Patton Township takes first step in recruitment for new township manager
Another Centre Region municipality will soon be undergoing the search for a new manager.
Patton Township’s longtime manager, Doug Erickson, plans to retire in May 2023, he told the Centre Daily Times in an email. He has not given his “official notice” but informed the board he would be retiring. He’s been with the township for 25 years.
“I will probably provide a formal retirement notice at the next meeting,” Erickson said during the Sept. 28 board of supervisors meeting.
Earlier this month, the township solicited proposals from human resources firms that work in the public employment executive search field to conduct a search for a new township manager, Erickson said. The township received three proposals and the board ultimately selected GovHR, an Illinois-based firm that works with executive recruitment for local governments, during its meeting.
The entire search and selection process is about 14-15 weeks long, Erickson said. He anticipated that they could begin the process in a few weeks and have it wrapped up in February 2023.
“This should give us plenty of time to get somebody on board and then give them plenty of time to wrap up their affairs, wherever else they might, if they’re coming from somewhere else, and relocate to State College,” he said.
GovHR is currently working with Ferguson Township to recruit a new police chief, and has previously worked with Ferguson and the Centre County government in other executive searches.
There have been several leadership changes in the Centre Region this year. In April, Ferguson Township hired a new township manager and the Centre County government hired a new county administrator. In March, Halfmoon Township’s manager resigned, although the township has yet to fill that position.
