Board of Supervisors

Vice Chairman Samuel Coleman IV, Ed.D, Chairwoman Laura Rivera, Supervisor Kevin McDevitt, Supervisor Joseph Gavanus, Jr., and Supervisor Dennis DeSanto, Jr.

The Board of Supervisors plays a central role in the township government. Section 601 of the Code governing Townships of the Second-Class places general supervision of the affairs of the township in the hands of the Board of Supervisors. The Board combines many of the roles found in separate branches or levels of the state and federal governments. It serves as the legislative body of the township, setting policy, enacting ordinances and resolutions, adopting budgets, and levying taxes. Since there is no separately elected executive, the Board may delegate through ordinance any and all of its non-legislative functions to an appointed professional manager. These non-legislative functions include formulating the budget, enforcing ordinances, approving expenditures, hiring employees, and generally supervising the day-to-day affairs of the township. Because of their elected status, the supervisors are often called upon as community leaders. In many cases, the supervisors serve as problem solvers and act as agents for township citizens with outside agencies or private firms. The Supervisors have a role in representing the township's communal interests, past, present and future. Although assisted by a planning commission, a professional manager, or a historical commission, many of the final decisions must be made by the Board of Supervisors.