The office of Township Manager for the Township
of Hatfield is hereby created pursuant to the provisions of § 1502
of the First Class Township Code, Act of June 24, 1931, P.L. 1206,
as amended.
As soon as possible after the passage of this
article, the Township Commissioners shall appoint by a majority vote
of all of its members an individual to fill said post. The Township
Manager so appointed shall serve for an indefinite term, at the pleasure
of the Township Commissioners and may be removed at any time by a
vote of the majority of all of the members of the Township Commissioners.
The following qualifications shall be required
of any individual appointed to the office of Township Manager of Hatfield
Township:
A. He shall be a citizen of the United States and at
least 21 years of age.
B. He shall possess a college degree in public administration
or business administration, or have received sufficient college credits
in municipal or public courses, or have experience in municipal government
administration satisfactory to the Township Commissioners, or meet
any other requirements or qualifications of the Township Commissioners
deemed requisite for the position of Township Manager in order to
be sufficiently able to discharge the duties of his office as hereinafter
set forth.
The Township Manager shall be the chief administrative
officer of the Township and as such shall be responsible to the Township
Commissioners as a whole for the proper and efficient administration
of the affairs of the Township. His powers and duties shall relate
to the general management of all Township business not expressly by
statute or ordinance imposed or conferred upon the Township officers.
He shall carry out such nonlegislative and nonjudicial duties and
powers of the Township Commissioners as delegated, subject to recall.
The Township Commissioners shall, if they so
desire, require the Township Manager to give a bond to the benefit
of the Township with a surety company, or other company authorized
by law to act as surety, for the faithful performance of the duties
of the position of Township Manager, and the amount and the surety
company may be approved by the Township Commissioners either by way
of ordinance or resolution.
[Amended 4-12-1973 by Ord. No. 250A]
The specific duties and authority of the Township
Manager shall include, but not be limited to:
A. He shall be vested with the authority of and shall
carry out the duties of the Township Manager as specified in the First
Class Township Code.
B. He shall supervise and be responsible for the activities
of all municipal departments.
C. He shall have hiring/suspension/termination authority
of all Township employees, with the exception of uniformed employees,
pursuant to the following provisions:
[Amended 2-25-2009 by Ord. No. 583]
(1) Nonuniformed,
non-department head/Assistant Manager positions. He shall have the
authority to hire, suspend or terminate all employees in this category
with due cause, except for such appointive offices as are required
by law to be filled by action of the Board of Commissioners. The President
of the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Commissioners shall
be informed when the Manager takes action pursuant to this section.
The Manager may alter the duties of any position at his discretion;
however, the Manager cannot create positions for the Township.
(2) Nonuniformed,
department head/Assistant Manager positions. He shall have the authority
to hire, suspend or terminate all employees in this category with
due cause, except for such appointive offices as are required by law
to be filled by action of the Board of Commissioners, with the exception
of the Chief of Police. The Manager shall oversee the interview and
hiring process. The Manager will inform the Board of the planned hiring
process prior to commencement of the job search. If the hiring process
exceeds 120 days, the Manager will periodically provide a status update
to the Board of the hiring process. Prior to a formal offer to a candidate,
the Manager shall review the number of applicants, the interview process,
the credentials of the top candidates, the rationale for the particular
selection and the offer being made to the candidate with the Board
of Commissioners. Following review with the Board of Commissioners,
the Manager may negotiate an offer with the candidate selected by
the Manager.
(3) Uniformed
employees. The Civil Service Code process hires/promotes all uniformed
employees, except the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police, in consultation
with the Manager, can suspend or discipline uniformed employees for
a maximum of 10 days without Board authorization. The Manager and
the Chief of Police will recommend termination of uniformed employees
to the Board of Commissioners. The Manager and the Board of Commissioners
shall work together to hire, suspend or terminate the Chief of Police.
Annual reviews of the Chief of Police made by the Manager shall be
reviewed with the Board of Commissioners, including work performance
and goals. When hiring a Chief of Police, the Manager shall interview
candidates for the position, and shall select a final candidate who
shall be interviewed by the Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners
and the Manager shall confirm that the candidate is the best choice
for the Township or decide on another course of action.
D. He shall supervise and direct the office, duties and
functions of all subordinate employees of the Township in all departments
over which the Township Commissioners have jurisdiction. He shall
be responsible for reorganizing the several departments of the Township
government including the elimination or consolidation of any departments
and any changes in the powers and duties of the department heads.
E. He shall execute and enforce all laws of the commonwealth
with respect to Township matters, as well as all ordinances, resolutions
and regulations of the Township, provided however, that this shall
be construed to be in addition to and not in substitution of the authority
of any other official or employee of the Township to enforce such
laws, ordinances, resolutions or regulations.
F. He shall prepare and submit to the Township Commissioners
before the close of the fiscal year, or on such alternate dates as
the Township Commissioners may determine, a budget for the next fiscal
year and an explanatory budget message, and in this connection he
shall have the authority to request and receive such information and
figures from any department employee as he may request. He shall be
responsible for the administration of budgets after their adoption.
G. He shall submit and present to the Township Commissioners
as of the end of each fiscal year a complete report of the administrative
and financial activities of the Township during the preceding year
and shall make such interim reports on these matters as the Township
may from time to time request.
H. He shall keep the Township Commissioners advised of
the financial condition of the Township, and of the future needs of
the Township, and shall make such recommendations to the Township
Commissioners in regard thereto as he deems necessary.
I. He shall attend to the letting of contracts in due
form of law and he shall supervise the performance and faithful execution
of the same except insofar as such duties are expressly imposed upon
some other Township officer by statute.
J. He shall see that all monies owing the Township are
properly paid and that the proper proceedings are taken to secure
and collect all Township claims.
K. He shall attend all meetings of the Township Commissioners
and of its committees unless excused in any particular case, and shall
have the right to receive notice of all meetings of the Township Commissioners
and their committees, and to take part in the discussion of all meetings
of the Township Commissioners and their committees.
L. He shall be in charge of the preparation of the agenda
for each meeting of the Commissioners and for committee meetings in
regard thereto, and supply facts pertinent thereto.
M. He shall recommend to the Township Commissioners from
time to time the adoption of such policies as he may deem necessary
or expedient for the health, safety or welfare of the Township or
its citizens.
N. He shall see that the provisions of all franchises,
leases, permits and privileges granted by the Township are observed;
provided, however, that this authority shall be in addition to, and
not in substitution of, any authority granted by law or ordinance
or regulations of the Township, to any other official or employee
of the Township.
O. He shall be the purchasing officer of the Township
and shall purchase in accordance with the provisions of the First
Class Township Code all supplies and equipment for the various agencies,
boards, departments, and other offices of the Township. He shall keep
an account of all purchases and shall from time to time, when directed
by the Township Commissioners, make a full written report thereof.
[Amended 2-25-2009 by Ord. No. 583]
P. He shall cooperate with the Township Commissioners
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 shall
be referred to the Township Manager, who shall, in person or by a
person designated by him, investigate and dispose of such complaints
and the Manager shall report thereon to the Commissioners.
R. He shall become familiar with, and advise the Township
Commissioners concerning, all county, state and federal assistance
grants available to the Township, and, in the event the Township Commissioners
wish to avail themselves of such assistance, he shall be responsible
for the preparation of applications to such authority or body having
jurisdiction thereunder.