What's Coming Up on the November Ballot?

Borough council member:
• Qualifications (see PDF): According to the commonwealth’s Borough Council Handbook, “The basic qualification to serve as a borough councillor is to be a registered voter and resident of the borough. Councillors must have resided in the borough continuously for at least one year before their election. To continue serving as a councillor, an individual must retain residence within the borough. To qualify as a voter, a person must be 18 years of age and a resident of the election district.”
• Responsibilities are described as primarily legislative and quasi-judicial. Borough councils help create and enact ordinances for their communities. The handbook also states “law gives borough councils quasi-judicial powers as a hearing board to hear, interpret local ordinances and decide certain issues.” Council also handles the budget, approving what to cut and where to spend.
• Term length: four years
• Meet at least once a month
• Maximum compensation – if provided – is tied to the town’s population (e.g. Under 4,999 $1,875; 5,000-9,999 $2,500; 10,000-14,999 $3,250)

Township supervisor:
• Qualifications: According to the commonwealth’s Township Supervisors Handbook (see PDF), “To serve as a township supervisor, an individual must be a resident and registered voter of the township and must have resided in the township continuously for at least one year before their election. To qualify as a voter, a person must be 18 years of age and a resident of the election district. To continue serving as a supervisor, an individual must retain residence within the township.”
• Description of what a supervisor’s duties can entail
• Term length: Six years
• Meet at least once a month
• Maximum compensation is tied to a township’s population, according to the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors. (e.g. not more than 4,999 $1,875; 5,000 to 9,999 $2,500; 10,000 to 14,999 $3,250 source)

School board member:
• Qualifications: According to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (See PDF), a potential school board member must be “a citizen of Pennsylvania, of good moral character, at least 18 years old and a resident of the school district in which the person wishes to serve for at least one year prior to appointment."
• Term: Four years
• Responsibilities include setting policies for the school district and grappling with the district’s budget.
• Financial compensation: none

Magisterial District Justice:

• According to the Montgomery County website, district court maintains “jurisdiction over criminal preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings; summary criminal offenses; traffic offenses; municipal code violations; landlord/tenant suits; and civil claims where damages do not exceed $12,000.”
• Term: Six years