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Board of Supervisors

Since there is no separately elected executive in Townships of the Second Class, the Board of Supervisors also performs executive functions, including preparation of the annual budget, proclaiming significant municipal events, hiring employees, and appointing members to various township authorities, boards, and commissions.  Certain executive functions, such as representing the township at official functions, are often performed by the chairman of the Board of Supervisors.

Supervisors also play a role in the administrative activities of municipal governments, overseeing day-to-day township operations.  In their administrative capacity, supervisors provide for enforcement of local laws and regulations, management of personnel, and purchase of equioment, materials, supplies and services.   Supervisors, as administrators, are actively involved in the financial management of townships, and are responsible not only for collection of monies earned through taxes, service charges, and grants, but also for seeing that municipal funds are spent in accordance with approved municipal budgets.

A limited number of townships in Pennsylvania, including Lower Paxton, have hired a professional township manager to direct operations on behalf of the Board of Supervisors.

Under the broad scope of administration, a township supervisor possesses many other duties.  Some examples of these duties are:

• Meet with residents to obtain input on township programs and policies.
• Meet with other elected officials and township staff on issues of general governance.
• Review technical reports from engineers, planners, and other professionals.
• Attend county association and Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors meetings and conferences.
• Participate in the inspection of problems or review of proposals that have been identified by citizens.
• Report on the status of local government affairs to their many concerned citizens.

DELEGATION OF BOARD FUNCTIONS:

The administration of townships and other forms of municipal government have become very complex.  As such, most Supervisors delegate some administrative responsibilities to appointed officials.  The Second Class Township Code allows the Board of Supervisors to appoint individuals who possess a specific expertise to employed administrative positions.  Townships may appoint a Manager, Solicitor, Engineer, Treasurer, and Secretary, although appointment of other professionals is also permitted.

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