PCC Local Time

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.Highlights00:00 - Welcome & Year-End Check-In00:01 - Episode Introduction: Strategic Planning00:02 - Brandon's Love/Hate Relationship with Strategic Planning00:03 - The Chicken or Egg Debate: Aspirational vs. Practical00:04 - Dave Introduces "Cross-Offable" Action Steps00:05 - The Comp Plan vs. Strategic Plan Hierarchy Debate00:07 - Eden's Cascade Model: How Plans Connect00:08 - Lower Merion's Annual Priorities Workshop Process00:11 - Strategic Planning for Small Communities00:15 - Dave: Small Communities Need It MORE00:17 - Brandon's Reality Check: Need vs. Resources00:18 - In-House vs. Hiring Consultants00:20 - Dave on Pros and Cons of Each Approach00:22 - Eden's Charlottesville Story: Third-Party Facilitation00:24 - Most Memorable Planning Experiences00:26 - Eden's 112-Person Strategic Team: "Planning Is Messy"00:28 - Strategic Plans Cannot Replace Policy Process00:30 - 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 Change00:35 - "Failing to Plan Is Planning to Fail" - True or False?00:37 - Emergency Planning Discussion00:38 - Dave's Key Insight: Strategic Plans Give Managers "Cover"00:40 - Final Wisdom: Planning for Communities of All Sizes00:41 - 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.Chapters02:51 The Meaning Behind ‘Generation on the Rise’12:06 Understanding Bias in Local Government23:47 Bias in Hiring Processes and Practices28:27 Navigating Education Choices in Suburban Life29:41 Blind Reviews and Bias in Hiring31:35 The Importance of Diverse Perspectives33:17 Creating a Culture of Disagreement35:01 Affinity Bias in Team Dynamics37:47 The CAO and Assistant Relationship42:54 Confirmation Bias in Municipal Management54:58 The Impact of Experience on Management Bias59:22 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.TAKEAWAYSHR is crucial for understanding municipal dynamics.Community engagement is vital in the hiring process.The role of the police chief can significantly impact management.Home Rule Charters allow municipalities to create their own regulations.Public safety funding is often misallocated in municipalities.Dedicated HR departments can enhance employee wellness and education.Managing doers and thinkers requires different strategies.Building relationships with new leaders is essential for team cohesion.Internal service departments play a key role in supporting operations.The hiring process should focus on culture fit and qualifications.

🎧 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 Forman, 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 FormanAPMMPCC Local Time on MuniSquareSHOWNOTES00:00–01:10 — Opening & PurposeI 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 MediaHer 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 CommunityWhy 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 TrolleyWe discuss Media’s iconic branding, its historic trolley system, and early investments that anchor identity.08:30–11:00 — Media’s Built Form & Good BonesGrid 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 StoryThe 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 ClosuresBrittany describes Dining Under the Stars, seasonal festivals, parades, and weekly programs that create social cohesion.15:30–18:00 — Parks, Environmental Ethos & Regional ConnectivityMedia’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 StrategyVision: 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 GrowthPlacemaking investments (Plum Street Mall), creating “third places,” and designing for...