IN Peters Township August/September 2016 | Page 44

“I BELIEVE IN REMINDING MYSELF WHO I SERVE AND
WHY I AM HERE. YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND
THE FLAVOR OF THE COMMUNITY, AND SO I WAS VERY
ACTIVE IN MANY VOLUNTEER EFFORTS,” SAYS SILVESTRI.

Current Assistant Township Manager Paul Lauer will succeed Silvestri
in late August. “Michael and I have worked together for over 32 years.
He’s always been more than just my boss—he’s a dear friend to my
family and me. My respect for Michael as a manager is immense, but my
respect for Michael as a person of character is even more,” says Lauer.
He adds that, more than any other level of government, municipal
government defines the quality of life for individuals. “One of the
rewards of a career in local government is the satisfaction of seeing the
positive impacts your efforts have on the lives of others,” Lauer says.
“For the past 40 years, no other single individual has made more of
an impact on our community than Michael Silvestri. Throughout our
Southwestern Pennsylvania region, Peters Township is recognized as
a premier community in which to call home. While Michael would
correctly point out that the efforts of many people of many years have
made this so, I would suggest that Michael is the single constant in the
community’s development for the past 40 years.”
Peters Township Council Chairman Bob Lewis has also worked
with Silvestri for a majority of his time as Township Manager. “I believe

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Michael has contributed his expertise in community planning to help
our community successfully grow while still preserving the lifestyle
pleasures that we each sought as we chose to locate here,” he says.
“Though Michael is not a native of Peters Township, he has grown
into a committed resident determined to preserve and enhance the
community’s quality of life.”
As he retires, Silvestri hopes for the continued growth and
success of Peters Township. “I believe if the township aggressively
implements the most recent comprehensive plan, it will continue
to grow and be fiscally sustainable,” he says. “With Paul’s experience
and service, I believe he will be able to handle everything in the best
interest of the community. As far as the staff goes, I encourage them
to maintain the same level of commitment to the community and to
Paul that they have shown me over the past 40 years.”
In retirement, Silvestri hopes to travel, spend more time with
his family, including his granddaughter Marissa, and continue
his volunteer efforts throughout Peters Township through the
McMurray Rotary Club and St. Benedict the Abbot Church. n