[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of
Ridley as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 3-19-1975 as Ch. 15, Art. I, of the 1975
Code; amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions,
Art. I)
There is hereby created in the Township of Ridley the office of Controller,
who shall have all the powers and duties provided by the First Class Township
Code. By adoption of this article, the Board of Commissioners hereby accepts
the provisions of 53 P.S. § 55526 of the First Class Township Code.
The salary of the Controller shall be as fixed by the Board of Commissioners.
[Adopted 4-5-1978 by Ord. No. 1460]
The purpose of this article is to enable the Township to function under
generally accepted principles of the council-manager form of government. The
Board of Commissioners shall he responsible for legislative policymaking and
appointing a professional Township Manager, who shall be responsible for supervising
and conducting the administrative affairs of the Township in a nonpartisan
manner. It is the intent of this article to delegate to the Township Manager
all of the nonlegislative and nonjudicial powers and duties of the Board of
Commissioners as authorized by Section 1502, IV (53 P.S. § 56504),
of the First Class Township Code.
The position of Township Manager is hereby created. The Manager shall
be appointed for an indefinite term by a majority of all members of the Board
of Commissioners, who fix his compensation.
The Manager shall be chosen solely on the basis of his executive and
administrative qualifications, with special reference to his training and/or
experience in municipal management. He need not be a resident of the Township
or the state at the time of his appointment.
Before entering his duties, the Township Manager shall give a bond to
the Township, with a bonding company as surety, to be approved by the Board
of Commissioners, in such sum as it shall from time to time determine, and
conditioned for the faithful performance of the Manager's duties, with
the premium for said bond to be paid by the Township.
The Township Manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the
Township. He shall:
A.
Be responsible to the Board of Commissioners for carrying
out all policies and programs established by the Board.
B.
Direct and supervise the administration of all departments,
offices and agencies of the Township, except as otherwise provided by ordinance
or by law.
C.
Appoint and, when he deems it necessary for the good
of the service, suspend or remove all Township employees and appointed administrative
officers on the basis of merit and civil service system principles, except
as otherwise provided by law. This subsection shall not apply to the Township
Solicitor, Township Engineer and Township Secretary. All appointments and
removals shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Commissioners.
D.
Make such recommendations to the Board of Commissioners
concerning policy formulation as he deems desirable.
E.
Prepare and submit the annual budget to the Board of
Commissioners, together with such explanatory comment as he may deem desirable,
and administer the approved budget.
F.
Keep the Board of Commissioners and the public informed
as to the conduct of Township affairs.
G.
See that all laws and ordinances are duly enforced.
H.
Prepare the agenda and attend all meetings of the Board
of Commissioners, with the right to take part in discussion but not to vote.
I.
Negotiate and sign contracts for the municipality, subject
to the approval of the Board of Commissioners.
J.
Perform such other duties as are designated by the Board
of Commissioners.
The Township Manager shall receive such compensation as the Board of
Commissioners decides.
A.
Whenever the Manager declines to submit his resignation
at the request of the Board of Commissioners, he may be removed from office
in accordance with the following procedure:
(1)
The Board shall adopt a preliminary resolution of removal
by a majority vote of all members. The resolution shall state the specific
reasons for removal and may suspend the Manager from duty. A copy of the resolution
shall be delivered promptly to the Manager. In any event, the Manager shall
be paid forthwith any unpaid balance of his salary and his salary for the
next three calendar months following adoption of the resolution.
(2)
Within 15 days after a copy of the resolution is delivered
to the Manager, he may file with the Board a written request for a public
hearing. This hearing shall be held at a meeting of the Board not earlier
than 20 days nor later than 30 days after the request is filed.
(3)
The Board may adopt a final resolution of removal, which
may be made effective immediately, by a majority vote of all members at any
time after 15 days from the time when the preliminary resolution was delivered
to the Manager if he has not requested a public hearing or at any time after
the public hearing.
B.
Whenever the Manager declines to submit his resignation
following his conviction of any felony or misdemeanor the Board of Commissioners
may remove the Manager from office by a simple motion adopted at any public
meeting.
The Manager may designate a qualified Township employee to act as Manager
and to exercise the duties of Manager during his temporary absence or disability.
During such absence or disability, the Board of Commissioners may remove such
designation at any time and appoint another person as Acting Manager to serve
until the Manager shall return or his disability shall cease.
