Borough manager planning to retire
Longtime municipal employee Jake Ziegler to step down this year
The end of 2017 will mark the end of an era in Lansdale: Borough Manager Jake Ziegler has announced he plans to retire at the end of the year.
“I think the borough is moving in a real positive direction, and thank council, staff, and residents for their vision, and for always trying to do everything right by the borough, and always trying to do the right thing. For me, right now, I think this is the right thing,” he said.
Ziegler has worked for Lansdale since 1978, and from 1989
until early 2015 had worked as the borough’s director of utilities, overseeing the public works, sewer and electric departments. In February 2015 Ziegler was named to be interim manager after the termination of predecessor Timi Kirchner, and he was named to that position full-time in March of that year.
“I can’t tell you how much I’ve really enjoyed (the job), which I honestly didn’t know would be the case, but it has been an extreme pleasure working with the staff, working with council, working with you all on a regular basis,” he said.
Council’s administration and finance committee was the first to hear his news Wednesday night, when the manager announced he plans to stay onboard as council finds his replacement, but no longer.
“I can’t think of a better council, I can’t think of a better staff, and I can’t think of a better place than Lansdale,” said Ziegler.
“I’m not planning on leaving anytime soon, but my thoughts are to assist with a transition, and basically work through ’til the end of the year,” he said.
One of the big factors in his decision, Ziegler said, was the opportunity to spend more time with family, particularly two daughters who live in China — “the opportunity to go and visit them every once in a while is getting more attractive.”
In addition to travel, Ziegler said he plans to do volunteer work in and around town, such as the ongoing volunteer efforts to restore the borough freight station at Broad and Vine streets.
“I think Lansdale is moving in a positive direction. I’d like to stay a part of that, but take a little less prominent role in it,” he said.
Council President Denton Burnell said he appreciated Ziegler’s steadfast and low-key leadership during a time of transition for the town, and during several large projects including construction of a SEPTA parking garage, development of the Madison Parking Lot, sale of the former 311 W. Main St. building, and construction of a new borough municipal building and new train station.
“You weren’t sure that you even wanted the job when it happened, and you obviously have done a fantastic job at a really difficult time, and with a lot of things going on,” Burnell said.
In April, longtime borough police Chief Bob McDyre announced his retirement after more than three decades with the department, and Burnell said council will have its hands
full performing simultaneous searches for both positions.
“We appreciate you giving us a lot of notice. The way we get things done around here, it’s going to take us six months to figure this out anyway,” he said.
Councilman Jason Van Dame also thanked Ziegler for his leadership and joked that the borough will always be able to find a role for him to fill, perhaps even the same one.
“If by ‘volunteer,’ you mean serving as borough manager for free, maybe that’s something we could consider,” he said.
Lansdale Borough Council next meets at 7 p.m. on June 21 at the borough municipal building, 1 Vine St. For more information or meeting agendas and materials visit www.Lansdale.org or follow @LansdalePA on Twitter.