[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Jenkintown 3-27-1978 by Ord. No. 78-3. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Administration of government — See Ch. 4.
The office of Borough Manager is hereby created by the Borough
of Jenkintown.
[Amended 6-24-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-7]
The Borough Manager shall be appointed for an indefinite term
by a majority of all members of the Borough Council. The Borough Manager
shall serve at the pleasure of the Borough Council, and may be removed
at any time by a majority vote of all its members.
The Borough Manager shall be chosen solely on the basis of executive
and administrative abilities with special reference to the duties
of the office as herein outlined. No Borough Council member or other
elected Borough official shall be appointed Borough Manager during
the term for which he shall have been elected nor within one year
after the expiration of his term.
A.
The Borough Manager shall be the chief administrative officer of
the Borough and shall be responsible to Borough Council as a whole
for the proper and efficient administration of the affairs of the
Borough placed in his charge. The powers and duties of administration
of all Borough business shall be vested in the Borough Manager unless
expressly imposed by statute upon other Borough officers or officials.
B.
The powers and duties of the Borough Manager shall include the following:
(1)
To supervise and to be responsible for the activities of all municipal
departments.
(2)
To appoint and, when necessary for the good of the service, to suspend
or remove all officers and employees under his supervision, provided
that persons covered by civil service provisions shall be appointed,
suspended or removed in accordance with such provisions, and further
provided that the Borough Manager shall report at the next meeting
thereafter of Borough Council any action taken by authority of this
subsection. All recommendations for appointment or removal shall be
based solely on the merit, qualifications or disqualifications of
the official concerned, without regard to his political beliefs or
affiliations.
(3)
To prepare and submit to Borough Council a personnel system for the
Borough based upon merit principles, and to be responsible for the
administration of such after its adoption and/or revision.
(4)
To prepare and submit to Borough Council the annual budget, together
with a message describing the important features, and to be responsible
for the administration of such after its adoption.
(5)
To prepare the agenda for each meeting of Borough Council and supply
facts pertinent thereto, and to attend all meetings of Borough Council
with the right to take part in the discussions.
(6)
To negotiate contracts for the Borough, subject to the approval of
Borough Council; to make recommendations concerning the nature and
location of municipal improvements; to execute municipal improvements
as determined by Borough Council; to see that the provisions of all
contracts, franchises, leases, permits and privileges granted by or
executed on behalf of the Borough are faithfully observed; and to
employ, when directed by Borough Council, experts and consultants
to perform work and to advise in connection with any of the functions
of the Borough.
(7)
To submit to Borough Council, as soon as possible after the close
of the fiscal year, a complete report on the finances and the administrative
activities of the Borough for the preceding year; to keep Borough
Council informed as to the conduct of all Borough affairs; to submit
periodic reports on the condition of Borough finances and such other
reports as Borough Council requests; and to recommend adoption of
such measures as he may deem necessary or expedient for the health,
safety or welfare of the community or for the improvement of administrative
services.
(8)
To investigate all complaints regarding Borough services and to report
to Borough Council thereon. All complaints regarding Borough services
shall be referred to the Borough Manager.
(9)
To see that all laws, provisions of this chapter and actions of Borough
Council, subject to enforcement by him or by officers subject to his
direction, are faithfully executed.
(10)
To perform such other duties as may be required by ordinance, resolution
or motion of Borough Council, and to be responsible to Borough Council
for carrying out all policies established by it and for the proper
administration of all affairs of the Borough within the jurisdiction
of Borough Council.
The Borough Manager shall furnish a surety bond to be approved
by Borough Council, said bond to be conditioned on the faithful performance
of his duties. The premium of the bond shall be paid by the Borough.
The salary of the Borough Manager shall be fixed from time to
time by Borough Council.
By notice filed with the President of Borough Council, the Borough
Manager shall designate a qualified administrative officer of the
Borough to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Borough
Manager during his temporary absence or disability. Borough Council
may revoke such designation at any time and appoint another officer
of the Borough to serve until the Borough Manager shall return or
his disability shall cease.
The Mayor is hereby authorized to delegate to the Borough Manager,
subject to revocation by written notification at any time, any of
his nonlegislative and nonjudicial powers and duties.
It is the intention of this chapter that Borough Council shall
act in all matters as a body, and it is contrary to the spirit of
this chapter for any of its members to direct or request the appointment
of any person to, or his removal from, office or to interfere in any
way with the performance by such officers of their duties, except
as required by civil service provisions. Other than for purposes of
inquiry or in circumstances of overriding public interest or emergency,
Borough Council, its members and committees shall deal with the administrative
service solely through the Borough Manager and shall not give orders
to any subordinates of the Borough Manager, either publicly or privately.
Nothing herein contained shall prevent Borough Council from appointing
committees or commissions of its own members or of citizens to conduct
investigations into the conduct of any offices or departments or any
matter relating to the welfare of the Borough and delegating to such
committees or commissions such powers of inquiry as Borough Council
may deem necessary.