Borough of Lansdale, PA Chapter 55 Manager

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Borough of Lansdale 5-6-1971 by Ord. No. 998 (Ch. 13 of the 1972 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 55-1 Creation of office.

The office of Borough Manager for the Borough of Lansdale is hereby created pursuant to the provisions of Section 1141 of the Borough Code, Act of February 1, 1966, P.L. 1656 (1965).[1]

[1] Editor's Note: See 8 Pa.C.S.A. § 1141 et seq.

§ 55-2 Appointment.

[Amended 2-21-1980 by Ord. No. 1203]

As soon as practicable after the passage of this chapter, the Borough Council shall appoint by majority vote of all of its members an individual to fill said post. The Borough Manager so appointed shall serve for an indefinite time at the pleasure of Council and may be removed for just cause at any time by a vote of the majority of all of the members of Borough Council.

§ 55-3 Qualifications.

[Amended 2-14-1979 by Ord. No. 1184]

The following qualifications shall be required of any individual appointed to the office of Borough Manager of Lansdale:

A. He shall be a citizen of the United States and shall be at least 21 years of age.

B. He shall possess a degree in public administration from a recognized college or university or shall have experience in local government administration of such extent and nature as will qualify him to discharge the duties of the office as hereinafter specified, or both.

C. He shall become a resident of the North Penn School District within one year of the first date of employment or six months from the passage of this amendment to the chapter, whichever is the longer.

[Amended 2-21-1980 by Ord. No. 1203]

§ 55-4 Salary. [1]

The salary of the office shall be such as shall be fixed from time to time by the Borough Council.

[1] Editor's Note: See Ch. 87, Salaries and Compensation.

§ 55-5 General duties and authority.

The Borough Manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the Borough, and he shall be responsible to the Borough Council as a whole for the proper and efficient administration of the affairs of the Borough. His powers and duties shall relate to the general management of all Borough business not expressly imposed or conferred by statute or ordinance upon other Borough officers. He shall also carry out such nonlegislative and nonjudicial duties and powers of the Mayor as the Mayor may delegate to him under the provisions of 8 Pa.C.S.A. § 1142 of the Borough Code.

§ 55-6 Specific duties.

The specific duties and authority of the Borough Manager, pursuant to the statement of general duties and authority in § 55-5 immediately above, shall include but not be limited to the following:

A. He shall be vested with the authority of and shall carry out the duties of Borough Secretary as specified in the Borough Code.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection B, regarding the duties of Civil Defense Director, was repealed 4-15-1987 by Ord. No. 1359.

B. He shall supervise and be responsible for the activities of all municipal departments, except the Police Department, unless the Mayor should delegate supervision of that Department to him also.

C. He shall hire, and when necessary for the good of the service, shall suspend or discharge any employee of the Borough except for such appointive offices as are required by law to be filled by the Borough Council, such as Borough Treasurer, Borough Solicitor and members of the Police Department;[2] provided, however, that the Borough Manager shall make monthly reports to Council of such personnel changes.

[Amended 5-4-1972 by Ord. No. 1015]

[2] Editor's Note: See Ch. 74, Police Department.

D. He shall supervise and direct the offices, duties and functions of all subordinate employees of the Borough in all departments over which the Council has jurisdiction and covering all functions of the Borough over which the Council has jurisdiction, excepting those involving the Police Department, unless the Mayor shall delegate his nonlegislative and nonjudicial duties and powers with respect to that Department also.

E. He shall make recommendations to the Borough Council for reorganizing the several departments of the Borough government, including the elimination or consolidation of any departments and any changes in the powers and duties of department heads.

F. He shall execute and enforce all laws of the commonwealth with respect to Borough matters as well as all ordinances, resolutions and regulations of the Borough; provided, however, that this shall be construed to be in addition to and not in substitution of the authority of any other official or employee of the Borough to enforce such laws, ordinances, resolutions or regulations.

G. He shall prepare and submit to the Borough Council, before the close of the fiscal year or on such alternate date as the Council may determine, a budget for the next fiscal year and an explanatory budget message, and in this connection he shall have authority to request and receive such information and figures from any department or employee as he may request. He shall be responsible for the administration of the budget after its adoption.

H. He shall submit and present to the Council at the end of each fiscal year a complete report of the administrative and financial activities of the Borough during the preceding year, and shall make such interim reports on these matters as the Council may from time to time request.

I. He shall keep the Borough Council advised of the financial condition of the Borough and of the future needs of the Borough, and shall make such recommendations to Council in regard thereto as he deems necessary.

J. He shall attend to the letting of contracts in due form of law, and he shall supervise the performance and faithful execution of the same except insofar as such duties are expressly imposed upon some other Borough officer by statute.

K. He shall see that all moneys owing the Borough are promptly paid and that proper proceedings are taken to secure and collect all Borough claims.

L. He shall attend all meetings of the Borough Council and of its committees unless excused in any particular case, and shall have the right to receive notices of all meetings of the Council and of its committees and to take part in discussion at all meetings of the Council or of its committees.

M. He shall prepare the agenda for each meeting of the Council and supply facts pertinent thereto.

N. He shall recommend to the Council from time to time the adoption of such policies as he may deem necessary or expedient for the health, safety or welfare of the Borough or its citizens.

O. He shall see that the provisions of all franchises, leases, permits and privileges granted by the Borough are observed; provided, however, that this authority shall be in addition to and not in substitution of any authority granted by law or ordinance or regulation of the Borough to any other official or employee of the Borough.

P. He shall be the purchasing officer of the Borough and shall purchase, in accordance with the provisions of the Borough Code, all supplies and equipment of the various agencies, boards, departments and other offices of the Borough. He shall keep an account of all purchases and shall, from time to time when directed by Council, make a full, written report thereof. He shall have the power to purchase supplies and equipment for the use of the Borough; provided, however, that no single article or purchase shall be in excess of the limitations as set forth in the Borough Code, more particularly, 53 P.S. § 46402.[3]

[Amended 12-11-1975 by Ord. No. 1108; 6-9-1977 by Ord. No. 1142; 4-21-1982 by Ord. No. 1257]

[3] Editor's Note: See now 8 Pa.C.S.A. § 1402.

Q. He shall cooperate with the Borough Council and the Mayor at all times and in all matters, that the best interests of the Borough and of the general public may be maintained.

R. All complaints regarding services or personnel shall be referred to the Borough Manager, who shall, in person or by a person designated by him, investigate and dispose of such complaints, and the Manager shall report thereon to the Council.

S. The Borough Council and its members, except for purposes of inquiry, shall deal with the administrative services only through the Borough Manager, and neither the Council nor any of its members shall give orders to any of the subordinates of the Borough Manager, either publicly or privately. The Borough Manager shall have full power and authority to direct the work, employment and services of the regular Borough employees over whom he has the power of recommendation as to employment or dismissal as hereinbefore provided.

T. He shall become familiar with and advise the Borough Council concerning all county, state and federal assistance grants available to the Borough; and in the event the Borough Council wishes to avail itself of such assistance, he shall be responsible for the preparation of applications to such authority or body having jurisdiction thereunder.

§ 55-7 Absence of Manager.

In the event the Borough Manager should become ill or is required to be absent from the Borough, he shall designate one qualified member of his staff who shall perform the duties of Manager during his absence or disability. The person so designated shall not perform these duties for a period longer than two weeks without the approval of the Borough Council.

§ 55-8 Amendment or repeal.

The Borough Council shall have the power at any time and from time to time to amend or repeal any or all parts of this chapter.

§ 55-9 Interpretation.

As herein used, the masculine pronoun shall include the feminine.