Crisis as the New Normal - Management Under Pressure with Jeffrey Stonehill

Eden and Dave are joined by guest Jeffrey Stonehill, Borough Manager of Chambersburg Pennsylvania. They begin with an examination of how crises today differ from those Jeffrey encountered when he began in the field. Although they traverse the doom and gloom of dealing with crisis in the profession, they return to the core reasons they remain in the field.Contrasting generational perspectives and recognition of the vulnerability that comes with commitment and transitions make this episode a memorable one.Subscribe to MuniSquare on Substack for more content like this.“If everything is a crisis, nothing is.” - EdenYou have to have a little bit of self-confidence. I will find the place, I will find the role, I will find the journey. It's like the actor—the Broadway play closes, what do they do the next day? You need to have confidence that it will work itself out. - Jeffrey"There is a lightness of being after you're gone that almost hits as you're walking out the door. That's when I realized how much pressure I'd been under. That feeling is quickly replaced by this feeling of not being a part of something bigger than yourself anymore. When that ends, especially if it ends abruptly, it's a hard realization to wake up one morning and your calendar is empty." - DaveHot Takes:🔥Crisis has always been part of the job. The pressure isn’t new — the speed is.🔥Not every issue deserves full emotional escalation.🔥Fire Suppression ≠ Fire Prevention. Be proactive.🔥 The communities you serve will continue without you—and that's okay.🔥Leaving a community requires a grieving process, even when it's your choice to leave.🔥The work is meaningful. Despite the pressure, leaders would not trade the experience.Timestamps00:00 - Cold open and greetings03:47 - Welcome and introduction to Generation on the Rise04:42 - Introducing first-time guest Jeffrey Stonehill06:32 - Jeffrey’s career journey: From SUNY grad to 40-year manager08:15 - The “crisis as normal” phenomenon in local government11:45 - Why municipalities attract constant crisis15:20 - The evolution of pressure: Then vs. now19:30 - Harrisburg bankruptcy and advisory board experience24:10 - The psychological toll of perpetual emergency management28:45 - Learning to disconnect (or trying to)33:20 - The loneliness of municipal management37:50 - Why managers struggle to share burdens42:15 - Transitioning between communities: The Disney tradition45:40 - The grieving process when you leave a community49:18 - Taking care of yourself and your family50:05 - Despite everything: Why we love this profession52:03 - Closing thoughts and next week’s preview