Welcome to another episode in the APMM Series on PCC Local Time. I am your host Nancy Hess

Our guests today offer us a glimpse of how labor relations in your municipality can help or hinder your efforts as a manager, and significantly impact your workplace. What is unique about labor relations is that you can only really come to it through experience. No amount of study or expertise will make you good at it. You must develop a practice and an approach or style that is both authentic and appropriate for your situation.

Stephanie Teoli-Kuhls is the manager of Middletown Township in Bucks County Pennsylvania, and Sandra Zadell is the manager at Upper Gwynedd Township in Montgomery County. Both are seasoned managers and adjuncts at Villa Nova University, and as you will learn, Sandra was mentored by Stephanie. So they have a special connection that brings this episode to life.

This conversation offers a wealth of insights for managers looking to foster a collaborative and productive work environment.

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Stephanie Teoli-Kuhls

Sandra Zadell

Nancy Hess

[00:02:17] Signs of a Good Negotiation

• A good negotiation leaves both sides feeling neutral, without clear winners or losers.

[00:03:31] Components of a Good Relationship

• Mutual respect, open communication, engagement, and consistency.
• Importance of resolving issues proactively before they escalate.

[00:08:46] Impact on Workplace and Services

• How labor relations affect the delivery of services and workplace morale.
• The significance of fostering a collaborative culture.

[00:13:31] Engaging Unions Outside Negotiations

• Building individual relationships with union members and understanding their perspectives.
• Examples of engaging union leadership in discussions about major changes.

[00:22:08] Manager at the Negotiation Table

• Pros and cons of having the manager lead negotiations versus bringing in a professional negotiator.
• Balancing advice from labor attorneys with what is best for the organization.

[00:29:46] Top Advice for First-Time Negotiators

• Being prepared by understanding the negotiation landscape and anticipating issues.
• Being patient and trusting the process.
• Understanding that a good negotiation is one where neither side feels like they won or lost.

[00:34:50] Challenges for New Managers

• Experiences of gender...

This episode is part of our APMM series on Community Health. Today we dig deeper into the connection between climate action and community health. Our guest, Peter Buck, co-directs the Local Climate Action Program and is the Associate Director of Climate and Sustainability Education at Penn State Sustainability.

Peter brings a perspective that helps us untangle some of the ideas related to climate action and sustainability, and he shares practical steps and success stories that show how local governments can make a real impact.

Climate change isn't just a global issue; it hits home in our neighborhoods, affecting everything from air quality to stormwater management. But local governments face the challenge of building awareness and converting policy to action.

Peter brings great energy to this conversation as he shares his experience with initiatives that are changing the course of our future.

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Dr. Peter Buck is a sustainability and climate change professional, public servant, and educator. He co-directs the Local Climate Action Program and is the Associate Director of Climate and Sustainability Education at Penn State Sustainability. Buck has communicated widely on sustainability, education, leadership, and democracy in The Washington Post, Citizens Democracy Works, on the TEDx stage, and in peer-reviewed journals and books. Buck commits himself to leadership and service, serving as an elected official in municipal and school district government, appointed service for climate planning at the local and state level, and in educational and

Connect with Peter HERE on LinkedIn

SHOW NOTES:

[Scroll down for links to resources mentioned in episode.]

Today we explore the impact of climate change on community health and local government actions.

Timestamps:

[00:02:40] Background and Personal Journey

• Peter's early interest in the controversy over teaching evolution and its link to climate science.
• His transition to focusing on climate action due to the real-world impacts on health and safety.

[00:08:17] Local Climate Action Program

• Overview of the program at Penn State.
• Partnership with local governments and students to conduct greenhouse gas inventories and develop climate action plans.
• Examples of different municipalities and their unique challenges and opportunities.

[00:14:55] Challenges and Opportunities in Local Government

• Variations in municipal capacities and readiness to tackle climate issues.
• Importance of regional cooperation for effective climate action.
• Encouraging educational initiatives to promote community engagement and understanding.

[00:18:21] Policy and Infrastructure

• The role of policy windows in creating opportunities for change.
• Integrating climate action into comprehensive plans and municipal budgets.
• Examples of successful initiatives, like the LEED Gold-certified public works facility in Ferguson Township.

[00:24:12] Community Engagement

• Strategies to engage and educate communities about climate impacts and actions.
• Importance of transparency and...

Zoning may be one of the least understood and most under-appreciated aspects of local government. But my guests today see zoning through the lens of community health and want you to come along with them to better understand how zoning and planning impact our lives.

Ben Estell is manager of Dormont Borough outside of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County Pennsylvania and R.J. Susko is Planning and Development Director in the Town of McCandless in Allegheny County.

In this episode, RJ and Ben discuss the crucial role zoning and community planning play in enhancing community health.

RJ and Ben highlight the paths to their current roles and emphasize the human impact of zoning decisions. They explore topics such as transparency, public engagement, and the challenges of implementing zoning changes that balance community needs and environmental considerations. The conversation underscores the importance of proactive planning and the iterative nature of zoning regulations to foster resilient and thriving communities.

If you like your comprehensive planning to be entertaining and even a little sexy, you have come to the right place.

This episode is part of our 2024 APMM series. APMM is dedicated to the promotion of professional and effective local government management in Pennsylvania.

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RJ Susko serves as the Planning and Development Director for the Town of McCandless, Allegheny County, PA. Ms. Susko holds a Master of Public Administration Urban Affairs and Planning concentration, from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA), and a B.S. in Public Health from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A lifelong asker of “how does that work?”, Ms. Susko has been active in the municipal management world for several years, focusing on process improvement, change management, and right-sizing regulations to empower communities to reach their full potential.

Most recently in her current role as Planning and Development Director at the Town of McCandless, RJ has overseen the Town’s first wholesale zoning update in the last 50 years, involving a complete re-write and restructuring of the McCandless land use and development codes.

Benjamin Ryan Estell serves as Manager for the Borough of Dormont in Allegheny County, PA. Ben holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a B.A. in French language and Culture from The Ohio State University. He received his ICMA certification in 2015.

Has led numerous impactful projects, such as the Potomac Avenue Design and Reconstruction, an award-winning storm water management project, and a 5-Year Strategic Planning Process, which has involved significant public input and research. Most recently led a comprehensive zoning rewrite that brought Form-Based Code and Transit Oriented Development into the Pittsburgh suburbs and created the transformational catalyst for a truly welcoming community.

[00:00 - 05:07]: Introduction and RJ's background in community development.

[05:08 - 10:18]: Ben's childhood experience with a hazardous waste incinerator and its influence on his career.

[10:19 - 15:00]: Discussion on transparency in zoning and...