Bernville is a borough governed by a seven-person council and a mayor.  The mayor is elected at large for a four-year term.  The borough council is elected at large for either two or four-year terms. The council and mayor are supported by a zoning hearing board. The borough retains a solicitor and municipal engineer. Daily operations are administered for the borough by a part-time borough secretary/treasurer.

Council is the legislative body having the authority to set policy, enact ordinances, make resolutions, adopt budgets, and levy taxes. In addition, council performs executive functions such as enforcing ordinances, developing the budget, approving expenditures, and hiring employees.  Following their election to office, the council members select a president and vice-president. The president presides over meetings and appoints various committees. The council establishes commissions/boards such as: planning, shade tree, and the zoning hearing board.

Mayor

Duties:

The prime responsibility of the mayor is to direct the police department. The Borough code authorizes the mayor to preserve order, enforce ordinances and resolutions, remove nuisances, exact a faithful performance of the officers appointed, and perform such duties as assigned by law or ordinance. In preserving order, the mayor directs the activities of the police department. The mayor’s responsibility for ordinance enforcement is limited only to the power of directing the police. There are no provisions in the Borough Code authorizing the mayor to direct other borough employees except the police. Mayors in Pennsylvania may declare a local disaster subject to approval by Borough Council and may declare a state of emergency in situations involving mobs or riots.

Community leadership is an area where the mayor often serves a leading role in promoting community projects both in the public and private sectors. The legislative powers of the mayor are limited to conducting council reorganization meetings every two years, attending regular and special meetings of borough council and executive sessions of council held under the Sunshine Act. The mayor may participate in council discussions. Mayors may also veto ordinances. The mayor is required to make a monthly report to the council relating to police activities and periodically updates council on the state of the borough. Mayors have not been able to vote in council since 1893. The only exception is the power to break ties to enable the council to take action or request a special meeting of the council be held to resolve the matter.

Wedding Officiate:

An often-overlooked duty of the mayor is the ability to conduct marriages, administer oaths and affirmations in matters relating to borough affairs. Pennsylvania State Law allows Mayors in Pennsylvania to officiate at weddings. The mayor is available to officiate your wedding. Mayor Raup-Konsavage will perform weddings in the Borough Hall or at a place of your choosing as his schedule permits. Please call (570) 573.5677 or email Mayor Raup-Konsavage.


Zoning Hearing Board 

The Zoning Hearing Board may consist of 3 to 5 residents of the borough.  Primary responsibilities of the Zoning Hearing Board include, among others: hearing requests for variances where it is alleged that the provisions of the zoning ordinance inflict unnecessary hardship to the applicant, hearing and deciding requests for special exceptions to the terms of the zoning ordinance, hearing and deciding upon special challenges to the validity of the land use ordinance, and hearing appeals from a determination by the Zoning Officer or Municipal Engineer.


Shade Tree Commission

The Shade Tree Commission may consist of up to three residents of the borough.  Primary responsibilities of the Shade Tree Commission are to promote the maintenance and planting of healthy, desirable shade trees within the public rights-of-way.  Additionally, the Commission works in cooperation with the borough to manage trees within the community parks.