The employee appointed to the role could serve as acting township manager the absence or disability of the regular township manger.
An ordinance up for final adoption at the next Evesham Township Council meeting would modify the structure of the township’s administrative staff by establishing the role of “senior deputy township manager” for the municipality.
In addition to Evesham Township Manager Michael Barth, three individuals already hold titles as deputy managers.
However, the employee appointed to the role of senior deputy township manager would be eligible to serve as an acting township manager in the temporary absence or disability of the regular township manger.
According to the ordinance, up to two employees could be appointed by the township manager to serve in the senior deputy township manager role.
However, the township’s governing body would grant final approval for the appointment of those employees, as the ordinance requires council to pass resolutions accepting any selections for the positions.
According to township solicitor John Gillespie, council would also have full discretion in deciding whether to approve one or two individuals for the position.
The ordinance would also require anyone appointed as senior deputy township manager to be situated in the office of the township manager or in the nearby vicinity.
In addition to creating the senior deputy township manager position, the ordinance would alter the titles of those already serving as the municipality’s deputy township managers.
Under the ordinance, up to four employees could be given the title of deputy township manager, subject to approval through a council resolution, and those titles would reflect the department that manager overlooks.
For example, an employee might hold the title of deputy township manager for public safety or deputy township manager for finance.
Gillespie said it would once again fall on council to decide the appropriate number of deputy manager positions to approve.
Deputy township managers would then be eligible to serve as acting township administrator if there were ever an absence of the township manager and senior deputy township manager.
The ordinance would also alter language in the township code regarding the position of township planner.
Several years ago, the municipality examined the amount of redevelopment and construction ongoing within the township and determined the municipality could save money by hiring a full-time township planner instead of hiring the services of an outside firm.
Officials say the ordinance would codify the responsibilities of that role.
The ordinance is up for public hearing and second reading at council’s next meeting on March 6.
After that, Gillespie said council could approve a senior deputy township manager and deputy township managers at a future meeting.
