Hoffman named interim 911 executive director

The board of the Eastern Regional Communications Center has a new interim executive director.

Henry Hoffman, operations manager, will take over the duties of Bob Harvey, current 911 executive director, who on March 12 begins his new job as the first 911 communications manager for the Allegheny County Bureau of Emergency Services.

Hoffman was not available for comment.

Other applicants for the job were dispatcher LuAnn O'Neill and part-time dispatcher Fred Gerstacker.

'We had three excellent candidates,' said Harold Katofsky, chairman of the board of the Eastern Regional Communications Center.

Harvey said he expects a 'smooth, easy transition' with Hoffman taking the job.

'I expect the training will be minimal,' Harvey said. 'He knows how to do the job. He has done it in my absences, when I have been on vacation or at seminars.'

Additionally, Hoffman 'knows the players,' Harvey said, including police chiefs, board members of Eastern Regional and council members.

Harvey said the administrative duties that Hoffman is not used to performing will be the most challenging part of the job.

'We both have Nextel phones so we're just a push button away,' said Harvey, who in his new job will supervise the county Public Safety Answering Point System.

Harvey said the county will permit him to come to Monroeville during the transition period.

'And I'll still work closely with Eastern Regional,' Harvey said.

The board will meet at 7 p.m. March 20 in the council chambers at the Monroeville Municipal Center, 2700 Monroeville Blvd., at which time a permanent director is expected to be selected.

Karen Zapf can be reached at kzapf@tribweb.com or (412) 380-8522.