[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Lower Pottsgrove 12-3-1973 by Ord. No. 132 (Ch. 1, Part 3, of the 1995 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The office of the Township Manager be and the same is hereby created, subject to the right of the Township, by ordinance at any time, to abolish said office.
A. 
The Township Manager shall be appointed for an indefinite term by a majority vote of all the members of the Board of Commissioners. The Township Manager shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Commissioners, and he may be removed at any time by a majority vote of all its members. At least 30 days before such removal becomes effective, the Commissioners shall furnish the Township Manager with a written statement setting forth their intention to remove him from office. When a vacancy occurs in the office of Township Manager by reason of death, resignation or removal by the Board of Commissioners, the Board shall appoint a suitable person to hold the office in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The Township Manager need not be a resident of the Township or of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at the time of this appointment, but during the tenure of his office he may reside outside the Township only with the approval of the Board of Commissioners.
B. 
If charges against the Township Manager shall be presented to the Board of Commissioners, in writing, the same shall be submitted to a committee of three members of the Board appointed by the President of the said Board of Commissioners. The duty of the committee shall be to elect its chairman and secretary, and within five days from the date of its appointment, notify the Township Manager, in writing, of the charges presented and the date set for the hearing on such charges by the committee. The committee shall create its own rules for the conduct of the hearing and shall hear such testimony as may be presented for or against the Township Manager, and then within five days from the date of said hearing and/or hearings, submit its written report and recommendations, by a majority vote of its members, to the President of the said Board of Commissioners, and at the same time the committee shall forward a copy thereof to the Township Manager. The said report of the committee shall be read at the next regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners or at a special meeting called for that purpose, and the Township Manager shall then have the further right at that time to make such defense by address to the Board of Commissioners in session, after which, members of the Board shall have the right to present their views on the matter, and then a vote shall be taken by the Board of Commissioners, wherein their action shall be by a majority vote of the members present and voting at said session. There shall be no appeal from the results of said vote and action taken. In case of a vacancy in the office of Township Manager, the Board of Commissioners shall, by a majority vote of the members present and voting, fill said office.
Before entering upon his duties, the Township Manager shall give a bond to Lower Pottsgrove Township with a bonding company as surety, which bond shall be approved by the Board, in the sum of $50,000, conditioned for faithful performance of his duties. The premium shall be paid by the Township.
The salary of the Township Manager shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Commissioners.
[Amended 3-23-1995 by Ord. No. 192; 2-2-1998 by Ord. No. 210]
A. 
The Township Manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the Township, and he shall be responsible to the Board of 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 imposed or conferred upon other Township officials by statute.
B. 
Subject to recall by resolution of the Board, and upon his selection and assumption of office, the powers and duties of the Township Manager shall include the following:
(1) 
The Township Manager shall supervise and be responsible for the activities of all Township departments and all Township uniformed and nonuniformed employees.
(2) 
He shall prepare and submit to the Board before the close of the fiscal year a recommendation budget for the next fiscal year and an explanatory budget when necessary. Such budget shall be submitted in sufficient time to allow for its study and adoption within the time directed by the First Class Township Code, 53 P.S. § 55101 et seq. In preparing the recommended budget, the Township Manager or an officer designated by him shall obtain from the head of each department, agency, board or office estimates of revenues and expenditures and such other supporting data as he may require. The Township Manager shall review such estimates and may revise them before submitting the recommended budget to the Board.
(3) 
He shall be responsible for the administration of the budget after its adoption by the Board.
(4) 
He shall hold such other Township offices or head one or more of the Township departments as the Board may from time to time direct.
(5) 
He shall attend all meetings of the Board and the meetings of its committees when directed to do so by the Board, with the right to take part in the discussion, and he shall receive notice of all special meetings of the Board or its committees.
(6) 
He shall prepare the agenda for each meeting of the Board and supply facts pertinent thereto.
(7) 
He shall keep the Board informed as to the conduct of the Township affairs; submit periodic reports on the condition of the Township finances and such other reports as the Board requests; and make such recommendations to the Board as he deems necessary.
(8) 
He shall 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.
(9) 
He shall see that the provisions of all franchises, leases, permits and privileges granted by the Township are observed.
(10) 
He may employ, by and with the approval of the Board, experts or consultants to perform work and to advise in connection with any of the functions of the Township.
(11) 
He shall attend to the letting of contracts in due form of law, and he shall supervise the performance and faithful execution of same, except insofar as such duties are expressly imposed upon some other Township officer by statute.
(12) 
He shall 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, provided that he shall not be responsible for payment or collection of any taxes imposed by the Township.
(13) 
He shall be the purchasing officer of the Township and he shall purchase in accordance with the provisions of the First Class Township Code, 53 P.S. § 55101 et seq., 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 or when directed by the Board, make a full written report thereof. He shall also issue rules and regulations, subject to the approval of the Board, governing the requisition and purchasing of all Township supplies and equipment. These duties may also be delegated to any other office of the Township upon the approval of the Board.
(14) 
All complaints regarding services or personnel of the Township, except for complaints regarding services or personnel of the Police Department of the Township, shall be referred to the office of the Township Manager. He or an official designated by him shall investigate and dispose of such complaints, and the Township Manager shall report thereon to the Board.
(15) 
He shall make research and investigation into the administrative and governmental functions of various Townships and make recommendations to the Board of appropriate ordinances affecting the health, safety, welfare and administration of this Township.
(16) 
A Township Manager who is also a qualified voter of the Township may serve as Secretary of the Township and, when so appointed, shall have all the powers and duties given to the office of Township Secretary by statute and ordinance of this Township.
(17) 
All applications for employment by the Township, excepting the appointed offices of the Township which by law are required to be filled by legislative action of the Board of Commissioners, such as the Township Treasurer, the Borough Solicitor and all members of the Police Department, shall be made to the Township Manager. The Township Manager shall present the applications to the Board of Commissioners with his recommendations for final decision by the Board. The Township Manager shall have authority to recommend dismissal or suspension of any Township employee, excepting the appointed offices of the Township which by law are required to be filled by legislative action of the Board of Commissioners, such as the Township Treasurer, the Borough Solicitor and all members of the Police Department. Such recommendations shall contain the reasons asserted by the Township Manager in support of the recommendation. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the Board of Commissioners shall deal with the administrative service solely through the Township Manager, and neither the Board nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinates of the Township Manager, either publicly or privately.
(18) 
The Manager shall be the chief administrative officer of all pension plans enforced in the Township except as otherwise determined by resolution of the Board of Commissioners.
[Amended 3-23-1995 by Ord. No. 192]
If the Township Manager becomes ill or needs to be absent from the Township, he shall designate one qualified member of his staff who shall perform the duties of the Township Manager during his absence or disability. The person so designated shall not perform these duties for a period longer than three weeks without the approval of the Board.