[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of Washington 8-4-1975 by Ord. No. 51. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The office of Township Manager is hereby created
by the Township of Washington, subject to the right of the Township,
by ordinance, at any time to abolish such office.
As soon as practicable after the enactment of
this chapter, the Board of Supervisors shall elect, by a majority
vote of all its members, one person to fill the office of Township
Manager, who shall serve until his successor is elected and qualifies.
In the case of a vacancy, the Board of Supervisors of said Township
shall fill said office by a majority vote of all its members. The
Township Manager shall, however, be subject to removal at any time
by a majority vote of all the members of the Board of Supervisors
of said Township.
The Manager shall be chosen on the basis of
his executive and administrative abilities, with special reference
to his actual experience in or his knowledge of accepted practices
in respect to the duties of the office as herein outlined. The Manager
need not be a resident of the Township or of the State of Pennsylvania
at the time of his appointment, but as soon as possible thereafter
he shall become, and during his tenure as Manager shall remain, a
resident of the Township.
Before entering upon his duties, the Township
Manager shall give a bond to the Township, with a bonding company
as surety, in the sum of a minimum of $100,000 conditioned for the
faithful performance of his duties. The premium for said bond to be
paid by the Township of Washington. The bond of the Township Manager
may be included in, and the Manager may be bonded under and covered
by, the blanket bond now in force and effect for all Township employees
in the aforesaid minimum of $100,000.
The Township Manager shall receive such compensation as shall be fixed from time to time by resolution. Said compensation shall be the exclusive compensation of the Township Manager, notwithstanding said individual may also serve the Township in the capacities set forth in § 49-7 herein.
The Township 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 Manager's powers and duties shall
relate to the general management of all Township business not expressly,
by statute or ordinance, imposed or conferred upon other Township
officers. The Chairman of the Board is hereby authorized to delegate
to the Township Manager, subject to recall by written notification
at any time, any of his nonlegislative and nonjudicial powers and
duties.
The Township Manager may also hold the offices
of Zoning Officer and Township Engineer and may perform all the duties
of such offices.
As chief administrative officer of the Township,
the powers and duties of the Township Manager shall, subject to recall
by ordinance, include the following:
A.
Supervise and be responsible for the activities of
all municipal departments, except such departments the supervision
of which shall not have been delegated to the Manager by the Board.
B.
Hire and when the Manager shall deem it necessary
for the good of the service, suspend or discharge all employees under
his supervision, subject, however, to approval of the Board of Supervisors;
provided, however, that all policemen shall be suspended or discharged
in accordance with the laws of the commonwealth. Provided, further,
that the Township Manager shall report, at the next regular meeting
thereafter of the Board of Supervisors of said Township, any action
taken by authority of this subsection.
C.
Prepare and submit to the Board of Supervisors before
the close of the fiscal year, or at such alternate date as the Board
shall determine, a budget for the next fiscal year and an explanatory
budget message. In preparing the budget, the Township Manager, or
an officer designated by him, shall obtain from the head of each department,
agency, board or officer, estimates of revenues and expenditures and
other supporting data as he requests. The Manager shall review such
estimates and may revise them before submitting the budget to the
Board.
D.
Be responsible for the administration of the budget
after its adopting by the Board.
E.
Under the direction of the Board, execute and enforce
the laws of the commonwealth and ordinances, resolutions and bylaws
of the Township.
F.
In addition to the specific duties assigned to the
Township Manager by this chapter, the Manager may perform the duties
and hold the offices of Township Zoning Officer and Township Engineer;
provided, however, that by majority vote of the Board, any or all
of such offices may be taken from the Manager.[1]
G.
Attend all meetings of the Board of Supervisors and
of its committees with the right to take part in the discussion, and
receive notice of all special meetings of the Board and of its committees.
H.
Prepare the agenda for each meeting of the Board and
supply facts pertinent thereto.
I.
Keep the Board informed as to the conduct of Township
affairs; submit periodic reports on the condition of the Township
finances and such other reports as the Board shall request; and make
such recommendations to the Board as may be necessary.
J.
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.
K.
See that the provisions of all franchises, leases,
permits, and privileges granted by the Township are observed.
L.
Employ, by and with the approval of the Board, experts
and consultants to perform work and to advise in connection with any
of the functions of the Township.
M.
Attend to the letting of contracts in due form of
law, and supervise the performance and faithful execution of the same
except insofar as such duties are expressly imposed upon some other
Township Officer by statute.
N.
See that all money owed the Township is promptly paid
and that proper proceedings are taken for the security and collection
of all the Township's claims.
O.
Be the Purchasing Officer of the Township and purchase,
in accordance with the provisions of the Township Code, all supplies
and equipment for various agencies, boards, departments and other
offices of the Township; keep an account of all purchases and from
time to time, or when directed by the Board, make a full written report
thereof; issue rules and regulations, subject to the approval of the
Board, governing the requisition and purchasing of all municipal supplies
and equipment.
P.
Cooperate with the Board of Supervisors at all times
and in all matters that the best interests of the Township and of
the general public may be maintained.
Q.
All complaints regarding services or personnel of
the Township shall be referred to the office of the Township Manager.
The Manager, or an officer designated by him, shall investigate and
dispose of such complaints and the Manager shall report thereon to
the Board.
In case of illness or absence of the Manager
from the Township, the Manager shall delegate one qualified member
of his staff who shall perform the duties of the Manager during his
absence or disability. The person so designated shall not perform
such duties for a period longer than two weeks without the approval
of the Board.
