Greensburg hires planning director

Greensburg has a new planning director after a five-month search.

Jeffrey Raykes will take over the city’s planning department July 29.

“We’re extremely excited to have him,” said Greensburg Mayor Robert Bell. “He comes with impeccable credentials.”

Raykes will leave his position as deputy director of the Indiana County Office of Planning and Development, where he’s worked 13 years.

He also teaches planning as an adjunct professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Raykes said he’s looking forward to getting started.

“The challenge that I have right now is going from zero to 100 miles per hour as quickly as possible,” he said.

Though he’s been a planner and a professor for years, there are always new things to learn about the field, he said.

“I think the big thing is listening to people,” he said.

Raykes replaces Barbara Ciampini, whom city council unanimously voted to fire in February. She worked with the planning department for 35 years.

The reason for her firing has not been disclosed.

City council began the search for a new director shortly after Ciampini’s departure, twice postponing a decision and extending the search.

Bell said the wait was worth it to find a candidate with Raykes’ qualifications.

The city will pay Raykes $73,000 a year. Ciampini made $73,500.

Greensburg recently has made several major changes to the way it operates its planning department, including dissolving the Historic and Architectural Review Board, delegating its advisory duties to the planning commission.

Raykes said he sees a bright future for the city.

“There’s a lot of potential, and a lot of promise,” he said.