Borough Plans to Hire New Manager

Morrisville Borough has agreed in principle to hire a new Borough Manager several months after the tragic loss of chief  administrator, Scott Mitchell. 

Lower Bucks Source learned this weekend a decision to offer Judith Danko, who currently is the Community Development Director for Kutztown Borough and has served in that role since October of 2019, was made about two weeks ago.

On Sunday night Councilman Mike Yeager confirmed the choice and said final details are being worked out with an official council vote to possibly come in July to approve the hiring.

Danko has served as Borough Manager for Slatington Borough (2017-2018), Freemansburg on two separate occasions for a total of 15 years and Bath Borough for just over 7 and 1/2 years, according to her Linkdin profile.

Credit: Morrisville Borough

The position opened when  Mitchell passed away due to cancer in February.

Although his illness was kept private, Mitchell shortly after his diagnosis suggested a plan be put into place to streamline a transition because his illness could impact his role as chief borough administrator.

In April council agreed to create the interim position, Micah Heitz now occupies along with his responsibilities as finance director until a new manager is hired.

The borough approved hiring David Woglom of the Robert B & Helen S Meyner Center for the study of state and local government at Lafayette College to conduct search to fill the position for a fee not to exceed $6000.00 plus travel expenses.

The culmination of the search and decision to hire Danko occurred in recent days, Yeager said.

“I really supported the idea of hiring someone from outside of the borough with plenty of municipal experience, and Mrs Danko definitely fits that description,” he said.

Borough officials earlier this month whittled down the candidate list to three, as they were interviewed individually, said Councilman Justin Bowers on his social media page earlier this month. He declined to confirm or deny Danko had been offered the position, saying  he would support a vote to hire the candidate, council recommends.

One candidate dropped out early, which left us with two highly qualified candidates, Yeager said, and then a second removed themselves from the potentials list due to scheduling issues

Asked if council scheduled a vote to hire Danko at Monday’s meeting would he approve, “definitely” the soon to be retiring fourth ward councilman said.

At  last night’s council meeting, Council President Ted Parker said a candidate had been offered the position, but did not mention Danko by name.

Danko who lives in the Lehigh Valley County area, is thought to be considering a move into Bucks County, since traveling to and from Morrisville could eat up a number of  hours driving daily.

Lower Bucks Source contacted Danko on Monday leaving her a message at her current which has not been returned as of publication time.

The soon to be new borough manager has a tough job ahead of her as the cash strapped borough struggles to stay in the black while providing residents with expected services. Her challenge will be creating and developing new ways and means of making the borough viable municipality economically.

Borough officials they hope Danko could start at the beginning of August.