Meet the City Manager
Jonathan M. Westendorf passionately serves the City of Franklin as City Manager and Director of Public Safety. Community stabilization, strategic planning, and exceptional delivery of community focused services are the driving forces of Westendorf’s efforts. Franklin is at a crossroads in its long history as the Cincinnati and Dayton metro communities begin to merge right here in Franklin. The Great Miami Riverway and majesty of the region’s abundant natural resources provides Franklin the unique opportunity to redefine its place and purpose.
With brand new schools being constructed, and a clear vision of how best to capitalize on the downtown business district’s adjacent presence to the Great Miami River, Franklin is working hard to preserve its valued history while taking full advantage of the opportunity for new growth and development. The well thought out comprehensive plan provides a roadmap for the community to become the next regional destination. A mix of new residential and industrial developments will nicely complement the burgeoning downtown development district. The city’s plans have already captured regional attention, having been invited to present at the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana planning conference in September 2022 in Louisville, Ky.
The people of our community are at the center of these planning efforts. Generations of caring and compassionate citizens often spend their lifetime calling Franklin home. The small-town nature of our town must be honored as we enter a period of growth, whereby art, gathering, and new public spaces are leveraged to broaden the opportunities for a vibrant and growing community to take hold. New ideas and efforts must follow in order to position the city for a bright and long-term future as a regional leader in the growth and development of the surrounding area.
Westendorf first joined the City of Franklin serving as the Fire Chief on September 18, 2000. Throughout Westendorf’s 21-years at the helm of the division of fire, the organization grew from 2-person coverage responding to 450 calls per year, to 9 firefighter/EMT/Paramedics providing Advanced Life Support treatment and transport of the sick and injured, responding to over 3,500 calls for service annually. Westendorf is an active of the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association, having served as its Past President, and former chair of the Legislative Committee, and founder of the organization’s Public Policy committee. Westendorf continues to respond and assist the Fire & EMS Division on emergency scenes of all varieties to this day.