[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.
(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.
