Morano’s title changes to township manager

Apparently it’s sometimes more about what you’re called than about what you do.

A year ago, the East Rockhill Township Board of Supervisors redid the town’s administrative structure, replacing what had been the township manager’s position with a secretary/treasurer.

This week, Secretary/Treasurer Marianne Morano’s title was changed to manager.

“In reality, she’s performing that job,” board member David Nyman said at the Jan. 15 township meeting.

“During the past year, in fulfilling your role with the title of secretarytreasurer, it has become apparent that despite actually performing all the required functions of a township manager, without the actual title, acceptance by your peers and other entities has not been at the same level as that of other township managers,” the board wrote in a letter to Morano that was read aloud at the meeting by Nyman.

The change in title does not change the salary, the board said. In April of last year, Morano’s sal-

for this year was set at $67,000.

“Achieving the title of township manager in East Rockhill Township should secure you the same level of respect that is afforded to other municipal managers, thereby assuring East Rockhill Township of the same level of service as is provided to those municipalities,” the board wrote in the letter to Morano.

Prior to becoming secretary/treasurer, Morano was the township’s assistant treasurer and assistant to the manager. She has worked for the municipality for more than 15 years.

“I congratulate Marianne on the fact she’s done a great job,” former board member John Cressman said following the announcement of the new title.

“She’s a great asset to us,” board Chairman Gary Volovnik said.

“Thank you very much for your confidence and trust in me,” Morano said.

In other matters at the meeting:

• Nyman said the Pennridge Area Coordinating Committee is considering again asking the Pennridge School District to agree to freeze the property tax rates for properties in land preservation programs. East Rockhill and Bucks County have already agreed to the freeze, but the school district would also have to in order for it to go into effect, he said. If the change were approved, it would not greatly alter the total amount received from the taxes, but it would be an incentive to land preservation, he said.

• Along with a planned change that would replace the defined benefits pension plan current employees have with one that would give future hires a defined amount going into the fund, but not a defined payout, the board is also considering a change to the minimum retirement age. The current rules allow a person who has worked for the township for 25 years to retire at age 50.

“Fifty is almost unheard of,” board member Jim Nietupski said. “The private sector doesn’t have anything like that.”

• PennDOT has informed the township that the planned Rockhill Road bridge replacement project, which was expected to start in April, will now not start until at least October, Nietupski said.

• It’s that time of year again.

“We are out doing pot holes,” Jeff Scholl, director of public works, said. “They’re starting to pop, so we’re getting them as we go along.”