PCC Local Time

Brandon Ford rejoins Dave Pribulka and Eden Ratliff and wastes no time stepping back into the role of host. He deftly guides the conversation from how have expectations changed for managers to something much deeper that touches on what it means to be apolitical in this new reality and how compartmentalization may or may not serve the profession going forward. Check our MuniSquare for more content like this and be sure to subscribe! Chapters 00:00 Sports and Local Engagement 03:56 International City Management Association Insights 09:30 Expectations of Local Government 18:44 The Role of Technology in Local Governance 23:13 Navigating Civic Engagement and Emotional Appeals 25:13 The Complexity of Local Governance 28:35 Engaging the Next Generation of Managers 30:26 The Balance of Politics and Management 32:34 Compartmentalizing Personal Beliefs in Governance 36:34 The Future of Political Neutrality in Local Government 40:18 Maintaining Professional Standards Amidst Political Pressures

Who gets to decide the value of a place? In other words, who gets to decide the metric? I brought that question to Christa Breum Amhøj, a Danish practitioner, researcher, and what I can only describe as a social architect because she reads a place the way a building architect reads a site. And to John Diamond, who sits in Manchester and has been watching the same tensions play out in the UK across decades of academic research, consultation, and engagement with emerging local government challenges. What follows is my attempt to trace the arc of what the three of us discovered together. Be sure to check out the full video on MuniSquare or our YouTube Channel and subscribe to get more content like this! Chapters Case Study: Faxe Municipality (Denmark)The COMPASS Model Overview

Economic development isn’t just about buildings and business, sidewalks and parking, blighted malls and dying downtowns, housing shortages and shrinking workforces, casino controversies and data center ordinances. It’s actually about facilitating conversations with the people invested in the outcomes. Keri (Miller) Kenepp, Director of Community and Economic Development for College Township, Pennsylvania, and Erin (Genest) Trone, Project Manager for BusinessPA at the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, walk us through a maze of issues facing local governments today and grant us invaluable insights into how we can think about a future together. This episode is made possible by a partnership with APMM, the Association for Pennsylvania Municipal Management. Be sure to subscribe to MuniSquare to get full content that includes all episodes of PCC Local Time and much, much more. Chapters 00:00 – Who Shapes the Future of a Place? (Episode Setup) 02:00 – Keri’s Non-Traditional Path into Economic Development 05:00 – The Expansive Nature of Local Government Roles 07:00 – “Creating the Conditions” for Development 08:30 – The Long Game vs. Election Cycles 10:30 – What Elected Officials Want (and Need to Say in Public) 12:30 – Casinos: Public Resistance vs. Legal Reality 15:00 – Data Centers: Misunderstanding and Zoning Constraints 17:00 – “We Have to Allow for All Uses” (Policy Reality) 20:00 – The Power of Community Resistance (Nestlé Case) 22:00 – The Blighted Mall and Risk-Taking in Development 23:00 – Understanding the Private Sector (Erin’s State Role) 25:00 – Matchmaking: Communities and Companies 29:00 – The Facilitator Role Defined 31:00 – Advising Elected Officials (Pros, Cons, and Decisions) 33:00 – Tension: Standards vs. Development (Affordable Housing) 36:00 – Sidewalks as a Case Study in Equity and Safety 38:00 – Developer Perspective: Why Projects Don’t Pencil Out 40:00 – Blighted Properties and “Highest and Best Use” 43:00 – Redeveloping the Mall (Zoning Shifts and Density) 45:30 – Parking: Outdated Assumptions and New Thinking 49:00 – Changing Mindsets About Walkability 50:30 – What Keri Had to Unlearn About Economic Development 53:00 – Erin on Labor Shortages, AI, and Shifting Metrics

Structural change in local government is rare. Therefore, we don’t often get the opportunity to learn how it works. My three guests today, Jerry Andree, Toby Cordek, and Michael Foreman were invited to work with a group of engaged citizens in Millcreek Township, Erie County to shepard a community making its third attempt in fifteen years to restructure their local government. Millcreek is one of the largest second-class townships in Pennsylvania with nearly 55,000 residents, a sophisticated range of services, and all the complexity that comes with governing a community that size. Yet for decades, it has been run by three elected supervisors who, at their first meeting after each election, appoint themselves as the township’s full-time municipal administrators. This does not provide for a separation of powers between the people who set policy and the people who carry it out and creates a vacuum in the continuity of services. This episode is in many respects a rare master class in how to form a study commission and carry a recommendation through to the voters. But more importantly, it’s a frank, insider conversation about the dynamics behind the scenes, including the interviews, the resistance, the attacks, and what it takes to stay focused and transparent when the process gets hard. This podcast episode has been created in partnership with APMM, the association for professional municipal managers to enhance learning, leadership development and networking. Jerry Andree spent three decades as Township Manager of Cranberry Township in Butler County Pennsylvania and has been a steady presence in local government leadership across Pennsylvania. Even in retirement, he continues to teach, advise, and support communities working through complex challenges. Toby Cordek served more than 35 years as Town Manager of McCandless in Allegheny County and has worked across nearly every aspect of local government. Today, he continues to mentor leaders and support municipalities through consulting and executive search work. Michael Foreman brings over 30 years of experience with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, where he advised municipalities on policy, finance, and operations. He now continues that work as a consultant supporting local governments across the region. Be sure to follow PCC Local Time on your favorite player and subscribe to MuniSquare.Substack.com for more in-depth content on local government. 🎧 Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Opening: Why this story matters Nancy frames the rarity of structural change in local government and introduces Millcreek as a “third attempt” story with real stakes. 01:30 – Guest introductions Jerry Andree, Toby Cordek, and Michael Foreman are introduced with their backgrounds and roles. 03:00 – What makes Millcreek different Three-member board of supervisors acting as full-time administrators—an unusual structure for a township of this size. 05:30 – The core problem emerges Lack of professional management; solicitor acting as de facto manager; growing complexity of the township. 07:45 – Why residents pushed for change Blended roles (legislative, executive, administrative) and growing disconnect between governance and community expectations. 09:00 – Public access and transparency issues Meeting times and structure raise questions about accessibility and responsiveness to residents. 10:30 – Clarifying the real issue Not about removing elected officials—but clarifying roles and introducing professional management. 12:00 – How a study commission works Michael walks through the legal process: ballot question, election, structure, and responsibilities. 15:00 – Inside the research process Interviews with department heads, supervisors, and comparisons with other townships. 17:00 – Why council-manager emerged as the best fit Separation of powers, stability, and professional administration. 19:00 – What the interviews revealed Lack of continuity,...

Maggie Dobbs is a trained city planner (Rutgers) who spent a decade writing comprehensive plans across Montgomery County before stepping into her current role as Borough Manager of Narberth, Pennsylvania, a half-square-mile community tucked inside Lower Merion Township just outside of Philadelphia. She arrived after a period of leadership turnover. What she found was not a small job. It was a dense one. Host Brandon Ford and co-host Nancy Hess have a wide ranging conversation with Maggie that moves through the real experience of borough management: the math of running a full municipal government — police, public works, library, eleven miles of road — with fifteen people and a fraction of a township’s budget; the intimacy that makes boroughs special and the same intimacy that makes criticism land close to the heart; and the reality that wearing every hat in the building demands more knowledge, not less, than specializing in a larger organization. Maggie is candid about walking into a community that had cycled through five managers in four years, what it took to steady that ship, and why her focus is on building standard operating procedures so the day-to-day can run itself. Along the way, the crew explores Narberth’s housing story — how a historically working-class rail town became the highest median sales price in Montgomery County — and what that shift means for a community once referred to as “Mayberry,” still sorting out who it is. MuniSquare is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. “My job gets in the way of me doing my job.”— Maggie Dobbs — on the borough manager’s capacity problem“Your hats are wearing hats. It’s a lot.”— Maggie Dobbs — on generalist demands in a small-staff borough "If I had a campaign slogan, it would be policy and procedure. My big push has been standard operating procedures. I want to think less about the day-to-day. I want the day-to-day to essentially run itself because we've already figured it out. I don't want to have to answer questions I've answered again."Maggie Dobbson her first-year management strategy 🔥 Hot Takes Five Realities Before You Take the Seat Timestamps 0:00 – Introducing Maggie and Narberth 1:18 – The “donut hole” geography inside Lower Merion 2:09 – Maggie’s path: NJ Dept. of Agriculture → Rutgers → Planning 3:30 – Montgomery County Planning Commission & contract planning model 5:49 – Writing four comprehensive plans; interviewing...

There is a polite fiction in local government that serving “at the pleasure of the governing body” rests securely on mutual trust. Often it does. Increasingly, it can feel more fragile. In today’s political climate, the employment relationship between elected officials and their chief administrative officer deserves a closer examination. What protections actually exist? Who advocates for the manager when circumstances shift? In this episode of Generation on the Rise, Eden Ratliff and Dave Pribulka sit down with Brad Gotshall to explore what it means to become, in his words, a “free agent.” They examine contracts and severance, and they also confront questions of reputation, professional identity, and the personal weight of transitions that can be political, strategic, or simply inevitable. MuniSquare is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:0004:3009:3011:3013:3016:0019:0022:0026:0031:0037:0039:3041:3043:0045:3048:0050:00

Eden and Dave are joined by guest Jeffrey Stonehill, Borough Manager of Chambersburg Pennsylvania. They begin with an examination of how crises today differ from those Jeffrey encountered when he began in the field. Although they traverse the doom and gloom of dealing with crisis in the profession, they return to the core reasons they remain in the field. Contrasting generational perspectives and recognition of the vulnerability that comes with commitment and transitions make this episode a memorable one. Subscribe to MuniSquare on Substack for more content like this. EdenJeffreyDave Hot Takes: 🔥Crisis has always been part of the job. The pressure isn’t new — the speed is. 🔥Not every issue deserves full emotional escalation. 🔥Fire Suppression ≠ Fire Prevention. Be proactive. 🔥 The communities you serve will continue without you—and that's okay. 🔥Leaving a community requires a grieving process, even when it's your choice to leave. 🔥The work is meaningful. Despite the pressure, leaders would not trade the experience. Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open and greetings 03:47 - Welcome and introduction to Generation on the Rise 04:42 - Introducing first-time guest Jeffrey Stonehill 06:32 - Jeffrey’s career journey: From SUNY grad to 40-year manager 08:15 - The “crisis as normal” phenomenon in local government 11:45 - Why municipalities attract constant crisis 15:20 - The evolution of pressure: Then vs. now 19:30 - Harrisburg bankruptcy and advisory board experience 24:10 - The psychological toll of perpetual emergency management 28:45 - Learning to disconnect (or trying to) 33:20 - The loneliness of municipal management 37:50 - Why managers struggle to share burdens 42:15 - Transitioning between communities: The Disney tradition 45:40 - The grieving process when you leave a community 49:18 - Taking care of yourself and your family 50:05 - Despite everything: Why we love this profession 52:03 - Closing thoughts and next week’s preview

Hey listeners, if you like video with your podcast, check out this episode on Spotify with the video feed included. Don't forget to hit the follow button. And subscribe to MuniSQuare where you will find more on the Pioneering Change Community channel. "We are all one elected official away from a hostile work environment.” - Dave “Yeah, but if it gets that bad, why would you stay?" - Eden Today on Generation on the Rise, what starts as tactical shop talk evolves into a revealing examination of professional isolation, with Dave pushing hard on systemic advocacy gaps while Eden counters with self-reliance pragmatism. By the end, they’re debating whether the profession’s recruitment crisis stems from lack of awareness or legitimate wariness about the job’s inherent instability. “Labor relations are high risk, high reward. When it goes bad, it goes bad fast.” - Brandon Hot Takes: Generational dynamics within unions have shifted bargaining leverage.Don’t wait until negotiation year to build trust.Personnel management is on-the-job training, no matter your preparation.Managers lack advocacy structures..

In this kickoff-to-2026 episode of Generation on the Rise, hosts Dave Pribulka, Brandon Ford, and Eden Ratliff tackle the question: what is the real role of a municipal manager in forming local government policy? Generation on the Rise is produced by Nancy Hess (Publisher of MuniSquare) and features Eden Ratliff (Middletown Township Manager, Bucks County PA), Brandon Ford (Lower Merion Assistant Township Manager, Montgomery County PA, and Dave Pribulka (Bellefonte Borough Manager, Centre County PA) MuniSquare is a reader-supported publication. To subscribe to this feed, receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a great listen for anyone interested in the work of local government or just wants to understand how it really works. Be sure to leave your comments and questions for the crew to tackle in a future episode. “Our job is to inform the process, respect the outcome, and then deliver with enthusiasm.” - Eden “We took ‘leaf blower ban’ as a goal and did what staff does—we turned it into options, wrote the ordinance, and recommended a seasonal ban. The board said, ‘Thanks, but we want a full ban.’ And that’s democracy.” - Brandon “Sometimes the textbook says, ‘The board sets policy, the manager administers.’ The real work is everything in between—the translation, the conflict, the opportunity costs.” - Dave TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – New Year banter & Y2K 03:30 – First-week-back routines & “Purge Day” 06:30 – Reorganization meetings as the “real” New Year 09:00 – Setting up the topic: managers and policy formation 10:00 – Textbook council–manager model vs reality 12:00 – How Eden reads and frames board policy priorities 13:30 – Who really sets the agenda? Chair vs manager 14:30 – Is capital equipment a policy question? 16:00 – Municipal vs nonprofit vs corporate boards 17:30 – Disagreeing with the board and processing it at home 21:00 – Culture, roles, and “no big emotions” about policy 24:00 – Translating decisions up and down the organization 28:00 – “Negotiation” vs expectations and culture 29:30 – When managers do and don’t make recommendations 33:00 – Budgets, tax policy, and whether a balanced budget is a recommendation 36:00 – Assistant manager perspective: one functional unit 38:00 – Preemption, home rule, and plastic-bag bans 44:00 – Inertia, backlash, and revisiting policy after it “marinates” 47:00 – What’s distinctive about the Generation on the Rise cohort? 48:00 – When operations are failing and the manager must force the policy conversation 49:00 – Closing reflections & takeaways

Summary: In this thought-provoking episode, Brandon, Dave, and Eden tackle the complex topic of workplace loyalty in local government. The hosts debate what loyalty means in practice, whether it’s connected to tenure, and how it differs from professionalism. The conversation takes an unexpected turn into residency requirements, sparking passionate disagreement about whether living in the community you serve impacts your work. As they wrap up 2024, the hosts announce exciting changes coming in 2025, including guest appearances. Generation on the Rise is produced by Nancy Hess (Publisher of MuniSquare) and features Eden Ratliff (Middletown Township Manager, Bucks County PA), Brandon Ford (Lower Merion Assistant Township Manager, Montgomery County PA, and Dave Pribulka (Bellefonte Borough Manager, Centre County PA) MuniSquare is a reader-supported publication. To subscribe to this feed, receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Show Notes: Timestamps:

As the calendar year closes out, Eden Ratliff sits down with Brandon Ford and Dave Pribulka to talk about strategic planning in the real world: not as a glossy document, but as a working “rudder” for budget decisions, priorities, and day-to-day execution. They dig into the tension between aspirational goals (the “why”) and cross-offable action steps (the “how”)—including how to avoid plans that sound inspiring but don’t translate into steps, owners, timelines, or resources. Along the way, they compare planning approaches in large and small communities, debate when to use consultants vs. doing the work in-house, and talk honestly about what happens when boards turn over and want to toss the plan on the shelf. Generation on the Rise is produced by Nancy Hess and features Eden Ratliff (Middletown Township Manager, Bucks County PA), Brandon Ford (Lower Merion Assistant Township Manager, Montgomery County PA, and Dave Pribulka (Bellefonte Borough Manager, Centre County PA) Subscribe to MuniSquare on Substack and sign up for the Generation on the Rise feed. Highlights 00:00 - Welcome & Year-End Check-In 00:01 - Episode Introduction: Strategic Planning 00:02 - Brandon's Love/Hate Relationship with Strategic Planning 00:03 - The Chicken or Egg Debate: Aspirational vs. Practical 00:04 - Dave Introduces "Cross-Offable" Action Steps 00:05 - The Comp Plan vs. Strategic Plan Hierarchy Debate 00:07 - Eden's Cascade Model: How Plans Connect 00:08 - Lower Merion's Annual Priorities Workshop Process 00:11 - Strategic Planning for Small Communities 00:15 - Dave: Small Communities Need It MORE 00:17 - Brandon's Reality Check: Need vs. Resources 00:18 - In-House vs. Hiring Consultants 00:20 - Dave on Pros and Cons of Each Approach 00:22 - Eden's Charlottesville Story: Third-Party Facilitation 00:24 - Most Memorable Planning Experiences 00:26 - Eden's 112-Person Strategic Team: "Planning Is Messy" 00:28 - Strategic Plans Cannot Replace Policy Process 00:30 - The Big Question: What When Boards Throw Out Your Plan? 00:31 - Defining AMI and ALICE (Housing Affordability Context) 00:34 - Dave: Sometimes Things Just Change 00:35 - "Failing to Plan Is Planning to Fail" - True or False? 00:37 - Emergency Planning Discussion 00:38 - Dave's Key Insight: Strategic Plans Give Managers "Cover" 00:40 - Final Wisdom: Planning for Communities of All Sizes 00:41 - Closing & Where to Listen

In this episode of ‘Generation on the Rise’, the hosts Dave Pribulka, Eden Ratliff, and Brandon Ford “go there” to unpack the inherent biases present in local government, and how it can impact decision-making processes. They explore how biases affect hiring practices and public policy formation, emphasizing the need for a culture of challenge and building perspective in leadership. The conversation also touches on the impact of confirmation bias and the necessity of engaging with voices from outside familiar turf to challenge the status quo. Chapters 02:51 The Meaning Behind ‘Generation on the Rise’ 12:06 Understanding Bias in Local Government 23:47 Bias in Hiring Processes and Practices 28:27 Navigating Education Choices in Suburban Life 29:41 Blind Reviews and Bias in Hiring 31:35 The Importance of Diverse Perspectives 33:17 Creating a Culture of Disagreement 35:01 Affinity Bias in Team Dynamics 37:47 The CAO and Assistant Relationship 42:54 Confirmation Bias in Municipal Management 54:58 The Impact of Experience on Management Bias 59:22 Bias in Public Policy Formation

In this episode, Brandon Ford leads the conversation with co- hosts Eden Ratlif and Dave Pribulka. They discuss the challenges of work-life balance in local government, touching on public comment dynamics, the pioneering leaf blower ban initiative, and the importance of personal life beyond work. They explore generational differences in work expectations, the impact of remote work policies, and the recent implementation of a paid parental leave policy. The conversation emphasizes the need for boundaries and support in achieving a healthy work-life balance. Highlights include: why culture starts at the top (and why “first in, last out” can quietly poison a workplace), why “email jail” keeps people from fully unplugging, what it looks like to structure remote work without creating resentment, and a concrete example of a benefits move that actually supports families: a 12-week paid parental leave policy that includes birth, non-birth parents, adoption, and foster adoption. “Work-life balance is not about time management. It’s about boundary management. You could always make the time work, but it’s those boundaries—setting those boundaries up.” - Brandon

Hosts Dave Pribulka, Eden Ratliff, and Brandon Ford, candid talk about shaping your team in your municipal organizations. They explore the essential roles needed in local government, the importance of dedicated HR departments, and the challenges of managing diverse personalities within teams. The conversation delves into the hiring process, community engagement in recruitment, and the dynamics of leadership, emphasizing the need for a balance between doers and thinkers. TAKEAWAYS

🎧 This episode of PCC Local Time is part of the APMM Series, featuring conversations with Pennsylvania’s municipal managers and leaders about the evolving practice of local government. In this episode, I talk with Brittany Foreman, Manager of Media Borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, about what it takes to build — and preserve — a strong sense of place in a small community that has suddenly become a regional magnet. Brittany walks us through Media’s evolution from a struggling commercial district in the 1990s to today’s walkable, lively, “everybody’s hometown,” complete with trolleys, a regional rail station, an energetic restaurant district, and a deep environmental ethic. Listeners will hear a grounded, practical conversation about what local leaders can control, what they can influence, and what they simply need to adapt to as their communities change. This episode is for municipal managers, planners, elected officials, and anyone wrestling with growth, affordability, and the tension between tourism appeal and local character. CONTACT: Brittany Forman APMM PCC Local Time on MuniSquare SHOWNOTES 00:00–01:10 — Opening & Purpose I introduce Brittany and set the stage: a conversation for municipal managers and elected leaders about transformation and sense of place. 01:10–04:00 — Brittany’s Path to Media Her career in HUD, Norfolk, mayor’s office, planning, private-sector consulting — and how Media’s economic development plan brought her to the borough. 04:00–06:00 — Living and Working in the Same Community Why Media feels like the right fit and what it's meant to be embedded in the place she serves. 06:00–08:30 — “Everybody’s Hometown” & The Trolley We discuss Media’s iconic branding, its historic trolley system, and early investments that anchor identity. 08:30–11:00 — Media’s Built Form & Good Bones Grid layout, transit access, mixed housing types, courthouse activity, and how the borough’s size (¾ sq mile) shapes everyday life. 11:00–13:30 — Media’s Recovery Story The 1990s: crime, vacancies, and disrepair — and how Mayor McMahon and elected officials actively recruited businesses and built events that revived the town. 13:30–15:30 — A Full Calendar: 30+ Annual Street Closures Brittany describes Dining Under the Stars, seasonal festivals, parades, and weekly programs that create social cohesion. 15:30–18:00 — Parks, Environmental Ethos & Regional Connectivity Media’s strong environmental culture, parks investment, and the importance of looking to adjacent municipal assets. 18:00–21:00 — Housing Pressure & Becoming a “Victim of Success” Demand outpacing supply, luxury units, price spikes, first million-dollar home, and concerns about seniors and young families. 21:00–23:30 — Media’s Affordable Housing Strategy Vision: a place where residents can access housing at every stage of life. Focus areas: households under $75k, seniors, zoning changes, office conversions. 23:30–26:00 — Preserving Character While Welcoming Growth Placemaking investments (Plum Street Mall), creating “third places,” and designing for...

🎧 This episode of PCC Local Time is part of the APMM Series, featuring conversations with Pennsylvania’s municipal managers and leaders about the evolving practice of local government. Follow APMM on LinkedIn and Read more at APMM.net In this episode of the APMM Series, produced in partnership with PCC Local Time, Nancy J. Hess and Dr. Martin Carcasson explore how local government leaders can shift from problem-solvers to systems builders. Together, they trace how small shifts in process — better questions, framing, and facilitation — can profoundly affect trust and decision-making in communities. Dr. Martin Carcasson is a professor of Communication Studies at Colorado State University and the founding director of the Center for Public Deliberation (CPD) — a university-community partnership that helps local governments, school districts, and civic organizations improve how they talk about complex public issues. Martin’s work draws from communication theory, social psychology, and systems thinking to design better public conversations about “wicked problems” — the issues that have no simple or permanent solutions. He has collaborated extensively with the Kettering Foundation, the National Civic League, and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), where he’s trained city managers and superintendents to act as deliberative systems leaders. In his words: “If city managers see themselves as systems leaders — deliberative systems leaders — their job is to get a sense of how this system works, and then figure out how to intervene in this system to improve it.” 🧭 Timestamps 00:00 – 02:20 — Opening: Why talk about conversations at all? Martin distinguishes debate, deliberation, and dialogue. 02:20 – 05:10 — The Charlie Kirk example and what it reveals about campus “deliberative systems” A live example of tough conversations and what universities can learn. 05:10 – 07:30 — Nancy introduces Paul Bloom’s “Against Empathy” and the need for reflection 07:30 – 10:00 — Why conversation matters in local government Nancy frames the skepticism many leaders have: “Do we really need all these meetings?” Martin connects it to wicked problems and shared goals 10:00 – 13:00 — Brain science and the limits of human nature Why we resist nuance — and how public processes often make this worse. 13:00 – 16:40 — Pre-work matters: why tough conversations shouldn’t start “on the fly” 16:40 – 20:30 — How to gather opinions before the meeting Surveys, individual conversations, Google Forms, and anonymous responses.

Hosts Dave Pribulka, Eden Ratliff, and Brandon Ford, are joined by Nancy Hess for a candid talk about what real change management looks like in local government. They explore how trust, timing, and human connection shape change — from labor negotiations to leadership teams to community-driven expectations. A double header this week… be sure to check out the chat for this week’s show! Subscribe to MuniSquare.Substack.com where you can find Generation on the Rise and PCC Local Time podcast episodes along with lots of other local government content! ⏱️ Show Notes 02:00 – 10:00 - What change management really looks like: buy-in, communication, and shifting expectations. 10:00 – 18:00 - Real-world examples: labor negotiations, labor dynamics, and the conditions that make change possible. 18:00 – 25:00 - External forces: AI, community pressure, and unexpected participation. 25:00 – 33:00 - Pacing and leadership: slowing down on purpose, avoiding rushed decisions, emotional intelligence. 33:00 – 42:00 - Trust, vulnerability, and the “blockbuster questions” that unlock better decisions. 42:00 – 44:00 - Wrap-up: reflections and close.

Fresh from the ICMA Conference in Tampa, the Generation on the Rise crew dives into how to draw the line between leadership and politics. Eden reflects on his ICMA session about rebuilding trust after a $3.2 million fraud case, while Dave and Brandon unpack what it means to stay apolitical and human in a world where expectations sometimes conflict with professional ethics. From the emotional side of management to candid talk about boards, boundaries, and values, this episode captures the nuance and humor of a profession in flux. Join hosts: Dave Pribulka, Brandon Ford, Eden Ratliff. Check out more content like this and PCC Local Time at MuniSquare@Substack.com

🎧 This episode of PCC Local Time is part of the APMM Series, featuring conversations with Pennsylvania’s municipal managers and leaders about the evolving practice of local government. In this episode on Sustainability, host Nancy Hess talks with three guests who are redefining what local sustainability looks like on the ground: Sara GibsonCamp Hill BoroughStormfestBailey RoccoPennsylvania Municipal LeagueKate Robeson GrubbSolebury TownshipPenn State Distinguished Alumni Award They share how communities are translating mandates into meaningful local action—from stormwater festivals and inter-municipal cooperation to new sustainability certification programs and community engagement efforts. SHOWNOTES: 00:00 – 02:00 | Introduction Nancy opens with reflections on the meaning of sustainability and how local governments bring it to life. Introduction of guests: Sara Gibson, Bailey Rocco, and Kate Robeson Grubb. 02:00 – 22:00 | Sara Gibson – From Compliance to Community: The Story of Stormfest 23:00 – 45:00 | Bailey Rocco – Measuring What Matters: The Sustainable PA Program 46:00 – 1:11:00 | Kate Robeson Grubb – Building the Future Locally 1:11:00 – 1:12:00 | Closing

PCC Local Time is pleased to share another episode of a new podcast series, Generation on the Rise, a great companion piece to the content we post here and something we think you are all going to like. In this podcast series, local government's next generation sits down to talk about what's changing, what's hard, and why we believe it's worth doing. Join hosts: Dave Pribulka, Brandon Ford, Eden Ratliff, and Executive Producer Nancy J. Hess as they find the new normal — not the one we’re used to, but the one we are here to create. Welcome to Generation on the Rise! Be sure to follow this podcast at MuniSquare SHOW NOTES: 00:00 – Warm-up: Tampa and Leaf Blowers 02:30 – The “Middletown Budget Roadshow” 06:00 – Introducing the Topic: Networking & Mentorship 08:00 – The Brandon Factor 09:00 – Why Networking Matters 14:00 – The Golf Myth 17:00 – Bad Advice from Mentors 23:00 – The Shadow Side of Mentorship 28:00 – When to Leave the Nest 33:00 – The Manager–Assistant Dynamic 35:00 – Bulls in the China Shop 38:00 – Competing for the Same Job 41:00 – The Unwritten Map 44:00 – How to Actually Network 47:00 – Networking as an Introvert 50:00 – Following Up 55:00 – The Value of Small Conferences 58:00 – Closing Thoughts