Ask Warren Cecconi what strengths he brings to his new job as borough manager in Dormont and he'll sum it up with one word: experience.

Mr. Cecconi, 59, took over as manager July 1, replacing borough police Chief Russell McKibben, who held the position on an interim basis. Former manager Daniel Mator was replaced by Mr. McKibben in May.

Mr. Cecconi came to Dormont after a brief consulting stint in Donora. Before that he was the manager in Swissvale for six years and in Bridgeville for 10 years.

He said his time in Bridgeville familiarized him somewhat with the South Hills communities, such as Dormont, and the opportunities and challenges they face.

"Dormont's an older community in Allegheny County with a good housing stock that's close to the city and the T," he said. "We have to know how to market that."

Mr. Cecconi said his immediate challenges include solidifying the borough's business district, ensuring that residents get the maximum bang for their tax dollars and stabilizing the borough's management. Mr. Cecconi is Dormont's eighth manager in the past seven years.

Although admitting he's likely on the 'backside' of his career, Mr. Cecconi said he plans to stay in Dormont for six or seven years and hopes to then retire from there.

"Of course that's always up to council," he said. "They are like a business's board of directors who need to give me direction and the tools to do the job. I think the borough needs to be run like a business."

Council President John Maggio said he is hopeful that Mr. Cecconi will stick around long enough to retire from the borough. He said the new manager has already started immersing himself by visiting the borough's swimming pool and attending the Main Street wine tasting event last week.

"He is taking an active interest in our community, and that is important," he said. "He gets along well with borough workers and he has experience, common sense and knows how to get things done. Just as importantly, he knows he is the manager. That is his job, and the best thing I feel I can do is get out of the way and let him do his job."

Council member Blair Brockmeyer agreed adding that Mr. Cecconi is not afraid to express his opinion.

"He has courage and you need that to set a true positive agenda for Dormont," he said.

Mr. Mator was hired in August 2006 as assistant manager to George Zboyovsky. In September 2007, Mr. Zboyovsky accepted the manager's position in Brentwood, and Mr. Mator was named Dormont's interim manager.

He remained in that role and in the role of the borough's assistant manager until May when council appointed Mr. McKibben as interim manager.

Mr. Cecconi, who will be paid $64,000 a year, said he has an open-door policy for residents who want to stop in with questions or concerns.

"I'm always available to talk," he said.