Speaker will talk about government consolidation

Staff report

HOWLAND

The quest for more local government efficiencies and collaboration will be the topic of a talk by a Northeast Ohio local government leader to Mahoning Valley government officials.

The Trumbull County Roundtable will meet at 5 p.m. May 24 at the Howland Township Administration Building, 205 Niles-Cortland Road.

Thomas Pascarella, director of administration for the city of Tallmadge and a longtime professor in public administration at Kent State University and Hiram College, will speak. The event is open to all Mahoning Valley local government officials and other interested parties.

Pascarella has been involved in several initiatives to make local government more efficient including working with other communities on service-sharing and consolidation.

Recent efforts include regionalization of dispatch services for police, fire and EMS. Pascarella also is involved in a multi- community effort to address regional cooperation, including purchasing, safety, park and recreation and other endeavors.

He has 40 years of experience in municipal government including service as assistant city manager, director of planning and community development, director of administration and other positions in the urban and rural settings of Ohio and Illinois.

Pascarella has a doctorate of business administration with a major in public administration and a minor in public finance.