THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY ROBBINS, ERICKSON, EICHELBERGER, WOZNIAK AND BLAKE, MARCH 14, 2011

REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MARCH 14, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of June 24, 1931 (P.L.1206, No.331), entitled

"An act concerning townships of the first class; amending,

revising, consolidating, and changing the law relating

thereto," further providing for township manager.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Clause IV of section 1502 of the act of June 24,

1931 (P.L.1206, No.331), known as The First Class Township Code,

reenacted and amended May 27, 1949 (P.L.1955, No.569) and

amended July 2, 1953 (P.L.326, No.71), is amended to read:

Section 1502.  The corporate power of a township of the first

class shall be vested in the board of township commissioners.

The board shall have power--

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IV.  Township Manager. To create, by ordinance, the office of

township manager, and in like manner to abolish the same. The

township manager shall serve at the pleasure of the board of

commissioners, subject to contractual rights that may arise

under an employment agreement that may be entered in accordance

with this clause.

The powers[, duties, term of office, and compensation] and

duties of the township manager shall be regulated by ordinance.

The board of commissioners may enter into an employment

agreement with the township manager. The employment agreement

may set forth the terms and conditions of employment, and the

agreement may provide that it shall remain in effect for a

specified period terminating no later than two years after the

effective date of the agreement or the date of the board of

commissioners' organizational meeting following the next

municipal election, whichever shall first occur. An employment

agreement entered into pursuant to this clause may specify

conditions under which a township manager would be entitled to

severance compensation, but in no event shall an employment

agreement guarantee employment through the term of the agreement

or confer upon the township manager any legal remedy based on

specific performance. The commissioners may delegate, subject to

recall, any of their respective non-legislative and non-judicial

powers and duties to the township manager. He shall, if required

by the township commissioners, give a bond to the township, with

a surety company or other company authorized by law to act as

surety, to be approved by the commissioners, in such sum as it

shall, by ordinance or resolution, direct, conditioned for the

faithful performance of his duties.

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.