𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙚𝙨.
𝘽𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙖𝙭𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙡.
What Does a Pennsylvania Borough Mayor Do?
In Pennsylvania, the roles and responsibilities of a borough mayor are defined by the Pennsylvania Borough Code.
The mayor of a Pennsylvania borough plays a supportive but limited executive role, focusing largely on:
1. 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁
2. 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲
3. 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗲-𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
4. 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
1. 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁
The mayor has primary oversight of the borough’s police department, including:
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Directing the chief of police.
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Declaring emergencies and coordinating law enforcement response. Council must ratify the declaration within 7 days.
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Note:
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𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡.
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The mayor does not manage fire departments, which are typically independent or managed by the council.
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2. Emergency Powers
In times of emergency or disaster, the mayor can:
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Declare a state of emergency, which needs to be ratified by the council within 10 days.
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Enforce emergency ordinances.
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Direct emergency management activities.
3. Veto Power
The mayor can veto ordinances passed by the borough council.
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Council may override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote.
4. Ceremonial Duties
Represents the borough at ceremonial functions, such as parades, public events, and inter-governmental meetings.