How the Township Governance Works

How the Township Works

Townships in Pennsylvania have a lot more authority than in many states so understanding how they work is important. Here is a quick guide to the processes most relevant to the Comprehensive Plan.

Board of Supervisors

Middlesex Township as a Township of the Second Class in Pennsylvania is governed by the Board of Supervisors (BOS). It comprises 3 members who are elected to staggered 6-year terms in at-large elections. All registered voters in the township can vote.

The Supervisors are responsible for the overall governance of the township, in a manner that provides for adequate health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the community. The present board is made up of Michael Spreng, Chairman, (Term Expires: December 31, 2025), Donald P. Marshall, Vice-Chairman (Term Expires: December 31, 2027) and Robert Brash, Supervisor (Term Expires: December 31, 2030)

The BOS meets twice a month; once for a work session on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 3pm and once for a Regular Session at 6.30pm on the 3rd wednesday of the month, at the Township Municipal Building. The agenda for these meetings are posted on the township website https://middlesextownship.org/AgendaCenter and any residents may attend.

Speaking in township meetings

There are two formal opportunities for residents to speak in BOS meetings. Near the beginning residents can make comments on items on the agenda, and at the end of the meeting they can bring up issues not on the agenda. When you speak you have to state your name and address.

The Planning Commission (PC)

The Planning Commission is a recommending group made up of 5 residents, each appointed by the Board of Supervisors for four years. It meets every 4th Wednesday of the month at 6.30pm in the township offices. Residents may attend and speak, in the same manner as for the BOS meetings. A primary role of the PC is to make recommendations to the BOS on whether proposed Subdivisions and Land Developments are complying with the Township Codes. Also the PC may review and make recommendations to the Board on land use and ordinance revisions. To be clear, if a Subdivision or Land Development proposal complies with the Township Codes the Planning Commission would make a recommendation of approval based upon compliance with the codes. Subdivisions and Land Developments may not be arbitrarily rejected or denied.

The Planning Commission may also review and make recommendations related to the Township Comprehensive Plan and any zoning, subdivision or development related ordinances.

The Township Manager

The Township Manager is the manager, secretary and administrator of the Township and is responsible for carrying out the policies and directives of the Board of Supervisors. The manager also prepares and manages the township budget and oversees hiring, discipline, and

other personnel actions for township staff. This is a paid position and is currently filled by Jeff Winkle jwinkle@middlesextownship.org

Two advisors to the BOSThe township attorney serves as the primary legal advisor to the township government, providing legal counsel on all matters related to township operations, including reviewing contracts, reviewing draft ordinances, representing the township in litigation, and offering legal opinions on various issues as requested by the township officials. Middlesex’s attorney is Mike Hnath.

The township engineer is responsible for overseeing the design, construction, maintenance, and repair of all public infrastructure within a township, and for providing technical input on subdivisions, land development proposals and zoning regulations. Our engineer is Jeff Mikesic. Any proposal for a new subdivision or land development is reviewed by the township engineer, who issues a review letter for the Planning Commission detailing any ways in which the proposal doesn’t comply with Township ordinances. The Planning Commission may then inform the applicant/developer to address the review comments and resubmit their proposal.

How housing developments happen

1. Developer buys land in a township zoning district which permits housing development.

2. Developer submits detailed plans to the Township.

3. The Township Engineer and Township Attorney review the plans for consistency with the

   township ordinances. They issue a review letter to the Planning Commission, copied to the Developer, enumerating changes or revisions that will be needed in order to bring the development plans in compliance with the ordinances, i.e. for plans to be in compliance with Township Code.

4. Plans shall be resubmitted to the Township for review and discussion.

5. When/if the plans are recommended by the PC, they go to the BOS with a

   recommendation to approve or disapprove (if plans do not comply with township codes). The Board reviews all subdivision and land development plans and approves plans upon compliance with Township codes. The developer/applicant then has a number of items to be taken care of at the Township administration level prior to any recording or development to begin.

How the Comprehensive plan happens

1. The PA Municipalities Code, Act 247 as amended (PAMPC) requires Townships to have a Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission is designated to prepare comprehensive plans or revisions as necessary. The plan may document past and present land use trends along with a proposed future land uses and recommendations for developments, preservation of open space and public infrastructure. It is a process of planning for the future while reviewing the past. The Comprehensive Plan helps create a blueprint or roadmap for our land use patterns for today and tomorrow.

2. Middlesex Township has a current Comprehensive Plan adopted in June 2024. The next steps in the process would be to look at implementation of the plan with review of current township ordinances. Key instruments for implementing the plan are review of the

township zoning codes and other related ordinances. Items to be considered as part of the process include the township budget, township meetings and communication strategies.

3. The Planning Commission, with input from the community, outside planning consultants, the township attorney and engineer, may consider possible revisions to township ordinances to implement goals of the comprehensive plan.

4. The Planning Commission makes recommendations to the BOS for approval consideration.

5. Any ordinance revisions would apply to future subdivision and land developments within the Township.

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