Administration

Administration involves all documentation and accountability including permit applications, accounts payable, accounts receivable, other finance, budget, building code, zoning, property maintenance, other codes, meeting minutes, insurance, human resources, employee benefits, labor management, planning, stormwater management, MS4, land development (including subdivision), solid waste and recycling, record management, planning, grants, parks, and purchasing.

The township has five office staff performing this work, along with the public works department staff performing some administration, too:

Receptionist, Zoning and Codes Officer, Financial Coordinator, Planner and Manager.

The Township Manager is delegated the responsibility for taking care of the day-to-day business of the township.

A Manager is appointed by the entire governing body and operates under the directions and official actions of the entire board. It is the supervisor’s duty as an elected official to ensure that the performance of the Manager is efficient and effective. Policy and legislative powers are the responsibility of the supervisors while administrative functions for carrying out the decisions of the board are handled by the Manager.

Since 1999, Penn Township has operated under what is commonly referred to as the council-manager form of government. In the council-manager form of government, the council is the governing body of the municipal entity, elected by the public, and the manager is hired by the council, based on his or her professional merits and qualifications, to carry out the policies established by the council. In Penn Township, the governing body is called the Board of Supervisors and the manager is called the Township Manager.

The Board of Supervisors provides legislative direction while the Township Manager is responsible for administering the day-to-day administrative operations of the Township consistent with the Board of Supervisors’ policy decisions. The Township Manager serves as the Board of Supervisors’ chief advisor and serves at the pleasure of the governing body. Established by ordinance, some of the primary duties of the Township Manager include:

  • Development and administration of the financial affairs of the Township;
  • Direction of the day-to-day operations through and with the assistance of the various departments; and
  • Responsibility for implementation of all Township personnel practices.