What Does it Take to Manage a Borough?

Do We Want a Well-Run Borough? Then We Need a Full-Time Borough Manager

A well-run Borough needs consistent, professional leadership — not part-time fixes or blurred lines of authority. Without a full-time Borough Manager, Morrisville struggles with delayed projects, unclear responsibilities, and day-to-day decisions falling through the cracks.

What a Professional Manager Actually Does

Think of a Borough Manager as the town’s executive director — hired (not elected) to carry out the policies set by Council. A real manager:

•    Oversees departments and staff so issues don’t fall through the cracks.

•    Implements Council votes quickly and accurately.

•    Keeps projects on time and on budget.

•    Advises Council on legal, financial, and logistical pitfalls before they become headlines.

•    Acts as a single, accountable point of contact for residents.

In short, a good manager keeps government running so citizens don’t have to think about the plumbing behind the walls.

One Missing Piece: A Full-Time Borough Manager

Under Pennsylvania law, an elected Council member may not serve as Borough Manager. The roles must remain separate to:

• Prevent conflicts of interest

• Ensure accountability

• Protect residents’ right to transparent government

Yet in Morrisville:

• The Council president is directing staff and approving projects — roles meant for a professional manager

• These decisions are happening without a public vote, job description, or legal authority

• She isn’t officially “employed” as manager, but she’s acting like one — exactly what the law prohibits

To fill the gap, Council has “borrowed” a part-time manager from another town:

• He’s capable but can’t focus fully on Morrisville

• One person can’t serve two Boroughs at once

The result?

• Borough Hall is effectively leaderless

• Residents struggle to get basic questions answered

• Staffing gaps go unaddressed, putting funded programs at risk

• Larger projects stall — unless they come pre-packaged for a photo-op

• Staff do their best, but with no clear leadership, even simple tasks grind to a halt

We Already Voted for This

Hiring a full-time manager isn’t cheap, but residents were told the EIT would fund the infrastructure of good government— not just roads and streetlights, but the leadership structure that makes everything work.

If we truly want Morrisville to run efficiently, fairly, and transparently, we need to invest in the position that makes that possible.

The Bottom Line

•    Decisions in the open — or in the shadows?

•    Policies applied fairly — or selectively?

•    A town that runs on clear plans — or on improvisation?

Pennsylvania law says a Council member can’t be the manager for a reason: checks and balances matter.  Borrowing a part-timer from another borough isn’t a solution; it’s a stop-gap that short-changes everyone.

Morrisville can do better. We should expect better. And starting the search for a qualified, full-time Borough Manager — who answers to the whole Council and, by extension, to every resident — is the smart place to start.