The Office of Township Manager is hereby created
by the Township of Muhlenberg.
[Amended 3-19-2012 by Ord. No. 506]
The Township Manager, hereinafter referred to
as "Manager," shall be appointed, except as otherwise may be provided
by a contract with the Manager, for an indefinite term, by majority
vote of the Board, hereinafter referred to as the "Board." The Manager
shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be removed at any
time by majority vote of the Board. The terms and conditions of the
employment of the Manager, including terms regarding severance, may
be more fully defined in a contract between the Manager and the Township,
which shall be approved by majority vote of the Board. Any such contract
shall have a term ending on the date of the reorganization meeting
of the Board following the next municipal election, which term may
be extended by the Board following such reorganization meeting.
The Manager shall be chosen solely on the basis
of his executive and administrative abilities. He shall be deemed
to qualify for the position of Township Manager by his having any
one or a combination of any of the following:
A. Bachelor of Arts
degree in governmental administration and three years of experience
in the field of governmental administration.
B. The equivalent
training by reason of his experience and other formal or informal
educational background, which, in the sole discretion of the Board,
qualifies the individual for the office of Township Manager.
Before entering upon his duties, the Manager
shall give a bond to the Township with corporate surety to be approved
by the Board in the sum of $25,000, conditioned for the faithful performance
of his duties. The premium shall be paid by the Township.
Compensation of the Manager shall be in the
sum as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Commissioners
by resolution.
[Amended 3-19-2012 by Ord. No. 506]
The Manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the
Township, and he shall be responsible to the Board 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
officers by statute, ordinance or resolution. The Board is hereby
authorized to delegate to the Manager, subject to recall by written
notification at any time, any of its nonlegislative and nonjudicial
powers and duties. Subject to recall by ordinance, the powers and
duties of the Manager shall include the following:
A. The Manager shall supervise and
be responsible for the activities of all municipal departments.
B. The Manager shall prepare and submit
to the Board before the close of the fiscal year, or on such alternate
date as the Board shall determine, a budget for the next fiscal year
and an explanatory budget message. In preparing the budget, the Manager
or an officer designated by him shall obtain from the head of each
department, agency, board or officer estimates of revenues and expenditures
and other supporting data as he requires. The Manager shall review
such estimates and may revise them before submitting the budget to
the Board.
C. The Manager shall be responsible
for the administration of the entire budget, including the Police
Department, after its adoption by the Board.
D. The Manager shall, under the direction
of the Board, execute and enforce the laws of the commonwealth and
the ordinances and resolutions of the Township.
E. The Manager shall attend all meetings
of the Board unless otherwise directed by the Board.
F. The Manager shall prepare the agenda
for each meeting of the Board and supply facts pertinent thereto.
G. The Manager shall keep the Board
informed as to the conduct of Township affairs, submit periodic reports
on the condition of Township finances and such other reports as the
Board shall request, and make such recommendations to the Board as
he deems necessary.
H. The Manager shall submit to the
Board, as soon as possible after the close of the fiscal year, a complete
report on the financial activities of the Township for the preceding
year.
I. The Manager shall see that the
provisions of all franchises, leases, permits and privileges granted
by the Township are observed.
J. The Manager may employ experts
and consultants to perform work and to advise in connection with any
of the functions of the Township.
K. The Manager shall attend to the
letting of contracts in due form of law and supervise the performance
and faithful execution of the same, except insofar as such duties
are expressly imposed upon some other Township official by statute
or ordinance.
L. The Manager shall see that all
money owed the Township is promptly paid and the proper procedures
are taken for the security and collection of the Township claims.
M. The Manager shall be the purchasing
officer of the Township, and he shall purchase, in accordance with
the provisions of the 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 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 purchase of municipal
supplies and equipment.
N. The Manager shall cooperate with
the Board at all times and in all matters to promote the best interest
of the Township and of the general public.
O. All complaints regarding services
or personnel shall be referred to the Manager. He or an officer designated
by him shall investigate and dispose of such complaints, and he shall
report thereon to the Board.
P. The Manager is authorized and empowered
to institute and pursue actions at law or in equity in any court having
jurisdiction to enforce the ordinances and resolutions of this Township
and to sign and verify any and all pleadings required in any such
action in the name of this Township and to take any and all lawful
and necessary actions to effect such enforcement.
Q. Realizing the complexity of Township
business and departmental division of responsibility, the Manager
is authorized and empowered to delegate the foregoing authority to
any person employed by this Township having departmental responsibility
for such enforcement and knowledge of the matters in issue.
If the Township Manager becomes ill or is unable
to attend to his duties as Township Manager, the duties of Township
Manager shall be performed during his absence or disability by such
person as may be recommended by the Township Manager and approved
by the Board.