Borough Manager

WHAT IS THE MANAGER’S FUNCTION?

The manager is hired to serve council and the community by bringing to local government, the benefits of training and experience, in administering local government projects and programs, on behalf of the governing body. The manager prepares a budget for council’s consideration. They also recruits, hires, and supervises the borough’s staff, serves as the council’s chief adviser, and carries out council’s requests. Council members and citizens count on the manager to provide complete and objective information, pros and cons of alternatives, and long-term consequences. The manager makes policy recommendations to council, which they may or may not adopt, and may modify the recommendations. The manager is bound by whatever action council takes.

WHAT IS THE COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM, WHICH IS USED IN SO MANY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS?

The council-manager form of government, is the system of local government that combines the strong political leadership of elected officials in the form of a council or other governing body, with the strong managerial experience of an appointed local government manager. This form of government establishes a representative system, where all power is concentrated in the elected council and where the council hires a professionally trained manager to oversee the delivery of public services.