In this episode of our APMM series, we dive into the evolving world of local government leadership. I'm thrilled to be joined by three distinguished guests: Tom Fountaine, George Needles, and Dave Kratzer. Together, they bring decades of experience and deep insight into the challenges and opportunities shaping municipal management today.

In our conversation, we cover:

• The growing complexity of public expectations and the rise of instant communication in the digital age.

• Navigating governance challenges, from polarization to the need for greater professionalization in local government.

• The competition for talent and what it means for the future of the profession.

• And finally the need to Advocate for statutory protections and employment agreements to ensure stability and address leadership volatility.

Whether you’re a municipal manager, elected official, or someone curious about the dynamics of local governance, this episode offers valuable insights on leadership, adaptability, and the profession’s future.

APMM AND GUEST INFO

APMM Website (Upcoming Executive Conference Info)

APMM LinkedIN

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Tom Fountaine

David Kratzer Jr

George Needles

SHOW NOTES

Duration of Employment Agreements (Starting: [00:00:00])

• "The limitation in the statute that doesn't allow local municipalities to make their own decisions about that issue is not a good statute...those decisions should be made by local governing bodies." - Tom

Increased Interaction with Elected Officials (Starting: [00:03:00])

• "I probably spend more time today working directly with elected officials, communicating with elected officials, attending meetings with elected officials...than I did when I started in this career." - Tom

Impact of Polarization and Social Media (Starting: [00:04:00])

• "The polarization of the world has really made this work much different than it used to be 20 or 30 years ago." - Tom

Evolving Public Expectations (Starting: [00:07:00])

• "People consume communication so many different ways now that there is an expectation that we can deliver in their way that they can consume and we can deliver that very quickly." - George

Faster Information Flow (Starting: [00:09:00])

• "With quicker access to information...it puts more importance on making sure that those charged with governance, the elected officials, are aware of that information before it becomes generally available." - Dave

The Competition for Talent (Starting: [00:12:00])

• "Competition for talent...is not only a function of competition within the sector but also other opportunities that may present for those that have functioned well in this position." - Dave

Standardization Challenges in Pennsylvania Governance (Starting: [00:16:00])

• "We operate under codes, right? But we're not highly standardized...No two [local governments] are similar." - George

Governance Fragmentation and Managerial Transitions (Starting: [00:19:00])

• "The fragmentation of local government in Pennsylvania makes it very complicated...Every square inch of the state is incorporated." - Tom

Cultural Dynamics of Elected Bodies (Starting: [00:23:00])

• "Communities have cultures that develop over time...Elected officials and groups that historically maybe have worked well together are always one election away from having a dramatic change." - Tom

Learning to Fail Publicly (Starting: [00:51:00])

• "Being able to fail publicly and get up and say, you know what, dust it off and let’s keep moving forward...is what’s going to create good governance." - George

The Role of Municipal Managers (Starting: [00:40:00])

• "The manager...is truly functioning as the chief executive officer of the municipality and has a leadership role in the community to implement the policies...established by the elected officials." - Tom

Advocacy for Professional Stability (Starting: [00:32:00])

• "We’ve gotten to a point where we need to revisit duration...and have that duration reflect some of the volatility and some of the commitment that we’re making as professionals to the communities that we serve." - Dave

Importance of Onboarding and Education for Elected Officials (Starting: [00:41:00])

• "We’ve done a significant deep dive orientation for newly elected officials...It helps enormously in orienting new elected officials." - Tom

Impact of Contract Management Legislation (Starting: [00:48:00])

• "City management is about people and about the leadership that people bring to those communities...Having a manager in a community is really critical to help with the professional side of things in a non-partisan, unbiased manner." - Tom

Necessity of Leadership and Adaptability (Starting: [00:52:00])

• "As we talk about the meaningful work that we do and the value that we bring to communities...perhaps we’re a little bit more out there in terms of some of the advocacy for self that needs to occur." - Dave