The office of Borough Manager is hereby created.
Before entering upon his or her duties, the Manager shall give
a bond to the Borough with a bonding company as surety, in the amount
of 25% of the Borough's annual operating budget, the premium
for said bond to be paid by the Borough. The Manager shall provide
for such bond annually.
The Manager shall be the Chief Administrative Officer of the
Borough. The Manager shall be responsible to the Council for the administration
of all municipal affairs placed in his or her charge. The powers and
duties of administration of all municipal business shall be vested
in the Manager, unless expressly imposed or conferred by statute upon
other municipal officers. The Manager shall have the following specific
duties and the commensurate powers to carry out those duties, subject
to recall or revision by ordinance:
A. Direct and administer all executive and nonlegislative activities
of the Borough, except as otherwise provided by statute or ordinance.
B. Supervise and oversee the activities of all municipal departments
and employees, with the exception of the Police Department, unless
such responsibility is specifically delegated to the Manager by the
Mayor as prescribed in the Borough Code.
C. Hire and, when necessary, discipline, suspend or discharge any administrative
service employee under his or her supervision in accordance with collective
bargaining agreements, employment agreements, and any Borough policies
or procedures adopted and promulgated by Council. The Manager shall
report at each meeting of Council any action taken pursuant to the
authority of this subsection.
D. Participate in all personnel actions affecting department heads;
periodically perform employee evaluations; and make recommendations
to the Council regarding wage rates or salaries of Borough employees.
E. Prepare the agenda for all committee and related meetings of the
Council and supply facts pertinent thereto.
F. Attend all meetings of the Council, unless excused by Council, at
which meetings he or she shall have the right to participate in discussions,
but shall not have the right or privilege to vote on any matter.
G. Prescribe such internal rules and regulations as are deemed necessary
or expedient for the conduct and operation of administrative units
and may revoke, suspend or amend any such rule or regulation of the
administrative service.
H. Have the power to designate from the administrative service such
committees and the officers thereof as he or she shall find necessary
for the proper consideration of administrative problems. Such committees
shall meet at the request of the Borough Manager and shall make such
recommendations on matters referred to them as they shall find necessary
for the best interests of the Borough.
I. Promote the public good will and represent the Borough before civic
associations, business, professional or governmental groups, the press
and interested citizens concerning the general affairs and administrative
functions of the Borough.
J. Assemble estimates of the financial needs and resources of the Borough
for each ensuing year and prepare a program of activities within the
financial power of the Borough, embodying in it a detailed, balanced
budget document with proper supporting schedules and analyses. Such
budget shall be submitted in sufficient time to allow for its study
and adoption within the time limitations of the Borough Code. In preparing
the recommended budget, the Manager shall obtain from the head of
each department, agency, board or office estimates of revenues and
expenditures and such other supporting data as is deemed necessary.
The Manager shall review and revise such estimates prior to submission
of the recommended budget to Council.
K. Submit with the proposed budget a narrative, explanatory budget message.
The budget message shall provide information concerning the fiscal
plan emphasizing any significant changes in revenues and/or expenditures,
and any specific programs or projects in the budget.
L. Develop long-range fiscal plans for the Borough, in conjunction with
the preparation of the annual budget, to be presented to Council annually
for its review and adoption.
M. Administer the budget after its adoption by Council and prepare monthly
financial statements of all revenues and expenditures with appropriate
recommendations to Council.
N. Submit to Council, as soon as possible after the close of the fiscal
year, a complete report on the financial and administrative activities
of the municipality from the preceding year. Where Council elects
to have a complete audit performed on the Borough's finances
or programs, the Manager will cooperate fully and completely with
the auditors in providing them information necessary for the completion
of the audit.
O. Implement and monitor that the provisions of all franchises, leases,
contracts, licenses, permits and privileges granted by the Borough
are fully observed and report to the Council any violation thereof.
P. To enter into contracts or authorize purchases, on behalf of the
Borough, for amounts equal or less than $1,000, and report the same
to the Council in a timely manner.
Q. Hold such other municipal offices or head one or more of the municipal
departments as Council may, from time to time, direct.
R. Have general supervision, for administrative, recordkeeping and insurance
purposes, over all Borough property and equipment and its use by the
public or by Borough employees.
S. Oversee the publication of all notices, ordinances, or other documents
required by law to be published, and to prepare or cause to be prepared
all reports which the municipality or any of the officials thereof
are required by law to prepare.
T. Make such recommendations to the Council concerning Borough policy
as he or she shall deem desirable or when instructed by the Council
to do so. He or she shall keep the Council fully informed as to the
conduct of municipal affairs and advise the Council as to the needs
of the Borough.
U. Serve as the primary Borough contact to the Borough Solicitor, Engineer,
auditors, inspectors and other professional consultants.
V. Be responsible to monitor the enforcement of all ordinances and regulations
of the Borough and make reports, as directed by Council, regarding
same.
W. Assess both the short- and long-term problems and affairs of the
Borough and recommend plans and courses of action to the Council.
X. Participate in the intergovernmental programs, monitor legislative
activities and keep abreast of current advances in management and
technology.
Y. Perform such other duties as are required by the Council.
If the Manager becomes ill or needs to be absent from the Borough
for any period of time, he/she shall designate a qualified member
of his/her staff who shall perform the duties of Manager during his/her
absence of disability. Council, by a majority vote may, at any time,
revoke such designation and appoint a qualified employee to serve
as Acting Manager.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, members of the
Council will not interfere with the Borough Manager or prevent him
or her from exercising his or her own judgment in the management of
Borough affairs under his or her jurisdiction. Except for the purpose
of inquiry or routine information, and necessary contact by Council
committee members, the Council and its members will deal with the
administrative service solely through the Borough Manager. All complaints
about Borough matters, received by Councilpersons or other Borough
officials or employees, will be immediately forwarded to the Manager
for review, reply and disposition, excepting complaints involving
police matters, which shall be directed to the Police Chief for resolution
by the Manager.
The Manager shall refrain from the following:
A. Engaging in federal, state, county or local politics.
B. Hiring or firing any department head without first notifying and
consulting with Council.
C. Fill any position or take any action reserved to the governing body
or Mayor by the Borough Code.
D. Other than making recommendations and presenting alternatives to
the governing body or commission, the Manager shall refrain from any
attempt to influence decisions of a legislative or quasi-judicial
nature, including but not limited to zoning changes, consideration
of subdivision, or development plans and purchase of open space or
parklands.
E. Accepting any gifts or gratuities from any individual or corporation
which sells, supplies or markets equipment, goods or services to the
Borough or who, at any time hereafter, may sell or supply equipment,
goods or services to the Borough, unless de minimus and disclosed
promptly to Council.