MIDDLESEX TWP — The township manager will leave his position at the end of September after holding the job for a decade.

Scot Fodi, who became township manager in 2004, has resigned to become the first public works director in Penn Township, Westmoreland County. He will earn $72,500.

Fodi said Monday that he will miss Middlesex, but is excited to take on the new challenge in Westmoreland.

“I have mixed emotions,” Fodi said. “I’ve had great boards (of supervisors,) and fun co-workers.”

Fodi counted among his achievements a drop in the township tax rate in 2006 and the paying off two years ago of $1 million in debt the township had incurred before his arrival.

Fodi said eliminating that debt will allow the supervisors to buy much-needed equipment for the road department, if they so choose.

He also is proud of the continued ability to avoid regular or significant tax increases.

Fodi has been manager of the traditionally rural township as its saw its first residential developments, Weatherburn Heights and Blackberry Estates.

The three Middlesex supervisors were not available for comment Monday.

Alex Graziani, manager/secretary at Penn Township, Westmoreland County, said Middlesex’s loss is his gain.

“Scot will be a great match for us,” Graziani said.

He said leaders there wanted to hire someone from outside the current staff to get a broader knowledge base and background to plan and implement the township’s vision for public works.

“I think Scot is a good complement to the direction the township is trying to go in,” Graziani said.

Fodi’s resume appealed to Graziani because of his 20-plus years of government experience, first in the planning department at Pine Township, Allegheny County, and then as manager at Middlesex.

Fodi said he will take up his new position at the end of September, and offer Middlesex any help he can during the transition.