Monroeville communications expands social outreach; council questions staffing and equipment lines

Jared Robinson, Monroeville’s communications director, reviewed the department’s 2025 work and the 2026 budget request during Thursday’s public hearing, saying the office has broadened its outreach to YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and hired a digital content coordinator in May.

Robinson said the department’s top videos this year included the Fourth of July parade, a police accreditation piece and recent snowplow‑training footage; he described an effort to make municipal outreach a two‑way channel for residents. “We kinda want to broaden and increase the scope with how we communicate with our residents,” Robinson said.

Council members pressed the department on 2025 spending versus the 2026 request. Finance printouts show communications was allocated $389,273 in 2025; Robinson and finance staff explained some of that remained in the general fund because a full staffing complement arrived mid‑year (new hire started May 27). The council asked for a breakdown of actual year‑end spend and for updates during the year.

Robinson proposed modest increases to part‑time wages from about $15.55 to $18.00 per hour, estimating $6,300 would cover roughly 350 cumulative part‑time hours across five workers. He also defended a $10,000 video and photo equipment line for camera longevity and replacement and flagged possible purchases of a still photo camera and other editing hardware.

Council members expressed general support but urged careful stewardship of taxpayer money. Finance staff and the manager emphasized that the communications department comprises under 1% of the borough’s $41 million budget and that some increases reflect full‑time hiring and work that had shifted into the department.

Next steps: staff will provide a year‑end spending breakdown and clarify how part‑time hours are tracked; the council may adjust the advertised numbers before adoption.