[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
West Hempfield 10-9-1989 as Ord. No. 10-89. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The purpose of this chapter is to enable the township
to function under generally accepted principles of the Council-Manager form
of government. The Board of Supervisors shall be responsible for legislative
policy-making and appointing a professional Township Manager who shall be
responsible for supervising and conducting the administrative affairs of the
township, as well as carrying out all policies and programs established by
the Board.
The position of Township Manager is hereby created by the Township of
West Hempfield.
The Township 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 and may be removed, with or without cause, at
any time by a majority vote of all its members. At least thirty (30) days
before such removal is to become effective, the Board shall furnish the Manager
with a written statement setting forth its intention to remove him or her.
A.
The Township Manager shall be chosen solely on the basis
of executive and administrative abilities, with special reference to training
and/or experience in municipal management. During his or her tenure, the Township
Manager shall not hold any elective governmental office.
B.
The Manager need not be a resident of the township or
commonwealth at the time of the appointment, but may reside outside the township
while in office only with the approval of the Board.
Before entering upon his or her duties, the Manager shall give a bond
to the township, with a bonding company as surety, to be approved by the Board,
in the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.), conditioned on the
faithful performance of his or her duties, the premium for said bond to be
paid by the township.
The Manager's salary, expenses, vacation and holidays shall be determined
by the Board of Supervisors at the annual meeting.
The Manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the township
and shall be responsible to the Board 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. Subject to recall
by the Board, the Township Manager shall have the following duties and the
commensurate powers to carry out those duties:
A.
To supervise and be responsible for the activities of
all municipal departments, including the Police Department, except those relating
directly to the performance of a police officer's duty and except as otherwise
provided by chapter or law. The Chief of Police shall be under the supervision
of the Manager, and the Manager shall ensure that the Chief implements the
policies and directions of the Board.
B.
To appoint, suspend or remove with the advice and consent
of the Board all department heads except the Police Chief on the basis of
merit system principals. The Manager shall assist the Board with the appointment
of a Police Chief. Any employee so removed shall have the right of appeal
to the Board of Supervisors.
C.
To appoint, suspend or remove, with the advice and consent
of the Board, all other township employees on the basis of merit system principles
(except where tenure provisions apply). This subsection shall not apply to
the Solicitor or Engineer. The Manager may authorize any department head to
exercise such policies or power with respect to his or her subordinates, provided
that any such authorized exercise shall ultimately be subject to the Manager's
supervision, review and modification.
D.
To prepare and submit to the Board, before the close
of each fiscal year, a budget for the next fiscal year and an explanatory
budget message. In preparing the budget, the Manager or an officer designated
by the Manager shall obtain from the head of each department, agency or board
or any qualified officer thereof estimates of revenues and expenditures and
such other supporting data as he or she requires. The Manager shall review
such estimates and may revise them before submitting the budget to the Board.
E.
To exercise control over the administration of the budget
after its adoption by the Board.
F.
To develop long-range fiscal plans for the municipality
in conjunction with the preparation of the yearly budget, such plan to be
presented annually to the Board for its review and adoption.
G.
To hold such other municipal offices and head such municipal
departments as the Board may from time to time direct.
H.
To attend all meetings of the Board and its committees,
with the right to participate in the discussion but not to vote. The Township
Manager shall be notified of all special meetings of the Board and its committees.
I.
To prepare the agenda for each meeting of the Board and
to supply facts pertinent thereto.
J.
To inform the Board as to the conduct of township affairs,
to submit periodic reports on the condition of the township finances and such
other reports as the Board requests and to make such recommendations to the
Board as he or she deems advisable.
K.
To prepare and submit to the Board, as soon as possible
after the close of the fiscal year, a complete report on the finances and
the administrative activities of the township for the preceding year.
L.
To ensure that the provisions of all franchises, leases,
permits and privileges granted by the township are observed.
M.
To employ, by and with the approval of the Board, experts
and consultants to perform services on behalf of the township.
N.
To attend the letting of contracts in due form of law
and to supervise the performance and faithful execution of the same, except
insofar as such duties are expressly imposed by statute upon some other township
officer.
O.
To ensure that all moneys owed the township are promptly
paid and that proper proceedings are taken for the security and collection
of all the township's claims.
P.
To be the purchasing officer of the township and to purchase,
in accordance with the provisions of the Township Code, all supplies and equipment
for the agencies, boards, departments and other offices of the township, keeping
an account of all purchases and, from time to time or when directed by the
Board, making a full written report thereof. The Manager shall also issue
rules and regulations, subject to the approval of the Board, governing the
procurement of all municipal supplies and equipment.
Q.
To receive all complaints regarding township services
referred to the office of the Manager. The Manager, or a person designated
by him or her, shall investigate and dispose of such complaints, and the Manager
shall report thereon to the Board. If a complaint shall involve the Police
Department, the Manager shall also refer the complaint to the Chief of Police
who shall perform a separate investigation and also submit a written report
to the Board.
R.
To be responsible for the enforcement of all ordinances
and regulations of the township.
S.
To participate in intergovernmental programs, to monitor
legislative activity and to keep abreast of current advances in management
and technology.
T.
To perform such other duties as may be required by the
Board.
A.
In the relationship between the Board and the Manager,
the Board shall act as a body in all its dealings with the Manager. Individual
members of the Board shall refrain from interfering with the Manager or any
authorized personnel of the township in the performance of their duties, and
all members of the Board and its appointed bodies, except for purposes of
inquiry, shall deal with administrative matters solely through the Manager.
B.
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, commissions and authorities.
If the Manager becomes ill or needs to be absent from the township,
he or she shall recommend to the Board one (1) qualified person to perform
the duties of the Manager during his or her absence or disability. The Board
shall designate a person to perform the Manager's duties.
