Early Intervention Program Manager Introduced in Ford City
Novak Consulting Group Associate Jonathan Ingram talks to Ford City Borough Council at the beginning of last night’s Business Meeting at the Latin American Club.
by Jonathan Weaver
The new Project Manager that will work on Ford City Borough’s five year management plan introduced himself at last night’s business meeting.
Novak Consulting Group’s Jonathan Ingram will lead the project, part of the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Early Intervention Program
Ingram, a consultant for the past nine years, said the Cincinnati, Ohio-based firm has a wealth of Pennsylvania experience.
“We are a national firm, but we have a Pennsylvania practice, which means we have a number of Act 47 and (Early Intervention Program) clients and work with the Commonwealth as well as a lot of other jurisdictions,” Ingram said. “We have a lot of familiarity with the program.”
Other Pennsylvania communities Novak Consulting Group has assisted includes St. Marys (in Elk County), Lancaster and Reading.
While not working on any other Early Intervention Programs at the moment, Novak Consulting was the Act 47 coordinators for the Cities of Duquesne (Allegheny County) and Farrell (Mercer County) and are on the Act 47 coordinator’s team in Harrisburg.
“There’s work to be done, but the leaders in (Duquesne and Farrell) are committed to that work and are doing a great job,” Ingram said.
Ingram, a former Operating Budget Manager for the City of Cincinatti, said the Early Intervention Program name is deceiving, but the team is prepared to ‘hit the ground running’ locally.
“The name does not imply that an intervention is needed – its just an opportunity to come in and take a look at finances and operations and just ask the question ‘How can it be better?’”
With assistance from Principal Julia Novak, council members will be interviewed March 14and Ingram said the Cincinnati company hopes to have a report completed by June/July.
Council Vice President Tyson Klukan has already met with Ingram and thought his background warranted their trust.
“Novak Consulting, I believe, were the best candidates,” Klukan said. “Mr. Ingram and I have had conversations in meetings. He’s very straight-forward and I think he has a good background in government that will help us in Ford City come up with the strategic planning and financial planning.”
Council President Carol Fenyes said she was “absolutely” inspired by Ingram’s presentation.
“I think it’s a very worthy project for any municipality to go through – it double-checks the finances and gives you a direction to go in,” Fenyes said.
The meetings held the fourth Monday of each month are arranged to give ongoing committee reports monthly rather than at separate meetings and allow residents to give complaints or ask questions regarding a specific issue.
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