Freeport’s 1st manager reflects on defining the role as he readies to resign

Zachary Filous described his 2½ years as Freeport borough manager, especially early on, like “drinking from a fire hose.”

He’s done more than just send emails and direct personnel. His hiring roughly coincided with the departure of the borough’s treasurer, public works director and sewage plant operator — roles he has filled in addition to traditional management duties.

And not only was it his first time managing a borough — it was the borough’s first time having a manager.

“It has been a learning curve for everybody,” he said.

All that on-the-job learning earned him a management opportunity in a larger Pittsburgh-area community. He declined to say where, exactly, until that community publicly announces his hiring.

June 20 will be his last day in Freeport.

Filous was plucked from council in early 2023 to become borough manager, beating out 19 other applicants.

He had only moved to Freeport in 2021 and was appointed to council the following year. He also briefly served as the head of the Freeport Renaissance Association, a group of local business and recreation boosters.

As part of the manager’s gig, he was required to obtain a sewage plant operator certification.

The role was billed as 70% administrative and 30% in the field. That ended up being the case, he said — except when things went haywire. More than once, he pitched in with snowplows or dropped everything to help fix the sewage plant, which has “Band-Aids on Band-Aids,” Filous said.

A new sewage treatment plant, much of which has been planned and built under Filous’ watch, will make the temporary solutions a thing of the past. It’s expected to be online by September and provide residents with at least 50 years of service.

Filous, 33, will get to reap the benefits as a resident of Freeport, where he plans to continue raising his family (and, for a change, get to walk around as an ordinary citizen).

His successor might have a more straightforward, or at least more focused role.

Council President Rick Fennell said officials are still drafting a job description, but said “it will be largely administrative.”

Fennell said he’ll miss Filous, who he likened “to a kid in the candy store” when poring over financial minutiae.

As Mayor Matt Crytzer put it, “somebody is getting a good one” in Filous.