CRANBERRY TWP — The township has partnered with Upper St. Clair in Allegheny County to conduct a joint study that will analyze both municipalities’ human resources departments.

Cranberry manager Jerry Andree said the two municipalities share similar demographics, values and governing philosophies, so it only made sense for the two to join together in a mutually-beneficial study.

The study will analyze hiring practices, salary structures and performance measurement standards for employees in both areas.

Andree said the decision to partner with Upper St. Clair was an easy one, given that the two municipalities already had a relationship in place.

“We already have a relationship there between our public works departments,” Andree said, saying the two sides often share resources.

“This is along the same lines in terms of sharing resources and training,” he said.

“It’s just another way of engaging in good collaboration, being that we share the same interests and values as Upper St. Clair.”

Andree said the two municipalities have been working together in the public works department for more than a year.

The new study with the human resources departments started several months ago.

Andree said the municipalities are in the process of selecting an outside consultant for the study. Cranberry will spend $24,000 on the study.

Mark Mansfield, an assistant township manager for Upper St. Clair, said both sides are looking forward to studying the results of the findings and, as a result of them, implementing best practices.

“We want to assist each other in attracting and retaining the best available talent in our region,” Mansfield said.

“The survey will also help us maintain pay equity among our various departments.”

Andree said the relationship between the public works departments strengthened when the municipalities’ exchanged public works directors for a day last fall.

Both road crews benefited from the other’s experience in winter road maintenance during the process, Andree said, a positive experience that led the two to collaborate again on this next study.

Andree said the study will take from four to six months to complete.