Jim Morrison is a man with a plan, and a mandate.

When he begins his duties as North Huntingdon municipal manager and secretary Sept. 8, he intends to concentrate on developing an administration that will function as a working team.

A resident and former manager of Murrysville, Mr. Morrison was appointed by a 6-0 vote of commissioners last week. Commissioner Lee Moffatt was absent.

Mr. Morrison, 53, who also was the first manager of White Oak and a former executive director of Twin Rivers Council of Governments in West Mifflin, will start at an annual salary of $85,000.

He is North Huntingdon's third manager in less than two years.

Mr. Morrison succeeds Kelly S. Wolfe, who served for nine months as manager after eight years as assistant manager. She was appointed to the top administrative post in May 2007, five months after John Shepherd abruptly resigned after nine years on the job.

Mrs. Wolfe resigned in mid-February after agreeing to accept a controversial $94,000 severance package.

Acting Manager Michael Turley will return to his post of assistant manager.

"I feel a fair, bipartisan process by this board found a manager who possesses the credentials and experience necessary to meet the growing demands of our rapidly growing municipality," said commission President Dave Herold, one of four Democrats on the seven-member board.

"Jim Morrison's mandate is to keep our municipality moving forward efficiently."

Mr. Herold credited Republican Commissioner Richard Gray's effort that "kept a long, often-frustrating search going."

Mr. Morrison is returning to public service following 12 years working in the private sector.

"North Huntingdon has similar challenges I feel that Murrysville faced when I worked there," Mr. Morrison said.

"It's a really good, progressive community with many opportunities. My job will be to make sure those opportunities are not wasted."

He added that his strengths "include working with people and developing a team with everybody pulling in the same direction. That includes the commissioners, administration, staff and appointed boards."

No immediate administrative or staff changes are planned.

"I'm fortunate to be joining a dedicated, proven administrative staff," Mr. Morrison said.

"What they've accomplished to make North Huntingdon a desirable community to live in and one of the fastest growing municipalities in Western Pennsylvania, I feel, speaks for itself. I'll be depending on them."

His agenda includes separate "informative" meetings with commissioners and administrators.

"My plan is to ask everybody: 'What are your goals and what direction do you want to take to accomplish them?' I will listen when residents speak out because they also have stake in the township's future."