Manager Retiring After 2 Years On The Job In Newtown Borough

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — Newtown Borough Manager Craig Totaro will be stepping down at the end of the month, it was announced by council on Wednesday.

Council President Emily Heinz said that Totaro will be retiring on May 31 just two years after being hired as the town’s first borough manager at a salary of $120,000.

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Totaro came to Newtown Borough from Delaware County where he had managed Lansdowne Borough for 16 years and was the interim manager of Rutledge Borough.

“We are in the process of trying to figure out how to move forward,” said Heinz. “We will be hiring a financial firm to take on the aspects of what Craig does pretty much immediately.”

Following her comments, the council voted unanimously to accept a proposal from GW Tax and Accounting Services to provide accounting services to the borough effective June 1 until a new manager can be brought on board.

The Council also voted unanimously to retain the services of the nonprofit Meyner Center at Lafayette College to assist the borough with the search and recruitment process for a new borough manager.

The council had previously used the Meyner Center two years ago, which resulted in the hiring of Totaro.

Councilor Julia Woldorf praised Totaro’s work, which took place quietly and mostly behind the scenes and has laid the framework for future borough managers to follow.

“When we started a search for manager we were advised that being the first manager was a notoriously difficult job. We knew we needed someone who was very knowledgeable, experienced and could help move the borough into the 21st century,” said Woldorf. “Craig took the helm of a municipality that had operated for almost 60 years without a manager and had grown used to doing things how they have been done - for better or for worse.”

Woldorf said much of what Totaro has accomplished over the past few years has been invisible to the public but she said council has been very aware of his work.

Totaro, she said, has modernized borough accounts and reorganized and simplified the budget process. He has also negotiated new insurance policies and new landscaping contracts saving the borough tens of thousands of dollars.

He was also part of negotiations for a new police contract, fire services agreement and police department lease. He applied for and received DCNR and Green Region grants for park improvements and a $1.3 million grant for the North State Street and Edgeboro Drive sidewalk project.

“All of these activities took time and careful decision-making and the borough is much better for it,” said Woldorf. “I know from conversations with Craig that he’s always thinking of different ways to make the borough run more smoothly.

“Craig will leave a completely reorganized office for the next manager and the borough is in a much better place than when he started,” she said. “This will make the next manager’s job a whole lot easier.

“I want to thank Craig for all he has done for us and wish him well in his next pursuits,” said Woldorf.