In this episode, Brandon Ford leads the conversation with co- hosts Eden Ratlif and Dave Pribulka. They discuss the challenges of work-life balance in local government, touching on public comment dynamics, the pioneering leaf blower ban initiative, and the importance of personal life beyond work. They explore generational differences in work expectations, the impact of remote work policies, and the recent implementation of a paid parental leave policy. The conversation emphasizes the need for boundaries and support in achieving a healthy work-life balance.

Highlights include: why culture starts at the top (and why “first in, last out” can quietly poison a workplace), why “email jail” keeps people from fully unplugging, what it looks like to structure remote work without creating resentment, and a concrete example of a benefits move that actually supports families: a 12-week paid parental leave policy that includes birth, non-birth parents, adoption, and foster adoption.

Hosts Dave Pribulka, Eden Ratliff, and Brandon Ford, candid talk about shaping your team in your municipal organizations.

They explore the essential roles needed in local government, the importance of dedicated HR departments, and the challenges of managing diverse personalities within teams. The conversation delves into the hiring process, community engagement in recruitment, and the dynamics of leadership, emphasizing the need for a balance between doers and thinkers.

TAKEAWAYS

• HR is crucial for understanding municipal dynamics.
• Community engagement is vital in the hiring process.
• The role of the police chief can significantly impact management.
• Home Rule Charters allow municipalities to create their own regulations.
• Public safety funding is often misallocated in municipalities.
• Dedicated HR departments can enhance employee wellness and education.
• Managing doers and thinkers requires different strategies.
• Building relationships with new leaders is essential for team cohesion.
• Internal service departments play a key role in supporting operations.
• The hiring process should focus on culture fit and qualifications.

🎧 This episode of PCC Local Time is part of the APMM Series, featuring conversations with Pennsylvania’s municipal managers and leaders about the evolving practice of local government.

In this episode, I talk with Brittany Forman, Manager of Media Borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, about what it takes to build — and preserve — a strong sense of place in a small community that has suddenly become a regional magnet.

Brittany walks us through Media’s evolution from a struggling commercial district in the 1990s to today’s walkable, lively, “everybody’s hometown,” complete with trolleys, a regional rail station, an energetic restaurant district, and a deep environmental ethic.

Listeners will hear a grounded, practical conversation about what local leaders can control, what they can influence, and what they simply need to adapt to as their communities change.

This episode is for municipal managers, planners, elected officials, and anyone wrestling with growth, affordability, and the tension between tourism appeal and local character.

Brittany Forman

APMM

PCC Local Time on MuniSquare

00:00–01:10 — Opening & Purpose

I introduce Brittany and set the stage: a conversation for municipal managers and elected leaders about transformation and sense of place.

01:10–04:00 — Brittany’s Path to Media

Her career in HUD, Norfolk, mayor’s office, planning, private-sector consulting — and how Media’s economic development plan brought her to the borough.

04:00–06:00 — Living and Working in the Same Community

Why Media feels like the right fit and what it's meant to be embedded in the place she serves.

06:00–08:30 — “Everybody’s Hometown” & The Trolley

We discuss Media’s iconic branding, its historic trolley system, and early investments that anchor identity.

08:30–11:00 — Media’s Built Form & Good Bones

Grid layout, transit access, mixed housing types, courthouse activity, and how the borough’s size (¾ sq mile) shapes everyday life.

11:00–13:30 — Media’s Recovery Story

The 1990s: crime, vacancies, and disrepair — and how Mayor McMahon and elected officials actively recruited businesses and built events that revived the town.

13:30–15:30 — A Full Calendar: 30+ Annual Street Closures

Brittany describes Dining Under the Stars, seasonal festivals, parades, and weekly programs that create social cohesion.

15:30–18:00 — Parks, Environmental Ethos & Regional Connectivity

Media’s strong environmental culture, parks investment, and the importance of looking to adjacent municipal assets.

18:00–21:00 — Housing Pressure & Becoming a “Victim of Success”

Demand outpacing supply, luxury units, price spikes, first million-dollar home, and concerns about seniors and young families.

21:00–23:30 — Media’s Affordable Housing Strategy

Vision: a place where residents can access housing at every stage of life.

Focus areas: households under $75k, seniors, zoning changes, office conversions.

23:30–26:00 — Preserving Character While Welcoming Growth

Placemaking investments (Plum Street Mall), creating “third places,” and designing for...