Council met on 38 separate occasions in 2013, including 24 regular meetings, 7 public

hearings and 12 workshops. The comprehensive plan hearing and adoption was the most impor-

tant from a long term standpoint and was a focus of much activity during the year.

In 2013, Council adopted 17 Ordinances and 25 Resolutions. The most significant ordi-

nances were crematory, electronic signs and mineral extraction. Also, the budget was adopted

and the real estate millage ordinance was retained at 13 mills. In addition to the Comprehensive

plan adoption, another key resolution was the development of a new citizen complaint process

for police matters. Council also entered into 12 agreements and approved 19 bids, including an

agreement for the Elm Grove park lease extension, the Sugar Camp Bridge project, the HVAC

project for the municipal building, multi-year insurance renewals and workers’ compensation

insurance. Bids for a new fire truck, paving, storm sewers, phone system and 5 year solid

waste contract were awarded. The solid waste

contract will involve a change in how recycling is

collected in 2015, increasing the amount of recy-

cling that will be collected.

The Township completed many construction

projects, especially on renovations to the aging

municipal building infrastructure systems. A new

fire truck was ordered and will arrive in 2014. In

2013, we lost long time Councilman Robert Atki-

son. Michael McCaig filled in on Council for the

remainder of the year.

Administration/Council

Report

Financial Report

Police Department

Report

Fire Department

Report

Planning Department

Report

Engineer Report

Public Works

Department Report

Reviewing the top 20 vendors always pro-

vides a good picture of Township activities. As has been the norm, the number one ex-

penditure was for garbage and recycling col-lection. Construction activities dominated

the expenditures, led by resurfacing of over

4.8 miles of roads, rejuvenating 9 miles of

roads and in-line pipe repairs of 3 storm sewers. The Sugar Camp Bridge Replace-

ment was another key project. The munici-pal building HVAC project was one of many

municipal building renovations. The final payment for the clay tennis

courts renovations, which were completed

in 2012, was made. Contributions was the

second highest category for expenditures.

Contributions were made for the Canons-burg Lake Restoration Project and to the

Library, Volunteer Firemen and Ambulance Service.

Insurance and benefits payments include

health insurance, which included a change to UPMC and a reduction in cost. General

casualty, liability and workers compensation insurance were all given to new carriers in

2013. Pension payments for 3 pension plans

also were in the top list of expenditures.

Utility expenditures for water service, mainly for fire hydrants is included and bond pay-

ments.

Peters Township Annual Report 2013

Annual Report 2013

Parks & Recreation

Department Report

Library Report

Cable Television Report

Peters Township Council - 2013

Construction Projects & Contributions Dominate 2013 Expenditures

Council Adopts Comprehensive Plan & Holds Line on Taxes

Inside This Report

Comprehensive Plan Update (Plan Peters 2022) Completed &

Numerous Vacant Buildings Occupied

Building Maintenance, Energy Conservation and Paving were

Major Public Works Projects in 2013.

There were 109 new residential permits

issued in 2013, which was 7 less than in 2012.

There were 2 new commercial permit, for

the new Market District Express and Get Go

complex. Total permits increased to 382, up

form 358 in2012. For the second year in a

row Ryan Homes led the list of permits with

14 in Great Meadows and 10 in Orchard Hill.

Ted Taylor developments came in second

with 11 permits in Whispering Pines and 9 in

Old Trail.

Completing the comprehensive plan proc-

ess was the major focus of the Planning De-

partment. In December, Council adopted the

plan after a process that was initiated in 2012.

The plan provides a framework to address many long term is-

sues such as providing adequate services

to the community while maintaining the

fiscal viability of the Township.

There were 127 code enforcement

notifications sent. The top three topics

were high grass, outdoor storage and tem-

porary signs. The Zoning Hearing Board

held 21 hearings mostly for sign variances.

Many commercial buildings/sites became

active such as Fiori’s, Anthony’s Pizza &

Market District Express.

There were 381 homes sold at an aver-

age price of $351,594.

The Sugar Camp Bridge Replacement Project

was the most visible Township project.

For the seventh year in a row, we paved over

4 miles of roads (4.93), plus 5.5 miles were reju-

venated. In house, we paved Meredith Drive,

Brush Run, Marie Drive, and Louisiana Lane.

Also, the Elm Grove parking lot was pave in-

house by the Public Works Department. The

department also replace/repaired 21 storm

sewer basins.

A new public works fueling station was placed

into service, increasing our fuel storage ca-

pacity to 16,000 gallons.

Recycling was significant with over 52

tons of electronics recycled, and 391 yard

waste and leaf vacuuming stops made. The

limb chipper was our most used piece of

equipment during the year.

PA One Call activity were slightly lower

with 1,508 calls in 2013.

The department had to respond to many

clean up efforts as a result of some severe

storms in 2013, disrupting planned activity.

Construction projects dominated engineering

activity with the design and oversight of many

projects including the resurfacing programs, storm

sewer projects, a water line project and bridge

projects. In 2013, we began a process of eliminat-

ing unsafe dead-end streets with turnarounds; the

first was Valley View Drive. Minimal disruption of

neighborhoods was achieved by using cured in

place pipe replacements.

Severe storms and flooding also occupied activ-

Page 2 Peters Township Annual Report - 2013

Giant Eagle-Market District Express

opened on Rt. 19 in December 2013.

The 2013 Township Council had eight members:

Chairman - Frank Arcuri,

Vice Chair– James F. Berquist

Robert L. Atkison, David M. Ball, Robert J. Lewis,

Monica M. Merrell and Gary J. Stiegel, Jr.

* Michael McCaig also served for part of 2013 upon

the death of Mr. Atkison.

The Administrative Staff is comprised of:

Township Manager - Michael A. Silvestri

Assistant Township Manager - Paul F. Lauer

Manager’s Assistant - Tom Gromek,

Admin Assistant Finance - Linda J. Coyle

Admin Assistant Human Res.- Wendy L. Klima

Receptionist - Gail Rodgers

Township Council & Administrative Staff

Council met for 38

meetings in 2013

A New Fueling Station was Constructed

at the Public Works Dept. during 2013.

ity in responding to resident issues and

assisting them with solutions, either by

engineering recommendations or direct-

ing projects.

Other engineering projects included

the South Heide Landscape Island, the

Trillium Stormwater pond renovation,

and coordinating with utilities on many

road projects.

™

Valley View Dr. Turnaround Design

Construction Projects Dominate Engineering Activity

Peters Township Fund Balance $10.4 million

The General Fund revenues for 2013

were 13,489,718, exceeding the budgeted

amount by $860,000. This was primarily

due to tax revenues led by Transfer Taxes

and Earned Income. General Fund expen-

ditures in 2013 were 11,838,681, which is

$777,992 less than was budgeted. Overall,

the cash balance at the end of the year

was $9,656,235.

The total fund balance for all funds

was $10,436,535, exclusive of the library

fund. So in 2013 the Township’s overall

fund balance did not decrease as was

budgeted to do.

Page 3

The police

department has 23

full time and three

part time officers,

including 2 detectives

and a juvenile officer.

The fire department

has 11 full time and

4 part time paid fire

fighters and 20

volunteer firefighters.

Peters Township Annual Report - 2013

ISO Rating Increased to Class 4 &

Volunteer Numbers Increase

In 2013, the Insurance Services Office

increased the Fire Departments rating to

Class 4, which puts us in the elite of fire

departments in the state and country. The

total number of calls for response was

1,157. The response times for calls was

5.14 minutes.

In 2013 new recruitment efforts resulted

in an increase of volunteers to 20. The Vol-

unteer on Duty program continues to grow

with 632 shifts, working a total of 2,528

hours.

The number of full time paid firefighters

increased by 1 to 11, including the Chief.

There are 4 part time firefighters.

Total loss from fires continues to be low ,

representing .5% of value. There was one

significant fire loss that is a suspected arson.

Sadly, in another fire, one resident did die.

False Alarm calls (286) were the number

one source of calls, followed by mutual aid

(2541) and rescues (115); also,

113 mutual aid events occurred.

There were 1,225 non emer-

gency service events held, led by

475 fire drills/prevention pro-

grams. The volunteer who was

most active was Bill Gaughan.

In 2013 a new fire safety house

was put into service, part of a

joint effort with North Strabane

and financial support by the

chamber of commerce. The de-

partment also added new fire re-

sponse software and a new web-

site. Two volunteers achieved the rank of

Fire fighter 1 in 2013.

Overall, criminal activity was down by

24.27% in 2013 and the clearance rate in-

creased to 45.9%. The police had 5,630 calls

in 2013. The number of crimes prosecuted

were 267, led by DUI’s, Disorderly Conduct

and Assaults. In 2013, the Township was

rated the 16th safest community in the state.

2013 was the second year for the School

Resource Officer Program at the high

school, this in addition to the existing DARE

Program means that there is a regular pres-

ence of police in every school.

Traffic enforcement activities continue to

be a major focus with 2,207 traffic citations

and the continued activity of the DUI Task

Force. The department received its 9th con-

secutive Platinum Traffic Safety Award

from the AAA. Motor Vehicle accidents

were slightly higher at 144, and there was

one fatality. The officers were on the

move, logging 230,583 miles.

The Deer Management program is in

year 6 with 128 deer harvested through the

program and a 13% reduction in deer vehi-

cle accidents. Burglar Alarms were down to

a low of 724. The Drug Take Back pro-

gram continues to grow with 767 lbs col-

lected in 2013, a 50% increase. The depart-

ment did meet the goal of having 3 officers

on patrol 80% of the time; the average was

83.8%

Township Rated 16th Safest in State by Safewise &

Crime Down by 24.27%

2,207 traffic citations in 2013

The top 3 traffic enforcement

performers were officers: 1.

Richard Bonczek, 2. William

Woods and 3. Andrew Green.

The Officer with the most gen-

eral monthly totals was Sgt. Ge-

rald Maloni.

The New Fire Safety House is a joint effort between

Peters Township & North Strabane Township.

™

Peters Township earned the 16th spot

in SafeWise's top 50 PA rankings.

Library Renovates to Meet Current Needs

WAGGIN System Implemented

Improvements to existing facilities were a focus in 2013 with

the completion of the Har-Tru Tennis Court renovations, paving

and fencing of Elm Grove Park, CRC lounge furnishings, and up-

grading the kitchen area of the community room. A new facility, an 18 station fitness trail was

installed in Peterswood Park. A

new flag pole and lighting was installed in Peterswood Park. A

major project was the replace-

ment of the Sugar Camp Trail

Bridge, which benefited both trail

users and motorists.

The sports associations con-

tinue to participate in making improvements as Football added

a new building at Hofbauer Field .

Our special events continue to

be well received, includ-

ing Community Day,

Haunted Trail, Tree Light-

ing, Touch a Truck, Prin-cess Ball, Fishing Derby

and our Concerts in the

Park series. CRC mem-berships increased in 2013

as well as exercise class

participation. Pickle Ball

was added to the venue, which is very popular with

our senior citizens. Sports association programs also increased in

2013.

Maintenance converted Field 3 & 4 to a new configuration.

They also installed fencing at Peterslake Dam and renovated the

Center Church lawn area after the PennDOT project.

18 Station Fitness Trail Added at Peterswood Park &

Increased Programs for All Age Groups

The library saw physical improvements to the building to

meet the current and changing needs of its patrons. A more

open look with additional seating was added to many areas, as

well as continued electronic offerings. The Teen area was also

renovated with new furnishings and a focus on reading. Cam-

eras were added as a safety feature for the security of patrons

and staff.

Another major change was participation in the new WAG-

GIN One Card One System, which combines the libraries in

Washington, Green, and Fayette Counties into a joint system.

This reduces costs and increases catalog opportunities for resi-

dents. The library has a circulation of 337,181, with over

200,000 visitors. 27,491 patrons used library computers.

1,252 programs were conducted for all levels of interest. Pro-

gramming included the World Affairs Council Series, authors,

Robotics and Dig into Reading.

There were 536 programs produced with 9,175 hours of

programming on the three channels, equaling 382 full days of programming. The township channels are 7, 17, and 19 on

Comcast and 38, 39 and 40 on Verizon. In addition viewing of programs over the internet has become increasingly popu-

lar. There were 894 episodes available on line and there were 5,208 views of shows. A new series has become the

most watched show “Healthy Inspirations’ with 1,200 view-ers, coming in second was Council meetings with 578 view-ers.

Cable assists many departments in programming and tech-nical assistance. Their assistance in the Plan Peters 2022

process was invaluable to get information to the public. Parks & Recreation benefitted from the park concert recording and

the YES program series. The Cable Department also as-sisted in improving the municipal building lobby with security

cameras and an new information center. The collabo-

ration with the school

district is still strong and is

still very popular with

the students and teachers.

Healthy Inspirations #1 Program

Cable Assists all Departments

Page 4 Peters Township Annual Report - 2013

™

Touch-A-Truck - July 2012

18 Station Fitness Trail

@ Peterswood Park

Exercise Class Participation

Increased in 2013

New Information Center in the Municipal Bldg.