Course on local government helps new leaders lead
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Nicholas Seitanakis of Upper St. Clair asks a question in the Local Government Academy's budget and finance class. -
Sewickley Borough manager Kevin Flannery, right, teaches a Local Government Academy's budget and finance class at University of Pittsburgh on Saturday.
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Candidates run for office, touting their knowledge, experience and qualifications. When elected, however, they often discover they have a lot to learn.
For some, filling in the gaps means heading back to the classroom.
In a university lecture hall Saturday, students jotted down notes on earned income tax, intergovernmental revenue sources and expenditures. At cursory glance, it appeared to be an ordinary classroom in every way; a student busily tapped on his cell phone. Another even passed a note through the crowd.
Few in this classroom know the answers -- and that's exactly why they're here. There are no superstars. The guy on his phone is likely sending a work email. The students passing notes weren't circulating the latest gossip -- only complaining the room was too cold.
Through the Local Government Academy's Newly Elected Officials Course, these rising local leaders are learning how to best serve their counties, municipalities, townships and boroughs in a series of classes on key topics.
"This isn't a course that makes you an expert," academy executive director Susan Hockenberry said. "This takes you from not knowing what's going on to knowing what you don't know and empowering you to get some answers."
Since 1983, more than 800 officials throughout southwestern Pennsylvania have participated in the certificate program, which the academy hosts every other year following a general election. The Pittsburgh-based nonprofit counts among its goals supporting and promoting a strong and responsive local government and developing effective leadership.
The academy's crash course on human resources, budgeting, public safety, ethical decision making, communications and conflict resolution is designed to appeal to big-budget townships and tiny boroughs alike.
Michael Foreman, local government policy specialist for the state Department of Community and Economic Development, provided an extensive overview for about 65 students from six counties in the municipal finance and the budget process class, held Saturday at the Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh's Oakland campus.
Mr. Foreman is part of an elite corps of professionals on local government issues. His name surfaced during the citizen comment period at a recent Dormont council meeting. Ms. Hockenberry affectionately calls him "Michaelpedia."
And while he discussed the continuing assessment process in Allegheny County, various types of revenue and solvency measures, Mr. Foreman posited that budgeting isn't all about crunching numbers.
Take borrowing for capital projects.
"It's a philosophical issue," Mr. Foreman said.
Should you use existing savings or levy a tax to fund a new project? And if you tax residents, will those footing the bill over a period of time actually use the finished product or service?
For John Bendel, newly elected to the Mt. Lebanon commission, revisiting his alma mater Saturday brought with it memories of his earlier academic career.
"You get kind of anxious because you think of school and tests and homework," said Mr. Bendel, who earned a master's in public administration at Pitt.
Early in his career, Mr. Bendel worked for a consulting company on special projects and planning for local governments, but he didn't know much about governing duties. He hopes the academy's certificate program will help him understand the scope of the commission's power and, in this particular session, how to navigate the budget-making process, he said.
"I'm doing this because I want to be as prepared as possible," he said.
As part of Mr. Foreman's "art and science" approach to budgeting, history is paramount.
If a municipality didn't dedicate enough money for an item, such as snow removal, for example, leaders may be forced to pull funds from another source and move numbers around. The budget should explicitly show that one-time change, so as not to confuse future budget planners.
Even technology got a shout-out. One session leader warned against managing a budget manually because software programs can streamline the process and make everyone's job easier.
As the youngest leader sitting on Braddock council next year, and with a background in computer science, Robert Parker already knows that.
Three years' experience running his own print shop and more time in general management may equip him for some of the responsibilities he'll face on Braddock council. A genuine concern for the future of his community is what he would say best qualifies him for the job.
"I didn't like how my town was looking," Mr. Parker, 33, said.
A confident newcomer, Mr. Parker is both the quiet guy in the classroom, listening attentively, and the vociferous one in council chambers making people say, " 'Hmm, well, we didn't think of that,' " he said.
Mr. Parker enrolled in the academy courses to wholly understand his role in the borough "instead of working and saying 'OK, where do I go from here?' "
The experience is a flashback for him, too.
"With all these classes, I really feel like I'm back in school," he said.
In four morning breakout sessions, participants split up to examine their own budgets. In one room, students formed an informal circle -- scrawlings from an earlier and more youthful group on the chalkboard behind them. Another group organized in a traditional fashion in one of the Cathedral's more regal classrooms.
Session leader and Sewickley manager Kevin Flannery assured students there were no dumb questions and, tipping his professor hat, nudged them to answer one of his own.
"It's not that early. Come on," he said.
As an attorney, Courtney Barthelemy, recently elected to Economy council, said she's used to lackluster continuing legal courses and had kept her expectations low coming into the academy program.
Instead, she found the curriculum useful, especially Saturday's budget lesson on revenue, she said. With a Wal-Mart scheduled to move into the borough's aging plaza along Ohio River Boulevard, Economy may see a jump in just that.
While her law background provided a rudimentary understanding of some municipal powers, Ms. Barthelemy said additional training is important and said not attending would be a "disservice" to her borough.
"It's hard to know what you don't know until you're in there," she said.
The course continues through March 10 and welcomes registrants through Jan. 12. Details: 412-586-5659 or localgovernmentacademy.org .
First Published December 15, 2011 12:00 am
