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Politics & Government

Oakmont Residents Concerned Over 'Inconsistency' in Manager Position

At Monday's Oakmont Council meeting, resident Paula Calabrese asked questions regarding the borough manager position.

Some Oakmont residents think the turnaround in borough managers over recent years might make the community look bad.

Oakmont resident , a former councilwoman, spoke to council Monday night about the lack of consistency in the borough manager position since long-time borough manager Adeline Brown retired in 2003 after 56 years.

"This inconsistency tarnishes Oakmont’s reputation," she said. "I’m concerned about the process in place [to find a new borough manager]."

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In April, Bruce Jamison, Oakmont’s fourth borough manager in eight years, .

After Brown retired, Gerry Depo was hired in 2004—he resigned six months later. Brown continued to work for the borough as an acting borough manager until Roger Dunlap Jr. was hired in 2005. Dunlap resigned in 2007, and the borough went nine months without a manager. Daniel Mator served as interim manager from 2008 until 2009, when Jamison was hired.

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Calabrese followed her concerns with several questions about how council was going to handle hiring a new borough manager—one that stays with the borough for more than a few years.

Among other questions, Calabrese asked about council’s expectations of the person in this position; if council had a job description for this position and where was it located; how residents could get involved with the process; and how council will ensure that Oakmont will have a borough manager that stays longer than the others.

Council President Tim Milberger said council is working on it.

"We need to ask ourselves how we can look at this process differently," he said.

Currently, Assistant Borough Secretary Lisa Jensen is the acting borough manager, and council has not made any decisions on the future of the position.

Editor Heidi Dezayas contributed to this report.

Do you share Calabrese's concerns about the borough manager position in Oakmont? Tell us in the comments!

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