Wayne Jones, the new manager in Ross, has taken part in local government from both sides of the municipal table.

Mr. Jones is in his third year as an elected supervisor in his home community, Westmoreland County's Sewickley Township. He previously served as auditor there.

He also has worked as finance director for Wilkinsburg and Ross -- as well as just one day in a similar position with the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County.

"I felt really bad about [leaving] the authority job," Mr. Jones, 53, said during a recent interview. "People were absolutely great there, but the next day I went in and resigned."

Mr. Jones's last day as finance director in Ross was Aug. 22, and he started his new job with the authority on Aug. 25. Commissioners President Daniel DeMarco called Mr. Jones that night after a majority of the board voted to fire longtime manager Tom Lavorini.

Mr. Jones said he had been approached informally several months ago about taking the job, so he was not surprised when Mr. DeMarco called.

"I had said I wasn't looking for the position, but I was interested if there was going to be a change in managers," he said.

Mr. Jones was hired as interim manager for a six-month period. His starting salary was set at $75,000 per year.

He said he had several ideas to try to make local government more responsive and to improve communications among employees.

"I tend to overshare information," he said. "I told department heads that they will be more actively involved. ... I want to be sure that people have all the knowledge they need to do their jobs in areas like engineering, recreation and code enforcement."

He offered an example, describing a meeting he had earlier in the day with representatives of Duquesne Light Co. The utility plans to upgrade its transmission lines along Thompson Run Road, he said, so it was important that township engineer Art Gazdik and building code official Dan Hankins be at that session. "They are the ones who will be fielding the calls from residents about the project," Mr. Jones said. "It is important that we are all on the same page."

Other changes residents are likely to see in upcoming months may include improved security at the municipal center and the introduction of debit and credit cards to pay for township services. "If you are coming to take a class in the rec center, you'll be able to pay for it with a debit or credit card, which will reduce the amount of cash on hand," he said.

"We have an excellent group of people here, from receptionists to department heads," he said of Ross employees. "They go beyond their job descriptions to serve residents."

A certified public accountant -- a CPA, and a certified internal auditor -- a CIA, Mr. Jones also received an accounting degree from what was then Frostburg State College. He had earlier received an associate's degree in electronic engineering and worked as a repair technician for Grove Manufacturing. He is a graduate of Yough Senior High School.

He later moved to the accounting side of the multi-national company. He first worked as a cost accountant and later in budgeting.

He also has taught governmental accounting at Wilson College in Chambersburg.

He later worked for Allegheny Power, a unit of Allegheny Energy, in Hagerstown, Md., and Greensburg.

He and his wife Johanna now live in the Sewickley Township home he grew up in. "We bought the house from my mom after we left Hagerstown," he said.

They are the parents of two daughters, Jennifer, 20, and Allison, 10.

Johanna is assistant manager of the Herminie branch of First National Bank.

Commissioner Gerald O'Brien was the crucial vote on the divided board that voted to hire Mr. Jones. Mr. O'Brien said he did not want to lose the years of government experience and familiarity with township issues that Mr. Jones would bring to his new job.

Mr. Lavorini had only a brief comment on his firing. "I'm going to miss working with a lot of wonderful people," he said.