Ferguson Township’s Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed Centrice Martin to serve as interim township manager beginning March 1.
Martin, currently the assistant manager and a member of the township administration since 2018, will take on the top administrative post with the departure of manager David Pribulka.
Pribulka tendered his resignation, effective Feb. 28, last month after nearly five years in the position and 10 years with the township because he is leaving to become manager of Susquehanna Township in Dauphin County.
Martin is currently serving as acting manager with Pribulka using vacation time until his official end date. On March 1, she will continue in the interim manager role until the position is filled on a permanent basis.
The board approved in January a contract of up to $22,500 with GovHR, a public management consulting firm that works with local governments and other public-sector entities, to conduct the recruitment for a new township manager. The firm previously led township searches for manager and chief of police.
The proposal from GovHR includes six phases over 14 weeks, including position assessment; advertising, recruitment and outreach; candidate evaluation and background screening; presentation of recommended candidates; interviews and additional background screening; and appointment of a candidate.
Martin’s appointment to the interim role marks the first time a Black woman has served as a municipal manager in the Centre Region and continues a historic year for Ferguson Township government. Last month, the township seated the first all-female board of supervisors in the Centre Region, including Ferguson Township’s first Black supervisor.
Prior to joining the Ferguson Township staff, Martin was assistant to the borough manager for community engagement in State College.
She holds bachelor’s and masters degrees from Penn State.
