Welcome to PCC Local Time. This week we have a special episode – the first in a series of episodes created in partnership with APMM, the Association of Professional Municipal Managers. We are talking with the current and upcoming Presidents, Amanda Serock and Dave Pribulka about the topics that are challenging local government today and the municipal manager who is behind the scenes making it all happen.

Follow this podcast and sign up for the newsletter to follow this series and related episodes. But more importantly, check out the APMM conference and ICMA conference this fall. If you have been sitting on the fence, well, we are waiting for you.

Learn more about APMM and sign up to be a volunteer at the ICMA Conference

Amanda Serock (LinkedIn)

Amanda has been working professionally in municipal management for 20 years. She is currently serving as the Township Manager in Concord Township, Delaware County, PA where she was appointed in October of 2017. Prior to that she served as Township Manager and Sewer Authority Manager at Chadd's Ford Township.

She received her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Villanova University and her Bachelor’s Degree from LaSalle University.

David Pribulka (LinkedIn)

David is currently serving as the Township Manager in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, PA. since March 2022. Prior to that appointment he served as manager of Ferguson Township for 9.5 years and as Assistant Township Manager at Ferguson prior to that.

He received her Master's Degree in Public Administration from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and his Bachelor's Degree from Moravian University.

TIME STAMPS:

[00:01:17] Leadership in Local Government.

[00:04:15] Municipal managers sharing technology.

[00:10:16] Generational dynamics in the workplace.

[00:10:48] Changing dynamics in local governments.

[00:16:01] Public safety and crisis.

[00:20:47] Sustainability challenges for managers.

[00:22:11] Professional management and development.

[00:26:02] Finding the Managerial Path.

[00:30:35] Seeking confidence and inclusion.

[00:34:16] Welcoming community in municipal government.

[00:37:43] APMM conference planning excitement.

[00:39:13] Becoming coachable.

[00:42:45] Passing the torch of leadership.

Today, we welcome back Ray Patchett, the former City Manager of Carlsbad, California and now consultant to leadership teams. Ray brings a wealth of knowledge and insights into the organizational principles of city management and teams.

I asked Ray to take a deeper dive into his 8 Traits of High Performing Teams which will soon be out in published form. What stands out to me about Ray is his practical application of theory, direct approach, and insightful understanding of the city manager's role.

Our interview starts by exploring the concepts that influenced his development of these eight traits and concludes with a brief discussion of each trait.

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Bio

Raymond R. Patchett served as the City Manager for the City of Carlsbad, California, for 20 plus years where he has done extensive implementation of strategic change in a public sector organization. He joined the City in 1985. Prior to his appointment as City Manager in 1987, he served as Assistant City Manager for the City of Carlsbad, and has worked in local government since 1974 with the Cities of Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Burbank.

He formed Patchett & Associates in 2006 to offer clients a full spectrum of consulting, coaching and training services that foster community excellence, organizational effectiveness and personal growth.

Patchett holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and a Master’s Degree in Organization Development from Pepperdine University. He is a Certified Facilitator in Group Facilitation Methods, Participatory Strategic Planning, and Relationship Awareness Theory

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Bruce Tuckman; Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing

• Stanley McChrystal, Team of Teams

Quick summary of the 8 Traits:

1. Set the course and stay on course

2. Shape and energize the culture

3. Get the right people on the team

4. Empower others to manage the results

5. Establish ground rules or a working agreement

6. Do things to foster trust

7. Focus on results and regularly track progress

8. Provide flexible guidelines to produce superior results.

TIMESTAMPS:

[00:03:35] Synergy in team building.

[00:04:37] Managing Cross-Functional Teams.

[00:10:04] The mission creates the team.

[00:15:04] City manager as facilitator.

[00:19:18] Facilitation skills in teamwork.

[00:26:20] Bureaucracy in organizations.

[00:27:24] Public service and learning culture.

[00:35:06] Managing resistance and change.

[00:41:30] The ethical obligation to be politically neutral.

[00:44:48] Team development questions.

[00:49:55] Handling resistance in group dynamics.

[00:52:25] Building a safe space.

Today, I bring you Peter Marshall. Peter has a long and distinguished career as a city manager and consultant to local governments. Most notably, he was city manager at State College Pennsylvania for many years and before that, Newark, Delaware.

Peter and I have had many conversations over the years. He has so much to say about the field of city management, but today I bring you perhaps my favorite conversation and that is about his travels to other parts of the world to meet with other city managers and teach.

Marshall holds a Master’s Degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He has been a municipal manager in Michigan (6 years), Delaware (13 years), and Pennsylvania (22 years). In addition to municipal management, Marshall taught Public Administration, Labor Studies, Municipal Management, and Government at four universities. Marshall has also had extensive experience with local government officials in several foreign countries.

LinkedIn

Article in the Daily Collegian

Timestamps:

[00:00:22] Traveling during Northern Ireland troubles.

[00:08:25] Journey to Australia for work.

[00:19:05] Life in the Australian Outback.

[00:23:18] Experiences with Indigenous Australians

[00:25:38] Exchange with Christchurch, England

[00:26:15] International travels and conferences.

[00:31:20] A chance encounter.

[00:37:44] Japanese culture observations.

[00:39:12] Homestay with Japanese City Manager

[00:46:28] Teaching in Georgia (former Soviet Union).

[00:51:25] Academic exchange and learning.

[00:51:48] The Value of International Experiences for Managers

[00:53:42] Peter's Takeaways from International Travels