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November 17, 2009

Cronin reflects on milestones as public servant

By Ryan Smith



VERNON TOWNSHIP — Looking back on a nearly quarter-century-long career in public service, Norm Cronin doesn’t seem the type to wax nostalgic.

“I don’t remember ‘stories,’ ” he said recently, so much as milestones.

First elected to the Vernon Township Board of Supervisors in the mid-1980s,

Cronin’s four six-year terms have been during an era of continuing change in one of Crawford County’s main business hubs. A joint municipal partnership that ushered in dial-up Internet access for the area; updates to zoning and commercial land development regulations; the re-establishment of the township Water Authority and related infrastructure extensions; and the creation of an agricultural security area are just some highlights of the actions Cronin lists as accomplishments.

And the work continues, he said, as he spends the rest of this year wrapping up his current term as a supervisor following the recent successful run of Gary Dillaman, a Republican, for election to the board.

Cronin, a Democrat, has often cast a

critical eye at various items on the township’s table over the years and has not hesitated to dissent. For example, he initially voted against the establishment of a township manager position and was an early critic of expansion of water service. And he’s frequently pushed for further review of proposed changes. With that approach, he seems to have garnered a reputation as being something of an in-government watchdog.

“He has the knowledge we all try to attain with the laws of this commonwealth,” recently re-elected township Chairman Robert Davis said at a recent public meeting. “Sometimes we try to take shortcuts, and he’s always made us toe the line.”

“That was my job,” Cronin, 71, said matter-of-factly during a recent interview. “I was elected to watch over the people.”

And one of the best ways to do that, according to Cronin, is to get a solid, continuing education in the subjects of township governance. “Read,” Cronin said. “Everything that crosses your desk, read it. You have to know what’s going on.”

He’s attended numerous local-, state- and national-level conferences on governmental leadership, and continues through this year to serve on the advisory board of LTAP (Local Technical Assistance Program), the New Products Evaluation Program of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors’ standing committee for townships of 5,000 to 10,000.

“Mr. Cronin has served the township well. If there was ever a knowledgeable supervisor I worked with, he was the man,” said R. Charles Thomas, the township’s longtime attorney.

When it comes to learning, “the best class I ever took was on dealing with the angry public,” Cronin said, adding it was there he learned to “let the people speak, and thank them. ... I took everybody as equal.”

A Vernon native, Cronin worked for 24-plus years at the former Avtex Fibers before becoming a member of the township Road Department in the mid-’80s.

“I’d like to thank you, Norm, for all your help and assistance over the years,” township Roadmaster Lud Zarembinski told Cronin recently. “You were truly a dedicated public employee.”

And beyond that note, “Norm helped us maintain one of the finest roadway systems in northwestern Pennsylvania,” township Manager Dave Stone said.

It appears, however, Cronin may not be altogether ready to recount his work as a Vernon official entirely in the past tense. “I’m sure I’ll miss it — I don’t know how much,” he said. “Give me six months to think about it.”

Does that mean a fifth run for re-election could be in the offing?

“I’ll leave it open — you never know,” he said. “I’m saving my signs.”



Ryan Smith can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at rsmith@meadvilletribune.com.

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