Dormont Losing Longtime Borough Manager

DORMONT, PA — After a nine-year tenure, Dormont manager-secretary Ben Estell is departing in late August for a new job.

He has been hired as executive director of the Centre Region Council of Governments in State College, PA.

A release provided by the borough listed Estell's accomplishments since becoming manager in July 2015. He

• Oversaw complete zoning rewrite, moving to a form-based code with transit-oriented development;
• Established regional glass recycling program in Allegheny County;
• Helped craft a Family Leave Policy for borough employees;
• Created a publicly accessible budget process that helped the borough plan for its future and track its successful implementation of its strategic plan;
• Oversaw multiple conservatorship projects that transformed dilapidated properties into high quality homes.

"Despite some trials along the way, I have loved every moment I've had the privilege to serve the Borough of Dormont," Estell said. "While we all tend to look at the number and quality of projects completed to determine success, I am most proud of the relationships I built."

Said council President Jennifer Mazzocco: "This moment is bittersweet. We’ve known that Ben would eventually moveon to a new challenge, and I feel really lucky that we’ve kept him here

for so long.”