[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Palmerton 2-14-1977 by Ord. No. 371. Amendments noted where applicable.[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance was reenacted 3-14-1977 over the Mayor's veto.
The office of Borough Manager is hereby created by the Borough of Palmerton, subject to the right of the Borough, by ordinance, at any time, to abolish said office.
[Amended 4-25-2019 by Ord. No. 741; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
As soon as practicable after the enactment of this chapter, the Borough Council shall elect, by a majority vote of all its members, one person to fill the office of Borough Manager, who shall serve until the first Monday of January of the even-numbered year succeeding the Manager's appointment and until the Manager's successor is elected and qualifies. Said office shall be filled biennially thereafter. In the case of a vacancy, the Council shall fill said office by majority vote of all its members. The Borough Manager shall serve at the pleasure of the Council, subject to contractual rights that may arise under an employment agreement that may be entered in accordance with 8 Pa.C.S.A. § 1142.
[Amended 4-25-2019 by Ord. No. 741]
The Manager shall be chosen solely on the basis of the Manager's executive and administrative abilities, with special reference to the Manager's actual experience in or the Manager's knowledge of accepted practices with respect to the duties of the office as herein outlined.
[Amended 4-25-2019 by Ord. No. 741]
Before entering upon the Manager's duties, the Borough Manager shall give a bond to the Borough, with a bonding company as surety, in a sum satisfactory to the Borough Council, premium for said bond to be paid for by the Borough of Palmerton. The bond of the Borough Manager shall include the faithful performance of the Manager's duties as Borough Manager and Treasurer of the Borough. The faithful performance of the Manager's duties as Secretary and Street Commissioner shall be covered by the blanket bond now in force and effect for all Borough employees.
The Borough Manager shall receive such compensation as shall be fixed from time to time by the Council.
A. 
The Manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the Borough and shall be responsible to the Council as a whole for the proper and efficient administration of the affairs of the Borough. The powers and duties of administration of all Borough business shall be vested in the Manager, within the guidelines set by the Council, using the Committee Chairmen of the Council as consultants.
B. 
Subject to recall by ordinance of the Council, the powers and duties of the Borough Manager shall include the following:
[Amended 4-25-2019 by Ord. No. 741]
(1) 
The Manager shall assume the office of Secretary of the Borough and shall keep all accounts and records in connection with said office and perform all the duties of Secretary of the Borough.
(2) 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection B(2), regarding the office and duties of Treasurer, was repealed 1-25-2001 by Ord. No. 587.
(3) 
The Manager shall assume the office of Street Commissioner of the Borough and shall have charge and supervise all repairs, improvements and cleansing of the streets and perform all the duties of Street Commissioner of the Borough.
(4) 
The Manager shall supervise and be responsible for activities of all municipal departments.
(5) 
The Manager shall hire and, when the Manager shall deem it necessary for the good of the service, shall suspend or discharge all employees under the Manager's supervision, provided that persons covered by the civil service provisions of the Borough Code shall be hired, suspended or discharged in accordance with such provisions, and provided further that the Manager shall report, at the next regular Council meeting thereafter, any action taken by authority of this subsection.
(6) 
The Manager shall have the power to fix wages and salaries of all personnel under the Manager's supervision, within the guidelines set by the Council and members of the Salary Committee.
(7) 
The Manager shall prepare and submit to the Council, before the close of each fiscal year, a budget for the next year and an explanatory budget message. In preparing the budget, the Manager shall obtain from each Committee Chairman estimates of revenues and expenditures and such other supporting data as the Manager requires. The Manager shall review such estimates and may revise them before submitting the budget to the Council.
(8) 
The Manager shall be responsible for the administration of the budget after its adoption by the Council.
(9) 
The Manager shall, in conjunction with the preparation of the yearly budget, after its adoption, develop long-range fiscal plans for the municipality, such plans to be presented annually to the Council for its review and adoption.
(10) 
The Manager shall hold such other municipal offices and head such municipal departments as the Council may from time to time direct.
(11) 
The Manager shall attend all meetings of the Council and its committees with the right to take part in the discussions, and the Manager shall receive notice of all special committees and special meetings of Council, preparing reports of said meetings.
(12) 
The Manager shall prepare the agenda for each meeting of the Council and supply facts pertinent thereto.
(13) 
The Manager shall keep the Council informed as to the conduct of Borough affairs, submit periodic reports on the condition of the Borough finances and such other reports as the Council requests and make such recommendations to the Council as the Manager deems advisable.
(14) 
The Manager shall submit to Council, as soon as possible after the close of the fiscal year, a complete report on the finances and the administrative activities of the Borough for the preceding year.
(15) 
The Manager shall see that the provisions of all franchises, leases, permits and privileges granted by the Borough Council are observed.
(16) 
The Manager may employ, by and with the approval of the Council, experts and consultants to perform work and to advise in connection with any of the functions of the Borough.
(17) 
The Manager shall attend to the letting of contracts in due form of law, as enacted by Council, and the Manager shall supervise the performance and faithful execution of the same except insofar as such duties are expressly imposed by statute upon some other Borough officer.
(18) 
The Manager shall see that all money owed the Borough is promptly paid and that proper proceedings are taken for the security and collection of all of the Borough's claims. The Manager may employ a reliable person or persons to collect these claims.
(19) 
The Manager shall be the purchasing officer of the Borough, and the Manager shall purchase, in accordance with the provisions of the Borough Code, all supplies and equipment for the departments, agencies and other offices of the Borough, upon recommendations of Committee Chairmen. The Manager shall keep an account of all purchases and shall, from time to time or when directed by the Council, make a full written report thereof. The Manager shall issue rules and regulations, subject to the approval of the Council, governing the procurement of all municipal supplies and equipment.
(20) 
All complaints regarding Borough services shall be referred to the Office of the Manager. The Manager, or an officer designated by the Manager, shall investigate and dispose of such complaints, and the Manager shall report thereon to the Council.
(21) 
The Manager shall assume the office of Treasurer of the Borough and shall keep a just account of all receipts and disbursements in connection with said office and perform all duties of Treasurer of the Borough.
[Amended 4-25-2019 by Ord. No. 741]
If the Manager becomes ill or needs to be absent from the Borough, the Manager shall designate one qualified member of the Manager's staff who shall perform the duties of the Manager during the Manager's absence or disability. The person so designated shall not perform these duties for a period longer than two weeks without the approval of the Council.