Annual
Reports
Council
Council met on 37 occasions in 2015 including
24 regular meetings, 11 public hearings
and 10 workshops. Topics included gas
drilling, chickens, road tour, School District
Coordination, Tennis Center operations,
Deputy Chief hiring, succession planning and
budget.
Council adopted 12 ordinances with the
most significant including budget, creating
a library department, flood plain regulations
and a bond issue for the PT Sanitary Authority,
as well as 28 resolutions regarding job
descriptions for library and tennis employees,
2 liquor license transfers and the County
Hazard Mitigation Plan.
PE TE RS TOWN SH I P NE WS
eters Township
2015 Township Council
Chairman- David M. Ball
Vice Chair- Robert J. Lewis
Council Members- Frank Arcuri,
James Berquist, Meghan Jones-Rolla,
Monica M. Merrell, Gary J. Stiegel, Jr.
Administrative Staff:
Township Manager- Michael A. Silvestri
Assistant Township Manager- Paul F. Lauer
Manager’s Assistant- Tom Gromek
Admin Assistant Finance- Linda J. Croyle
Admin Assistant Human Res.- Wendy L. Klima
Receptionists- Gail Rodgers and Beth Russell
Top Township Expenditures in 2015
• Garbage and Recycling Collection
• Construction projects: resurfacing and
rejuvenation projects, two storm sewer
projects, Public Works storage building
• Insurance and benefits payments
• Contributions to Library and Fire Department
• Utilities
• Fuel and Salt costs
• AEC- replaced in-house IT departments
• Contractor- Sugar Camp Bridge Project
Construction Activity
• 76 new residential permits (5 more than
2014)
• 2 new commercial permits (Taco Bell and
Northwest Bank)
• Total Permits: 334 (up from 293)
• 36 new lots created: (The Crossings (10);
Whispering Pines (9) Hamlet of
Springdale (9))
• The Planning Commission reviewed 16 site
plans and 7 subdivisions
• 79 specialty permits issued: (31 fence
permits and 36 home occupation permits)
406 homes sold at average price of $383,375
16 Peters Township
Storm Sewer Activity
Higher activity than normal in 2015
Rebuilt 32 catch basins, dredged drainage
ditches, replaced 6 pipes, multiple pipes
flushed
New Storage Building
created for public works in the park to be used
for parks storage and seasonal storage
Street Sweeper Purchased
will result in increased street sweeping and
catch basin cleaning
Recycling
• 582 cars delivering Household Hazardous
Waste
• 72 tons of electronics recycled
• 484 yard waste and leaf vacuuming stops
made
• implementation of automated recycling
program- major coordination and
communication project
Peters Township Fund Balance
The General Fund revenues for 2015 were
$13,968,650, exceeding the budgeted amount
by $441,345 due primarily to tax revenues led
by Transfer Taxes. General Fund expenditures
in 2015 were $14,370,843- $544,556 less than
budgeted. Overall, the cash balance at the
end of the year was $10,145,055. The total
fund balance for all funds was $11,624,774,
therefore the overall 2015 fund balance did
not decrease as was budgeted to do so, but
increased by $1.2 million.
Police Department
• 23 full-time and 4 part-time officers
including 2 detectives, an School Resource
Officer and a DARE officer
• 5,622 calls in 2015
• Criminal Activity was up by 8.1% and the
clearance rate was below statewide rates.
• Number of Crimes: 227 (led by DUI’s, theft
and disorderly conduct)
• High police presence in schools continues
via School Resource Officer and DARE officer.
• 1,730 traffic citations
• 140 reportable accidents (up by 20)
• Department received eleventh consecutive
Platinum Traffic Safety Award from the AAA
• Overall patrol miles: 204,419
• Deer Management program in 10th year- 80
deer harvested and over 100 hearts donated
to high school biology department
• Burglar Alarms: 790
• Department met goal of 3 officers on patrol
80% of the time
• New Initiatives: Exchange Zone, ALICE
Training, Coffee with Cops- all well received!
Fire Department
• 9 full-time and 7 part-time paid fire fighters
and 30 volunteers
• 1,247 calls in 2015
• Average response time: 5 minutes 54
seconds (decrease of almost 1 minute from
2014 and still below national standards)
• Increase in volunteers via recruitment
program
• Volunteer on Duty program dropped to
2,340 hour (15% reduction)
• Most on-duty shifts: volunteer,
Chief Bill Gaughan
• Volunteer of the year- Jordan Cramer
• Department received Advanced Life Support
License - 3 vehicles listed
• $14,000 grant received towards rescue tools
• Open House attended by 350 people
Honored at International Fire Fighter
Challenge: volunteer, Brittany Hoffman and
career, Chris Cerci
Parks and Recreation
• Recreation Plan near completion
• Tennis Center now operated year-round by
Township
• 2 dangerous stairways to Arrowhead Trail
constructed and replaced
• Mandated fingerprinting per the PA Child
Protection Act is now offered via Recreation
Department
• 48 instructors at CRC- more programs
offered
• Full-time recreation supervisor position
created
Library
• New director appointed: Myra Oleynik
• Mrs. Lee retired after 40 years of service
• New Cafe Lee completed in addition to
entrance improvements
• Library became official department of the
Township and staff now Township
employees
• Circulation: 359,981 (increase of 10,000)
• Visitors: 184,895
• More online access with 73,620 website
visits
• Library Computer Users: 21,838 (with
upgraded Wi-Fi)
Record Programming
• 543 programs produced
• 10,340 hours of programming on 3 channels
• 430 full days of programming
• Township Channels: 7, 17 and 19
• Online Programs: 11, 697 hours; 815
episodes available online
• Top 3 shows: Conversations with Candidates,
• PT Council Meetings and Healthy Pets