A.
In any case where a Township officer or official elected
or appointed knows or by the exercise of reasonable diligence could
know that he is interested in any appreciable degree, either directly
or indirectly, in any contract for the sale or furnishing of any personal
property for the use of the Township or for any services to be rendered
the Township involving the expenditure by the Township of more than
$300 in any year, he shall notify the Council thereof, and any such
contract shall not be passed and approved by the Council except for
an affirmative vote of at least 3/4 of the members thereof. In case
the interested officer is a member of the Council, he shall refrain
from voting upon said contract. The provisions of this section shall
not apply in cases where such officer or official is an employee of
the person, firm or corporation to which money is to be paid in a
capacity with no possible influence on the transaction and in which
he cannot possibly be benefited thereby either financially or in any
other material manner. This section shall be enforced by action brought
before a Magisterial District Judge in the same manner provided for
the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of
Criminal Procedure. Any person who violates or permits the violation
of this section shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, be
punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for
a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such
violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a
separate offense. Each section of this chapter that is violated shall
also constitute a separate offense.
[Amended 5-20-1998 by Ord. No. 98-17; 3-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-01]
B.
No officer or employee of the Township shall accept
or receive, directly or indirectly, from any person operating within
the territorial limits of the municipality any interurban railway,
bus line, street railway, gas works, telephone exchange or any other
business using or operating a public franchise, any frank, free pass,
free ticket or free service or accept or receive directly or indirectly
from any person any other service upon terms more favorable than are
granted to the public generally, except that such prohibition of free
transportation shall not apply to policemen or firemen in uniform.
C.
No candidate for office, appointment or employment
and no officer, appointee or employee of the Township shall directly
or indirectly give or promise any office, position, employment, benefit
or anything of value for the purpose of influencing or obtaining the
political support, aid or vote of any person, under the penalty of
being disqualified to hold the office or employment to which he may
have been elected or appointed.
D.
No officer or employee of the Township, personally
or by a partnership, firm or association of which he is a member,
shall represent or accept employment from or be retained by any person
or in any manner advocate the interest of any person in relation to
any matter pending before or involving the Township or any board or
commission therefor; nor shall he or any partnership, firm or association
of which he is a member, following termination of his services with
the Township, represent any person to the Township in relation to
any matter in which he personally participated during his period of
Township service or employment.
E.
Subsection D of this section shall be enforced by action brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the same manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. Any person who violates or permits the violation of Subsection D of this section shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense. Each section of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.
[Amended 5-20-1998 by Ord. No. 98-17; 3-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-01]
Any person convicted of a misdemeanor by a court
of record may be declared by the Council to be ineligible to assume
any Township office, position or employment for that reason alone.
Any person convicted of a misdemeanor by a court of record while in
office may be required to forfeit that office for that reason alone.
Any person convicted of a felony by a court of record shall be ineligible
to assume any Township office, position or employment and, upon conviction
of a felony while in office, shall forfeit his office.
If any person hereafter elected or appointed
to any office or position in the Township shall, after lawful notice
or process, willfully refuse or fail to appear before any court, any
legislative committee or the Governor or, having appeared, shall refuse
to testify or to answer any questions regarding the property, government
or affairs of the Township which fall within the scope of his duties
or the conduct of his office or regarding his nomination, election,
appointment or official conduct or shall refuse to execute a waiver
of immunity from prosecution on account of any such matter in relation
to which he may be asked to testify, he may be removed from office
by the Council at its discretion. Any person removed from office pursuant
to this section shall not thereafter be eligible for election or appointment
to any office or employment in the Township.
[Amended 7-16-1980 by Ord. No. 80-7; 3-3-2021 by Ord. No.
2021-01]
The Director of Finance, the Controller, the
Manager and such other employees as the Council shall from time to
time determine shall individually give bonds to the municipality,
as required by general law, in sums fixed by the Council at the time
such officers assume office. Employees of the Township may be covered
by a public employees blanket bond.
Whenever any time established by this chapter
for the taking of any action expires on a Sunday or on a legal holiday,
such time shall not expire on said day but shall expire on the next
workday.
The Township recognizes that, under modern conditions
of metropolitan growth, the boundary lines of governmental subdivisions
rarely reflect the boundary lines of governmental services and activities.
Therefore, all officers and employees of the Township shall take all
action desirable and necessary to establish and carry out cooperative
programs with other governmental subdivisions in the area and vicinity
of the Township to the end that greater efficiency and economy of
operation and improved quality of service will result.
This administrative code may be amended in the
manner set forth for the adoption of ordinances.
