the municipal secretary desktop reference manual - Southwestern ...

SECTION XVI
PENNSYLVANIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Foreword
More and more local governments of all classes are finding it necessary to interact with their
neighbors. This interaction may take several formsCthe joint provision of service, the sharing of
professional services through a council of governments, or the uniting of forces to pressure the
legislature for change or action.
Given this intergovernmental interaction environment, it is important for newly appointed
administrative personnel to have some knowledge of other classes of local governments in their area.
The purpose of this ABirds Eye View of Pennsylvania=s Local Government@ is to fulfill this need.
Because the manual is designed for borough and township administrators, greater attention is paid to
these classes than to other types of local governments.
Because of a municipal secretary=s position, she/he must interact with several other municipal
officials who play an important role in the functioning of a borough or township. All boroughs and
townships have a treasurer, almost all of these governments retain a solicitor, most use the services
of an engineer and more and more function with a professional manager.
To acquaint a newly appointed secretary with the responsibilities normally vested in these
offices, job descriptions are included in this section. Also included are excerpts from model
ordinances establishing the positions of borough and township secretary. This excerpt may be useful
in defining and clarifying the role of a newly appointee
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