Franklin Park lauds hands-on track record of new borough manager, who takes helm July 7

Zachary Filous is excited to take on the role of borough manager for Franklin Park, beginning July 7, after successfully managing Freeport Borough in Armstrong County since 2023.

Though the communities are very different in size, Filous feels confident in making the switch. Freeport has a population of 1,736, while Franklin Park has 15,079 residents, according to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau.

“I saw a Franklin Park as a great opportunity. It’s very stable. I look forward to the opportunity to serving that community,” he said.

Filous, 33, was unanimously approved by Franklin Park Council during its June 19 meeting. He will start July 7 with a salary of $105,000.

Council also approved waiving the residency requirement to work in Franklin Park. Filous and his family are residents of Freeport.

Franklin Park received more than 100 applicants for the position in just a few weeks, after which it was narrowed to 10 and then to three, according to council President Uday Palled.

Palled said council and the personnel board were impressed with how well Filous managed Freeport as its first borough manager, which included providing much of the planning and building for a new sewage treatment plant.

During the interview process, Palled said Filous easily answered questions. He also has the track record of getting the job done, with experience working in the private sector as well. And Palled likes that the new manager is very invested in his work.

“He’s taken on a lot of things. I’m very hands-on. I do like seeing that,” Palled said.

Filous graduated from Slippery Rock University in 2019 and obtained a master’s degree in 2022 from Appalachian State University in North Carolina.

While the Franklin Park position will be mostly administrative, Filous said he helped out in Freeport when it was short-staffed in public works or when something needed to be fixed at the sewage treatment plant.

“Freeport is small, so everyone chips in,” he said.

Filous looks forward to creating partnerships in the borough, whether with neighboring municipalities, businesses or nonprofits.

His wife, Cheyenne, is employed at Penn State Extension, and they have a 1-year-old son.

Franklin Park’s former borough manager, Regis J. Ebner Jr., isn’t going anywhere. He is transitioning to the position of finance director, treasurer and assistant borough manager.

As Ebner, who spent six years as Franklin Park’s manager, nears retirement, this new position will provide extra support to the community, a common transition seen other communities, Palled said.

Ebner said the council members and Mayor Dennis O’Keefe were comfortable with the decision to hire Filous.

“Borough council and the mayor feel very strongly that Mr. Filous has the skills, abilities and experience needed to be successful in this role, and are confident that the borough has a knowledgeable and professional support staff in place to help him be successful,” Ebner said.