PA HB1185

Elected or appointed officers of second class townships are protected from financial surcharges when they acted in good faith reliance on a written solicitor's opinion or one publicly stated at an open meeting and recorded in official minutes, unless the opinion was rendered under duress or through collusion.

Townships may appoint partnerships, limited partnerships, associations, or professional corporations as township managers, not just individuals.

Employment or professional services agreements with township managers may include severance compensation for individuals or termination payments for entity managers, with terms lasting no longer than two years or until the organizational meeting after the next municipal election.

Township managers and employees of entity managers providing direct services must comply with public official ethics restrictions under 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103, and office incompatibility rules apply to all officers and employees directly providing services under an agreement.

Act takes effect 60 days after enactment.