Sandy Twp. approves Kafferlin Strategies for interim management services | News

DuBOIS — The Sandy Township Supervisors, at Monday’s meeting, approved awarding the interim management services proposal for the township and the City of DuBois to Kafferlin Strategies LLC of Warren.

The city council, at its Nov. 12 meeting, approved the same proposal.

Prior to awarding the proposal on Monday, the supervisors discussed the hiring process for the interim management services proposal.

At their Oct. 21 meeting, the supervisors announced that DuBois-Sandy Township Manager Shawn Arbaugh was ending his employment with the municipalities on Dec. 2 after being hired as the new business administrator for the Brookville Area School District.

In preparation of Arbaugh’s departure, the supervisors, also at the Oct. 21 meeting, stated that the city and the township were planning to hire Jason Dailey, a government operations specialist, of Dailey Operation Consulting LLC of the Pittsburgh area, as the interim manager. The supervisors unanimously approved moving forward with hiring Dailey as the interim manager, pending a criminal background check and approval by the city council. Members of the council and the board of supervisors interviewed Dailey prior to that meeting, and were in agreement to hire him.

Two days later, Supervisors’ Chairman Mark Sullivan said that Dailey Operation Consulting withdrew its proposal because “the project was a little bit larger than what they wanted to tackle is a good way to say that. They had other projects that they were working on and this project with two municipalities and consolidation was just more than they wanted….”

At that point, through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the council and the board of supervisors jointly interviewed Kafferlin Strategies, prior to the city council’s meeting on Nov. 12.

“We feel, at this time, we have probably reached a firm that’s going to be able to help us out,” said Sullivan.

The supervisors then opened up the meeting to the public for any questions or comments about the hiring.

Resident Dina Kirkwood asked how the firm will operate, and will there be an individual or a group in DuBois.

Arbaugh said there will be an onsite manager in DuBois five days a week; the majority of the time it will be Lisa Hagberg from Kafferlin, who will be the primary contact for Sandy Township and DuBois at various times. He said they will bring in different individuals in for special reasons at times. For example, someone who specializes in grant administration.

“So, they may need to come in once every two weeks to focus on a grant or something along those lines, but Lisa will be the day-to-day operations individual,” said Arbaugh. “When she is on vacation or off, they will have another individual step in, but they have a team of people working on the back end, just not physically out of the DuBois area. All in all, they have eight people on staff,” and each one has a specialty.

Sullivan noted that there is money in both the city and township budgets, which will cover the salary for the firm for 2025, as well as the remainder of this year.

The Kafferlin proposal was listed at $27,500/month based on 50-60 hours of work per week, according to previously published information in the Courier Express. The other two proposals were from: Keystone Municipal Solutions, Harrisburg, with a proposal of $155/hour and an anticipated 40 hours per week; and Dailey Operation Consulting LLC of the Pittsburgh area, with a proposal not to exceed $21,500/month based on approximately 40 hours per week at rates of $125-$150/hour based on the specific consultant.

Outside of the meeting, Arbaugh told the Courier Express that Kafferlin interviewed very well, and had really great management and financial experience. Their references also had excellent experience dealing with them. They also had a more realistic time commitment of 50 to 60 hours per week, which came out to a lower cost per hour than the other firms. Additionally, they had a team approach of professionals that were well versed in several areas such as grant administration.

“We (city-township) had projected hiring, paying for a full-time manager and a full-time assistant manager (with benefits, including pension and health benefits). So, we do have money budgeted for this position,” said Arbaugh.

Supervisor Barry Abbott said the municipalities had previously budgeted a total of $185,780 for the projected manager position, and a total of $185,780 for the assistant manager position for a combined total of $342,073.

“The money is accounted for in” both the city and township budgets, said Abbott.

Additionally, Supervisor Bill Beers said the township and the city are looking at various avenues through the state to help offset this cost with the firm until a permanent manager is hired for the consolidated city.

“We’ve been working very closely with DCED. They’ve been very helpful through this process, helping identify companies we can interview and they are looking for grant money for us, and we’re hopeful that we can get some grant money for this project,” said Arbaugh.

Resident Dave Rupprecht asked if the municipalities are still looking for a full-time manager and/or assistant manager before the consolidation.

“I see it running through the end of 2025, probably into 2026,” said Sullivan. “My thoughts are who is going to want to pull up roots, move a family across the state for a new city council that might not want to keep the same manager in place.”

“But, they did say too at our meeting, that if we did luck into somebody wanting to hire on at that time, they would scale back but make sure it was a good transition moving forward. That way we aren’t dropping the ball again,” said Beers.

“We don’t have to keep their entire staff on for 16 months, so they will accommodate our needs,” said Sullivan.

“I think the last place they worked at, they were there for only two months and then they found another manager right away. That could happen here. I’m not sure it will…,” said Supervisor Sam Mollica.

“It’s a unique assignment because these companies are generally set up to do three to four months, find somebody, bring them in,” said Arbaugh. “And again, kind of the unique nature of this entails probably someone a little bit longer term by that 16 months or so.”

The supervisors unanimously approved hiring Kafferlin Strategies for interim management services.

Arbaugh’s last meeting

“This is my last Sandy Township meeting, so I just wanted to say thank you for all the work that you do for the community,” said Arbaugh. “It’s been a pleasure working with you, and I think you guys have done a lot of good things in your years here. I look forward to seeing how things progress over the next few years.”

“I just want to thank Shawn,” said Supervisor Richard Whitaker. “I didn’t get to work with him very long, but he’s done a great job. I appreciate your honesty, openness, transparency. We wish you the best.”

“I’ll just follow up with Dick –thank you, Shawn, for what you’ve done for us,” said Abbott. “You’re a God-fearing man and I know you’re going to be very successful in your new job. We’re looking forward to you giving us a hand.”

“I just want to thank Shawn. When I started as a new supervisor, he was very helpful and he was always there if I had any questions, and we’re all going to miss him. I wish he wasn’t going, but Brookville’s gain is our loss,” said Mollica. “Hopefully, will still be able to help us forward for next year.”

“It’s been good working with you,” said Beers. “I think you did a lot of good things for the community to move forward, and you’re going to be sorely missed, but don’t be a stranger.”

“I’m going to echo everything said,” said Sullivan. “You have been a godsend to Sandy Township.”

It was noted that Arbaugh will continue to assist the DuBois-Sandy Township joint consolidation board, if needed, directly or through the consulting firm. There is no agreement or pay structure in place at this time, however, Arbaugh told the Courier Express after the meeting.

The firm interviewed very well, and had really great management and financial experience. Their references also had excellent experience dealing with them. They also had a more realistic time commitment of 50 –60 hours per week, which came out to a lower cost per hour than the other firms. Additionally, they had a team approach of professionals that were well versed in several areas such as grant administration.