal year and an explanatory budget message. In preparing the budget, the Manager or an officer designated by him/her shall obtain from the head of each department, agency, board, officer or employee estimates of revenues and expenditures and other supporting data as is required. The Manager shall review such estimates and may revise them before submitting the budget to the Board of Supervisors.

(5) To be responsible for the implementation and administration of the budget after its adoption by the Board of Supervisors.

(6) In conjunction with the preparation of each budget, to develop long-range fiscal plans for the Township.

(7) Unless otherwise directed, to attend all meetings of the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission.

(8) With the advice of the Solicitor, to take, or supervise subordinates to take, appropriate action to execute and enforce the laws of the commonwealth and the ordinances and resolutions of the Township.

(9) To prepare the agenda for each meeting of the Board of Supervisors and supply facts pertinent thereto.

(10) To keep the Board of Supervisors informed on a monthly basis, or more often as may be necessary, as to the conduct of Township affairs; submit periodic reports on the condition of the Township finances and such other reports as the Board of Supervisors requests; and to make such recommendations to the Board as the Manager deems necessary.

[Amended 2-2-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-3]

(11) To submit to the Board of Supervisors 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.

(12) To see that the provisions of all franchises, leases, permits, and privileges granted by the Township are observed.

(13) Upon the approval of the Board of Supervisors, to retain experts and consultants to advise in connection with any of the functions of the Township.

(14) To attend to the letting of contracts in accordance with applicable law; to supervise the performance and faithful execution of the same except insofar as such duties are expressly imposed upon some other Township Officer by statute, ordinance or regulation.

(15) To see that all money due to the Township is promptly paid and that proper proceedings are taken for the security and collection of all the Township's claims.

(16) To serve as Purchasing Officer of the Township and to purchase, in accordance with the provisions of applicable law or ordinance, all supplies and equipment for the agencies, boards, departments, and other offices of the Township. The Manager shall keep an account of all purchases and shall, as directed by the Board of Supervisors, make a full written report thereof. The Manager shall also issue written rules and regulations, subject to the approval of the Board of Supervisors, governing the requisition and purchasing of all municipal supplies and equipment.

[Amended 2-2-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-3]

(17) To investigate or dispose, or to supervise the investigation and disposition of, all complaints regarding Township services, and to report to the Board of Supervisors thereon. Complaints regarding Township services shall be referred to the Office of the Manager.

(18) To cooperate with the Board of Supervisors at all times and in all matters, so that the best interests of the Township and of the general public may be maintained.

(19) To execute, on behalf of the Township, such routine and administrative contracts and agreements as have been specifically identified and delegated to the Manager, from time to time, by resolution of the Board of Supervisors; provided that the Manager shall orally report any agreement and/or contract executed pursuant to this subsection during open session of the next available meeting of the Board of Supervisors and shall publish same on the agenda of that meeting.

[Added 1-7-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-01]

§ 23-7 Absence or disability of Manager.

In the event of the absence of the Manager for any reason, he or she shall designate one qualified member of the Township staff to perform the duties of the Office during such absence or disability. The person so designated shall not perform these duties for a period longer than two consecutive weeks without the approval of the Board of Supervisors.

§ 23-8 Limitation on Board of Supervisors.

It is the intent of the Board of Supervisors that neither the Board, its members nor its committees shall dictate or influence the hiring, supervising or discharging of any person employed, or to be employed, by the Township, or in any manner take part in the hiring, disciplining, suspending or discharging of employees in the administrative service of the Township. Other than for the purpose of inquiry, the Board of Supervisors or any of its members or any of its committees or its members should deal with the administrative service solely through the Township Manager, and neither the Board of Supervisors nor any of its members nor any of its committees or its members should give orders, publicly or privately, to any subordinate of the Manager.