Government

Hatfield Borough has had a Council/Mayor form of government. (In the early 1900's, the Mayor was known as the "Burgess".) There are seven Council members who are elected "At Large" (they each represent the entire Borough, as opposed to "Ward" representation) to four-year terms. Each Council member also maintains a position on one or more of the seven Borough Council Committees. The powers of Council are broad and extensive, covering virtually every function of municipal government, including the creation of new legislation and the approval of the yearly budget. In addition to the seven council members, the position of Mayor is also filled by election. In the event of a tie Council vote, it is the duty of the Mayor to cast the deciding vote. This is the only time that the Mayor may vote. In 1979, Borough Council appointed its first Borough Manager. It is the manager's responsibility to direct the business operations of the borough. The manager works closely with all department heads to insure the health and welfare of the borough residents.