The Board shall appoint the Manager for an indefinite term. The Board shall have the authority to enter into contracts with the Manager which may stipulate terms of employment and severance pay, subject to the limitations of the First Class Township Code.[1] The Manager shall be chosen on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications. During the time that he is Township Manager, he shall not hold any elective governmental office. The Board, by an affirmative vote of a majority of its members present at any stated monthly meeting or at any special meeting called for such purpose, can remove the Manager at any time, with or without cause.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 55101 et seq.
The Manager shall be the chief executive and administrative officer of the Township. He shall be responsible to the Board for the administration of all municipal affairs placed in his charge. The Manager shall have the following specific duties and the commensurate powers to carry out those duties:
A. 
Direct and administer all executive and nonlegislative activities of the Township, except as otherwise provided by statute or ordinance.
B. 
With the confirmation of the Board, appoint all department heads. Such appointees shall serve at the pleasure of the Manager.
C. 
Prepare the agenda for all committee and related meetings of the Board and attend all meetings of the Board, at which meetings he shall have the right to participate in discussions, but he shall not have the right or privilege to vote on any matter.
D. 
Prescribe such rules and regulations as are deemed necessary or expedient for the conduct and operation of administrative units and may revoke, suspend or amend any rule or regulation of the administrative service, as long as such rule or regulation is not an ordinance.
E. 
Appoint competent and qualified officers and employees to the administrative service and have the power to assign, transfer, dismiss, suspend and discipline all officers and employees in the administrative service under his control. He also shall have the power to authorize a department head or officer responsible to him to appoint and remove subordinates serving under that department head or officer.
F. 
Have the power to direct any department, division or bureau to perform the work for any other department, division or bureau.
G. 
Have the power to designate from the administrative service such committees and the officers thereof as he shall find necessary for the proper consideration of administrative problems. Such committees shall meet at the request of the Township Manager and shall make such recommendations on matters referred to them as they shall find necessary for the best interests of the Township.
H. 
Promote the public good will and represent the Township before civic associations, business, professional or governmental groups, the press and interested citizens concerning the general affairs and administrative functions of the Township.
I. 
Have the power to set aside any action by a department head or office head and to supersede him in the functions of his department or office, unless prohibited by law.
J. 
Prepare and present to the Board an annual report of the Township's affairs, including a summary of reports of department heads and such other reports as the Board shall require.
K. 
Assemble estimates of the financial needs and resources of the Township for each ensuing year and prepare a program of activities within the financial power of the Township, embodying in it a budget document with proper supporting schedules and analyses.
L. 
Exercise control over the administration of the budget of the Township and supervise the purchasing functions of the Township.
M. 
Examine or cause to be examined, without notice, the official conduct of any officer, assistant, deputy, clerk or employee in any of the departments or offices of the Township government, except that of members of the Board or of the officers appointed by the Board.
N. 
Have the authority to designate himself or to assign any other employee of the Township to perform the duties and exercise the functions of any office or position under his jurisdiction during a vacancy or in the absence or disability of an incumbent or where service is required, appropriate to the personnel classification of the individual so assigned.
O. 
Act as ex officio member of all boards and commissions, but not have a vote unless specifically provided by ordinance or resolution, when permitted by law.
P. 
Have general supervision over all Township property and equipment and its use by the public or by Township employees.
Q. 
Prepare and submit to the Board such reports dealing with financial, administrative or other matters as the Board may request of him.
R. 
Make such recommendations to the Board concerning Township policy as he shall deem desirable or when instructed by the Board to do so. He shall keep the Board fully informed as to the conduct of municipal affairs and advise the Board as to the needs of the Township.
S. 
Be responsible for the enforcement of all ordinances and regulations of the Township.
T. 
See that the provisions of all franchises, leases, contracts, permits and privileges granted by the Township are fully observed and report to the Board any violation thereof.
U. 
Assess both the short- and long-term problems and affairs of the Township and recommend plans and courses of action to the Board.
V. 
Participate in the intergovernmental programs, monitor legislative activities and keep abreast of current advances in management and technology.
W. 
Perform such other duties as are required by the Board.
X. 
To enter contracts, on behalf of the Township, for amounts equal to or less than $25,000, and report the execution of such contracts to the Board from time to time.
[Added 4-18-2000 by Ord. No. 3567]
Y. 
To enter open market or exempt contracts not requiring competitive bidding for maintenance, replacements or repairs to a public works, on behalf of the Township, for amounts equal to or less than $50,000 and report the execution of such contracts to the Board from time to time.
[Added 4-18-2000 by Ord. No. 3567]
Unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Manager is authorized and empowered to delegate to any specific administrative officer the right and power to stamp the name and position of the Township Manager on the proper class of documents or papers, which shall have the same force and effect as though the Township Manager had in person and by his own act signed the document or paper. In order to grant an administrative officer the authority set forth in this section, the Township Manager shall file with the Township Secretary the name and title of the administrative officer so empowered and the class of documents or papers to which the authority is to apply. Upon a change of the Township Manager or an empowered administrative officer, the authority theretofore given shall cease until it shall have been regranted by the new Township Manager or to the new administrative officer.
The Manager may designate, by letter filed with the Township Secretary, a qualified administrative officer of the Township to perform his duties during his temporary absence or disability.
An Assistant Township Manager, any assistant to the Manager, or similar staff personnel reporting to the Township Manager, may exercise any of the duties of the Township Manager, or of the department heads, or of other Township personnel, upon such responsibilities' being prescribed by the Township Manager.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, members of the Board will not interfere with the Township Manager or prevent him from exercising his own judgment in the appointment of officers and employees in the administrative service. Except for the purpose of inquiry or routine information, the Board and its members will deal with the administrative service solely through the Township Manager.