Honesdale council picks first full-time borough manager

Peter Becker, Tri-County Independent

Honesdale Borough Council on March 25 approved the conditional hiring of Susan Shaffer as borough manager, to administer the many functions at City Hall and the borough at large.

The need to hire a borough manager has been discussed at council meetings for over 20 years and picked up in earnest in recent years.

Honesdale's code states that the borough manager is the chief administrative officer and is responsible to council. Among the 35 listed duties are: supervising all borough departments, including the police department; with the concurrence of council, hiring and discharging personnel; making recommendations to council on the compensation of personnel; budget preparation; enforcement of ordinances and resolutions; keeping an account of all purchases; grant writing; preparing meeting agendas; and publishing all notices, ordinances or other documents required by law.

Councilor Noelle Mundy, representing the Personnel Committee, said that she and Councilor David Nilsen "interviewed somebody for borough manager, and we found her to be a wonderful applicant.... She was extremely competent, expertise in areas of operations management, regulatory compliance, best practices documentation, project management, extremely knowledgeable in technology integration. She has managed budgets of up to $15 million and staffs of up to 300. Extensive background in workforce development."

Although not having specific municipal experience, Mundy said they felt Shaffer would be extremely beneficial to the borough.

Susan Shaffer was conditionally hired March 25, 2024, by Honesdale Borough Council as the borough's first full-time borough manager.
Susan Shaffer was conditionally hired March 25, 2024, by Honesdale Borough Council as the borough's first full-time borough manager.

Shaffer said she was born and raised in Wayne County and has lived elsewhere across the nation and internationally. She said she has over 25 years' experience with community, economic and workforce development and how they converge. Most recently she has been director of the Stourbridge Project. She has done much work with grants.

The council unanimously approved conditional employment for Shaffer as Honesdale's first borough manager. Conditions include a successful background check and successful compensation negotiations. The Personnel and Finance Committees will conduct the latter with the candidate.

The 2024 budget includes $112,620 for expenses related to the borough manager position.

In 2023, the borough paid $26,000 to Keystone Municipal Solutions to identify eligible candidates for borough manager. Applications were forwarded to borough council's Personnel Committee. Twice, the borough offered the job to a chosen applicant, but both times the applicant backed out.

Secretary/Treasurer Judith Poltanis has been conducting many of the duties of borough manager in the absence of hiring someone to take the newly established role.

After the February meeting, the council hired a part-time interim manager, Kevin Kundratic, until such time Keystone Municipal Solutions would identify an eligible candidate. The contract called for $10,500, with half up front for recruiting by Keystone. The contract further allowed that should the borough on their own find a suitable applicant for hire, the second half of the amount would not have to be paid. The borough Personnel Committee, meanwhile, located Shaffer who was deemed qualified.

The interim manager will be assisting in the transition.

James Harris, commander of American Legion Post 254, Honesdale, addressed council on March 25, 2024, about upgrades planned at Veterans Memorial Park.
James Harris, commander of American Legion Post 254, Honesdale, addressed council on March 25, 2024, about upgrades planned at Veterans Memorial Park.

Among other business:

  • Clean-up Day was set for Saturday, April 20. Hamill said the volunteers picking up litter will be helped by borough Department of Public Works (DPW) employees who can attend. He called it a good opportunity for DPW to interact with the public.

  • DPW Director Joe Rulis resigned. Hamill commended him for the initiatives he started and getting numerous projects completed that needed to be done.

  • American Legion Post 254, Honesdale, plans to rehabilitate the Veterans Park memorial area before Flag Day, Commander James Harris announced. The council approved the request and asked for coordination with DPW, and to see the design. Cub Scouts are planning to help.

  • Bids to construct the dog park at Apple Grove Park were tabled to the April 22 council meeting. Hamill said the lowest bid was twice the amount of the grant award. The council can rebid or find other funding sources within 60 days.

  • Approval was given for Amerca250PA and the local Freemasons lodge to locate a "Liberty Tree" in Central Park, honoring America's 250th anniversary in 2026. Hamill said the tulip poplar tree would be expected to reach 130 feet tall, 100 feet wide and last 300 years. The area proposed is the quadrant bordered by Court and 9th Street, near to the Civil War monument.

  • The new events stage in Central Park will be re-dedicated May 24 in memory of Arthur E. Fasshauer, who started the summer park concert series hosted by Wayne County Creative Arts Council (WCCA), Hamill said. WCCA owned the previous stage, which has been replaced with a state-of-the-art version purchased by the borough in 2023.

Honesdale Borough Council meets on the fourth Monday at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 958 Main St. Visit honesdaleborough.com for more information.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Honesdale council picks Shaffer for first full-time borough manager

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