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..... The opinions expressed in these articles and features are those of their author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of McANA or the opinion of its Directors or Officers. |
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Township
Administrators As neighborhood leaders and community activists, all of you have solid experience in working with city government to address the challenges and concerns that face your neighborhoods. Whether you work with the Mayor’s Office or the various department officials who manage everything from code enforcement to trash removal, the people who work for the City of Indianapolis are here to serve our neighborhoods. One group of city staff that is a critical resource for neighborhoods is the township administrators. Housed in the City’s Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD), Neighborhood Services Division, township administrators link citizens not just to city services, but to each other. Who can you call to talk about the removal of abandoned vehicles from your neighborhood? Who can help the fledgling business at the neighborhood retail center with its expansion plans? Who can facilitate a meeting among neighborhood stakeholders to address challenges and find solutions? Your township administrator can do all of this – and more. There are ten township administrators who serve Indianapolis and Marion County and one senior project manager who works with faith-based organizations and initiatives in DMD’s Neighborhood Services Division. All of these public servants bring a significant level of experience with them to these positions, and I know many of you have a good working relationship with them. However, I would like to share some recent new additions and changes in staff with you. Rachel O’Neil is now on the job in Washington Township, replacing veteran administrator Mike Graham, who left public service for a job in the private sector. She comes to DMD from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, where she was the assistant director of the Office of Community Relations. In this position, she coordinated the agency’s outreach activities, mediated citizen concerns and facilitated a host of meetings and events. Also joining Rachel on the Neighborhood Services staff is Brian Madison, who is the Franklin Township Administrator. Brian has extensive experience in public service. He has worked for the Indiana Department of Commerce on the business development team, and interacted directly with communities to resolve environmental issues and concerns while employed with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Brian replaces John Oakley, who is still with us in the Department of Public Works. I have asked Bruce Baird, former administrator of neighborhood services, to help coordinate the implementation of the City’s war on abandoned and unsafe houses, affordable housing initiatives, and other special neighborhood service projects. I think this position will help us make even greater strides in ridding our neighborhoods of abandoned and unsafe houses, and continue to place increased emphasis on our affordable housing initiatives. With Bruce’s move, I have asked Eugene Anderson, assistant deputy mayor for neighborhoods, to act as the interim administrator until a successor is named. Eugene is still serving as assistant deputy mayor for neighborhoods, but as a DMD Neighborhood Services veteran, he brings a good understanding of both the processes and policies that affect the neighborhoods in our city. Each township administrator who works for the City of Indianapolis is as unique as the townships and the neighborhoods that they serve, bringing a perspective from city government that is designed to help you. I encourage you to get to know your township administrator, and to make good use of the services they have available to you. Below is a listing of the staff and the townships they represent. If you need further information, please visit www.indygov.org/dmd. Eugene
Anderson 327-3601 (Interim
Neighborhood Services Administrator) send comments
to webmaster@mcanaindy.org |
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2003
