“What exactly do you do every day?”
It’s a question I’ve heard and thought a lot about each day since taking over as Township Manager.
I’ve been asked by members of the community what my days look like, how each day differs from the one before it, and what surprises I have experienced in my new role.
In the Township offices, I’ve been meeting with our staff and asking them about their day-to-day, discussing their projects, what challenges they may be facing, and how we can better serve our residents.
Ultimately, the answer to those questions is simple.
We create quality of life, and we add value for our residents.
Words like “value” and “quality” are often vague and hard to define, but you know it when you experience it.
In Cranberry Township, they represent what our residents love about living here.
People love Cranberry for many reasons, be it our pristine parks, exceptional public safety, dependable water and sewer services, or fun community-focused events. These are valuable assets that make Cranberry what it is. They are the ingredients that create “quality of life.”
And while making sure those assets continue functioning at their highest level is most certainly a day-to-day job, there’s more to it. It means not just thinking about what happens today or tomorrow, but what could happen five or 10 years down the road.
The Board of Supervisors has long believed that a clear vision is necessary in keeping Cranberry the wonderful place it has become. That includes making tough decisions and asking the hard questions and thinking about what the community will look like in the future.
And though it may not be something you think about, that’s also what our amazing Township staff does each day.
Whether it be our Communications Team finding new ways to get information to our residents, or our Planning and Development staff working with residents and businesses on future projects, progress is at the forefront. They’re able to add value and quality by thinking not just in the short-term but looking at potential future challenges.
That, in a nutshell, is what we do every day – we look out for challenges, emerging threats, and community needs and do our best to lay the groundwork for dealing with them now.
At the same time, we work to provide the highest level of service to the community each day. Events like this week’s Community Days are a prime example of staff and the community coming together to create something that’s fun, but also has a long-term impact in bettering the community.
Please keep that in mind when you call our fine Customer Service Department for assistance or attend a Parks event. They are working as hard as they can to make life better now and for years to come.
It’s a challenge and privilege they – and I – take seriously, and one we are thrilled to take on each day.