Adeolu Bakare on why DuBois Sandy Township should wait to hire a city manager

As the City of DuBois and Sandy Township near their January 5, 2026, consolidation, local leaders are weighing how to time key transition decisions. Adeolu Bakare, an energy and environmental attorney and the board’s consultant throughout the consolidation process, was quoted in the DuBois Courier Express, urging caution as the Joint Board voted to delay advertising for a city manager until the new city council takes office.

“This has been a long process,” said Adelou, referencing years of work to separate current operations from those of the new city. “I’m not sure if you necessarily want to put a job posting out for the new city position two and a half weeks before the new city exists.”

Bakare noted that advertising the role too early risks misalignment with the broader transition plan. Waiting until January 5 allows the newly seated council, rather than the outgoing Joint Board, to initiate the search in a way that reflects its long‑term vision for the city.

By holding off, local leaders aim to ensure the hiring process aligns with the city’s evolving structure and allows the incoming council to define the role according to the needs of the newly unified community. Adeolu is a member of the firm’s Energy & Environmental Group, where he focuses on regulatory and transactional matters involving water, sewer, stormwater, electricity, natural gas, and pipelines. His work frequently involves advising municipal and public‑sector clients on intermunicipal agreements, rate structures, regulatory compliance, and asset restructuring.