Borough Manager Completes The Certified Borough Officials Program

Ellwood City’s Borough Manager, Kevin Swogger, recently completed The Certified Borough Officials Program.

I feel the training and courses I have completed help me to be a better leader/manager for the community and the Borough,” Swogger said. “The classes range from on-line to in classroom and cover a wide range of areas such as administrative, management, planning, zoning, and code enforcement to name a few. It also includes Annual Conferences and Newly Elected Municipal Officials (NEMO) Boot Camp.”

The Certified Borough Officials (CBO) designation is a voluntary, educational achievement program for borough officials. It is designed to promote continuing education for borough officials and excellence in local government service. The CBO designation signifies a commitment to education, leadership, and staying informed on the important issues affecting borough communities.

To achieve the CBO designation, Swogger completed the four required program components and accumulated 76 total credits. The four mandatory components, outlined below, account for 40 of the 76 credits. The remaining 36 credits may be earned by participating in any additional PSAB training programs/events.

• PSAB Annual Conference (Full Conference) (12 credits) is a four-day event held each spring, offering a full slate of educational sessions on wide-ranging topics applicable to borough officials. The conference also provides a great forum to network and share best practices with fellow elected and appointed officials.
• PSAB Classroom/Online Series Training (6 credits) is a staple of its educational program as it provides in-depth instruction on various topics. Classroom sessions range from one to two days in-person whereas, online series include multiple sessions generally offered over the course of several weeks.
• NEMO Boot Camp. The two-day Newly Elected Municipal Officials (NEMO) Boot Camp (12 credits), offered in even numbered years, is designed for newly elected municipal officials, but offers foundational information and best practices valuable for officials of any tenure.
• Planning, Zoning, & Code Enforcement Training (10 Credits). A key responsibility of local government in PA is oversight of land use. To effectively create cohesive, well-functioning communities, municipalities adopt comprehensive plans, zoning and land development ordinances, and administer various codes to ensure their communities are safe and attractive places to live, work and enjoy. This category reviews the essentials of planning, zoning, and code enforcement as well as best practices and trends in these fields.

“Not all Borough Managers complete this program,” Swogger said. “It is voluntary and self-paced, but I want to do the best job I can while serving as Borough Manager. I have always believed education and training are important to anyone and any job. I’m proud to serve the community I grew up in the last three (3) years as the Borough Manager and I look forward to continue serving for many more.”