Council welcomes new assistant borough manager
Alan Guzzardo now on board to help with borough functions
The newest member of North Wales Borough’s staff is now officially on board.
Alan Guzzardo, the borough’s new assistant manager, was formally hired and welcomed at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
“His energy is something the borough desperately needed. He’s very bright. His first week has been exciting for both of us. He’s very organized, and it’s a pleasure to have him,” borough Manager Christine Hart said.
Since Hart was hired to be the borough’s full-time manager in late 2015, she and council have discussed the need for additional borough staff to handle administrative functions and pick up work that had been done by part-time employees, while she and council focus more on long-term planning and outreach to local residents and businesses.
Last fall council included $43,000 in funds for an assistant manager position in the 2017 budget, and Hart introduced Guzzardo on Tuesday.
Originally from Norristown, Guzzardo earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Bloomsberg University and a master’s degree in community and regional planning from Temple University, and worked for two years in Upper Dublin Township as an assistant planning and zoning officer.
“I grew up in Norristown, and I really enjoy boroughs. I think boroughs have a rich history, and a lot of culture, and they’re sustainable places for people to live,” Guzzardo said. “I wanted to work in a local borough, and to try and help improve it, for the residents and for visitors.”
Council President Mike McDonald and Borough Solicitor Greg Gifford said Guzzardo was the top choice out of nine applicants, three of whom had in-depth interviews for the position, and that perspective will be helpful for projects like the ongoing “North Wales 2040” comprehensive plan update.
“His youthful perspective will be good for the borough, because moving forward, it’s good to have somebody who’s been in other municipalities, and can bring a new perspective to us and to Christine,” Gifford said.
An informal introduction was originally scheduled for council’s March 14 meeting, but that meeting was canceled due to a snowstorm that day. Hart said Guzzardo started working for the borough March 20, and a unanimous council vote Tuesday formalized that appointment.
“It’s been a pleasure to work here. I see a lot of areas we can improve, and I hope to help make the government more efficient, and more effective. I’m just excited for the future — there’s a lot of opportunity here,” Guzzardo said.
McDonald said Guzzardo’s background in planning and zoning made him stand out from the other applicants, and his specialties and responsibilities will be worked out over time.
“This town is going to be run a lot more efficiently with Alan on board,” said council member Paula Scott.
North Wales Borough Council next meets at 7 p.m. on April 11 at the borough municipal building, 300 School St.
For more information or meeting agendas and materials visit www.NorthWalesBorough.org or search for “North Wales Borough” on Facebook.