EASTON, Pa. — Easton administrators confirmed a new director for the Planning and Codes Department during a special meeting Monday.
Mayor Sal Panto Jr. and City Administrator Luis Campos announced that acting director Dwayne Tillman would take on the role in a permanent capacity effective immediately.
The job pays an annual salary of $116,958.
Campos noted the administration had looked inward to find a candidate to take the position. He said with Tillman’s background in urban planning, he'll make a perfect fit.
Tillman holds an associate degree in architecture from Northampton Community College and a bachelor's degree focused on urban planning from Arizona State University. He previously worked for PMC Polymer Products before joining Easton’s zoning office in November 2015 as a general inspector.
From there, he worked his way up to lead inspector, UCC plan examiner, and chief of zoning before stepping into the position of acting director, where he has served for the past several months.
The city's former planning and codes director, Stephen Nowroski, resigned to become Moore Township manager.
“I'm extremely excited for Dwayne," Campos said. "And it's going to be a challenge, especially since we want to make sure that the department has a strong role in urban planning in the department.”
“That's what I'm most excited about, just seeing the city prosper and be a great place — a great destination for everybody.”Dwayne Tillman, Easton planning and codes director
According to Campos, Tillman will be certified in urban planning within the next year, which will provide “a little bit more firepower,” along with Planning Administrator Carl Manges, “to take on all the urban planning issues that pop up with the growth of our city and all the changes that are occurring as the press and the public knows.”
Panto said with the changing face of the city, and the onslaught of development throughout the neighborhoods, there is a need for those well-educated in urban planning.
“We agree that because of the changes in the city we need, we need strong planners on board. And we need them to take a role in denying developers as well as approving developers,” Panto said.
Tillman thanked Panto and Campos for giving him the tools and the opportunity to work in the role before offering up a lofty goal for his tenure.
“I'm really excited just seeing the city grow, and keeping the city on a path to grow and be one of the best in the Lehigh Valley,” Tillman said.
“I know Allentown and Bethlehem they have their own growth that's going on. I want to be as competitive or even better than Allentown and Bethlehem. As the mayor mentioned about the comprehensive plan, I'm excited to get involved with the revisions that are going to be coming up within the next couple years.”
Tillman added the 2035 Comprehensive Plan will certainly require revisions before being implemented, and Panto expanded on that to note “We want our Downtown to be strong and visible and high and active, but that doesn't mean it should extend into the neighborhoods.”
Priority projects
Tillman will hit the ground running in his position, noting he is focusing on a proposed community center for the West Ward.
“That will drive and bring more people into the West Ward. Everybody complains; everybody wants to go to the Downtown all the time. If you have that, that'll bring other people up to the West Ward so they can enjoy it,” said Tillman, who lives in the neighborhood.
In addition, Tillman said he wants to pursue a grocery store in the West Ward, which has limited access to fresh food.
Campos said Tillman will also look at better utilization of the city's waterfront, in addition to evaluating development of the quadrants in Centre Square.
“But now, we're going to leverage his experience or expertise in looking at it from a planner standpoint, and what else we need to do," Campos said. "But also, how does the city need to evolve with the changing environment?”
Campos said making the city more pedestrian-friendly is another goal.
According to Tillman, affordable housing will be a major focus in his office going forward.
“That's going to be one that I really want to tackle, because I would really like to get a foothold to where we can really help people that are lower income be able to afford housing within the Downtown, within the West Ward, South Side, College Hill, everywhere, and not just group them in one section of the city,” Tillman said.
Tillman said he is thrilled to see the city grow and to play a part in the new wave of development “as we implement different strategies to show that the city is going to grow in a positive way.
“That's what I'm most excited about, just seeing the city prosper and be a great place — a great destination for everybody,” Tillman said.
