here - Satellite Beach

Marla P. Marcinko
TAB 7
the secondary source, a small creek, was used. Unfortunately, the creek was contaminated by
large amounts of nitrate coming from an upstream steel mill. This issue was something that had
been going on for several years prior to my arrival. With more droughts, the Borough found
itself relying more often on its secondary water source and I had to find a way to remedy the
situation. By enlisting the help of Clean Water Action I was able to put a significant amount of
pressure on the Department of Environmental Protection and the mill to eliminate the hazardous
discharge to the creek. The problem stemmed from the plant’s process that discharged effluent
that exceeded the limit by several hundred times what was allowed. It was a difficult, but in the
end the plant changed its process and the limits on the nitrates were enforced. Because of what
was done, not only was the drinking water cleaned up, but aquatic life was also improved.
Asked about mistakes or failures, I would cite one I recently experienced in Wilkinsburg
regarding the police services merger with the City of Pittsburg. I do not view it as a failure, but
looking back I realize that I could have approached it differently. The community is very diverse
and race is used very often as an issue as well as a means to an end in the political process. Had
the process been more transparent and support sought aggressively from the outset, many fears
could have been put to rest. Although the same model that was used for the fire services merger,
the dynamic is completely different. Unfortunately, the support of the Police Department does
not exist as it did with the Fire Department. That support should have been sought more
assertively from the beginning.
I have had to fire people although I have never terminated anyone who did not deserve it. It is
never an easy task to end an individual’s employment regardless of the circumstances, but in
every case that I have been involved with it, it has been justified. I set a level of expectation for
my staff and when someone is not doing his / her job and it is adversely affecting the
organization, it is time for that person to move on. I start with a performance plan for the
individual. If performance does not reach a satisfactory level after some time, termination is
inevitable. Since my arrival in Wilkinsburg, it has only escalated to that point twice. In the past
in Wilkinsburg it was not unheard of for a terminated employee to sue the Borough. During my
tenure, no one I have fired has filed a suit. The key is to give the employees clear expectations
from the beginning and hold them accountable.
I think that some of the challenges facing the next City Manager in the City of Satellite Beach
are:
Balancing interests between the tourist and the residents;
Developing / redeveloping to expand the tax base while maintaining Satellite Beach’s
current ambience;
Following (somewhat indirectly) a manager who was there for a very long period of time
and is almost a local icon; and
Emergency preparedness.
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