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Health & Fitness

Searching for Houdini

Let's not underestimate the value of a truly experienced Manager.

Imagine you had to select someone to be the Chief Operating Officer for a business with an annual budget exceeding $7,000,000. The organization provided vital services to over 15,000 people of all ages. 

What kind of questions would you ask the applicants?  What would you need to know, say if the business was local government and the job was ? 

Local government IS a business and one where experience really counts. 

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Who will be the point person responsible for the day-to-day business, overseeing all income and out-go? The Manager must be skilled in responding to residents’ problems, supervising staff, enforcing codes, monitoring budgets, purchasing equipment, negotiating contracts, and preparing critical reports for Supervisors, just to name a handful of important responsibilities.

How much hands-on local government managerial experience should the applicant bring to Forks?  Should they possess an MBA, a degree in Urban Planning, Economics, or degrees in Emergency Management, Labor Relations or Communications? How versatile is the applicant’s background? Forks last Manager had degrees in Public Administration and a long career managing municipalities in Pennsylvania and other states. Before hiring the next Manager wouldn’t you want to know what they accomplished for other progressive communities elsewhere that would merit your consideration?

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Forks residents deserve a new Manager who will command the respect of staff, someone who motivates a productive, cheerful, effective team to serve our community.  A Manager who can respond to press inquiries and residents’ questions professionally and personably needs also to be a good public speaker with excellent writing skills to edit the Forks Quarterly, issue news releases and update the Township’s website. 

After ten years of explosive growth needs a better balance between its residential and commercial tax base. Forks’ financial health depends on a robust local economy to support the costs of maintaining our parks, infrastructure, roads and sewers. A Manager with experience in urban planning, zoning, dealing with developers, land development ordinances and contractors can help prevent sprawl and other problems that come with it. 

The best Managers are able to work with appointed Boards and Planning Commissions while articulating the Board of Supervisor’s vision for the Township.  They can accomplish this diplomatically and with diligence. Furthermore, the ability to oversee police, fire and EMS during blizzards, floods, hurricanes or other emergencies cannot be underestimated. 

On October 16, 1997 Forks Supervisors signed Ordinance #244 creating the position of Township Manager. They recognized that “due to the growth of the Township and the corresponding increase in the size and complexity of operating the municipal government” a competent, steady, experienced hand was needed. 

Fifteen years later Forks Township again needs a Manager. Are we looking for a Mr. or Ms. Houdini to perform municipal magic? Well, not exactly. But by advertising for a candidate with only a Bachelor of Arts degree, perhaps the Board could have aimed a little higher.  We hope they will put and select someone of superior experience and ability.

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