North Huntingdon manager leaving post

North Huntingdon will be looking for a new township manager with the pending departure of Jeffrey M. Silka for a similar job in Western Maryland.

Silka, who has served as township manager since November 2017, will be leaving his post on Oct. 22 for the city administrator’s job in Cumberland, Md..

The Cumberland position was an opportunity that arose and he wanted to explore it, Silka said.

He is leaving North Huntingdon at a time when the administration is developing a budget for 2022.

Silka, a Monroeville resident, succeeded John Shepherd, who had left the township manager’s job in May 2017 for a similar position in New Jersey.

The Cumberland Times News said the city council voted on Oct. 1 to hire Silka after conducting a six-month national search. He was given a three-year contract that begins Nov. 1, the newspaper reported. Silka’s experience as the executive director of the Somerset County Economic Development Council was a factor in his hiring, according to the newspaper.

Silka previously served as a municipal manager in Johnstown, Robinson and Monroeville.

Cumberland, with a population of about 19,000, is smaller than North Huntingdon, which has a population of about 30,600.

Zachary Haigis, president of the board of commissioners, said Silka had submitted his letter of resignation to the commissioners in early October.

The commissioners likely will talk about posting the job when the board meets at 7 p.m. Thursday.

They may appoint Mike Turley, assistant manager, as the top administrator until a new manager is hired, Haigis said.

Turley served as the top administrator when Shepherd left and before Silka was hired.