Long-time Shaler manager announces retirement

Last month, Shaler Township manager Tim Rogers announced that he will retire at the end of the year.

Rogers started the job as manager 30 years ago. Prior to accepting the position, he worked as a traffic manager and assistant cooperate council to Lock Engineering.

Rogers is a 1991 graduate of Duquesne University Law School and was accepted to the bar the same year. He plans on continuing practicing law after his retirement from the township.

As a lifetime resident of Shaler, Rogers will be spending the winter months in Florida, but will continue living in the township for most of the year.

Rogers said the biggest challenge of the last three decades has been using social media to reach residents, along with holding a lot more community gatherings.

“We’re doing a lot more community celebrations and things in the park, like movies in the park, the polar plunge, those kinds of things,” Rogers said.

His biggest surprise during his time as manager has been the amount of time he has spent doing personnel work.

Rogers said he sees great things for the future of the township, but he sees some challenges as well.

“I think the biggest challenge for Shaler coming up is going to be what they’re going to do with Jeffrey School,” he said. “The board is going to be making a decision in the next few months about the interim plan and the long-term plan.”

Rogers said the rising cost of supplies due to inflation complicates the matter.

“Everything has gone up [in price] dramatically. So I think that is going to complicate things in the short-term,” said Rogers.

Assistant borough manager Judith Kording knows how much Roger cares for the residents of Shaler.

“During his time at the township, he always put residents first and listened to any concerns or issues,” Kording said. “His efforts to go above and beyond to help residents made Shaler Township a special place.”

“It’s not a job if you love what you do,” Rogers said.

Rogers knows he is leaving the township in good hands.

“One of the things that is a real pleasure to me here is the commitment by the employees to do the right thing for the community,” Rogers said, praising the public safety department and the township commissioners. “I’m not sure the community knows about the quality of the elected officials here. They run it like a business and they just try to do the right thing.”

“Tim has been a great mentor and I have been very fortunate to have worked with him for 30 years,” Kording said. “I wish him the best in retirement.”

The search for a new manager is currently underway.